3D Passcode Authentication Using Touch Depth and Virtual Surfaces
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing passcode authentication methods, such as PINs, are vulnerable to observation and recording by criminals, lacking sufficient security and differentiation.
Innovation Solution
A method that combines a virtual-surface component and a depth component for each passcode element, where the depth component is determined by the input force, increasing the complexity and security of passcode entry.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional PIN authentication is used, then the authentication process is simple and easy to operate, but the security is insufficient and vulnerable to observation and recording
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the traditional 2D touchscreen interface into a 3D space by detecting the depth component (z-coordinate) of user input. This adds a new dimension to the passcode entry process, where users must press at specific depths in addition to specific 2D positions. The depth component creates multiple virtual surfaces at different depth levels, each representing a different set of possible passcode elements, thereby significantly increasing security while maintaining ease of operation through natural touch interaction.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the authentication process into two independent components: the virtual-surface component (2D position on touchscreen) and the depth component (pressure/depth of press). Each passcode element is defined by a combination of these two components. This segmentation allows the system to process and validate each dimension separately, enabling complex authentication logic while maintaining a simple user interface where users naturally combine position and pressure without conscious effort.
2Reliability
If the passcode complexity is increased to improve security, then the number of possible code values increases, but the difficulty for criminals to learn the passcode through observation increases
Solution Approach 1:
By adding the depth dimension to the traditional 2D touchscreen interface, the patent creates a 3D input space where each passcode element is defined by (x, y, z) coordinates. This effectively multiplies the number of possible passcode combinations without increasing the physical size of the interface. The depth component (z) represents pressure or depth of press, creating multiple virtual surfaces at different depth levels. This dimensional expansion makes observation significantly more difficult because criminals cannot easily perceive or record pressure information alongside position information.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary layer of virtual surfaces that mediate between the user's physical touch and the authentication system. Instead of directly mapping finger position to passcode elements, the system creates multiple virtual surfaces at different depth levels, each representing a different set of possible elements. This intermediary structure hides the true passcode space from observers, as they can only see the 2D touchscreen surface without perceiving the depth-based virtual surfaces that actually determine authentication.
3Reliability
If multiple virtual surfaces are used to increase security, then the number of possible passcode elements increases, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the touchscreen device multi-functional by enabling it to detect not only 2D position (x, y coordinates) but also 1D depth/pressure (z coordinate) information from user input. This universal input capability allows the same physical touchscreen hardware to support both traditional 2D interactions and the new 3D passcode authentication. The system processes depth information alongside position information using existing touchscreen infrastructure, avoiding the need for separate sensors or specialized hardware, thereby minimizing device complexity while achieving enhanced security.
Data Source
AI summary
It is provided a method for authenticating a user. The method comprises the steps of: detecting a user input of a passcode element to a user input device; determining a virtual-surface component of the passcode element, the virtual-surface component being one of a finite set of possible virtual-surface components; determining a depth component of the passcode element, the depth component depending on an input force, the depth component being one in a finite set of possible depth components, each corresponding to one of a finite set of possible virtual surfaces; repeating the steps of detecting a user input, determining a virtual-surface component and determining a depth component, for a plurality of passcode elements, resulting in a sequence of passcode elements making up a passcode; and authenticating the user based on both the virtual-surface component and the depth component of each passcode element in the passcode.