Automatic Credential Entry via Software Keyboard Intermediary
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in entering and remembering complex digital security credentials such as passwords, credit card numbers, and digital signatures, leading to potential unauthorized access when these credentials are compromised or written down for convenience.
Innovation Solution
A method involving a software keyboard on a first device that transmits signals to a second device, mimicking user actions on a physical keyboard, allowing for automatic entry of security credentials into a third device, such as a computer system, without the user needing to know or enter the credentials manually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually enter complex security credentials, then security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically enters security credentials without user intervention. The portable electronic device stores credentials and automatically inputs them into the computer system when authentication is required, eliminating the need for users to manually type complex passwords while maintaining security through automated secure entry
Solution Approach 2:
A portable electronic device acts as an intermediary between the user and the computer system. It stores security credentials securely and transmits them automatically to the computer system through a communication interface, serving as a mediator that handles the complex authentication process without requiring direct user interaction with the credentials
2Reliability
If users remember complex credentials, then security is improved, but loss of information deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The portable electronic device stores and manages security credentials autonomously. Users no longer need to remember complex passwords as the device automatically retrieves and transmits the required credentials, transferring the memory burden from human users to the electronic device's secure storage
3Ease of operation
If users write down credentials for convenience, then ease of operation is improved, but security deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical act of writing down credentials with an electronic storage and transmission system. The portable electronic device stores credentials in secure memory and transmits them electronically to the computer system, eliminating the need for physical notes while maintaining convenience through automated access
4Ease of operation
If automatic credential entry is implemented, then ease of operation is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The portable electronic device serves as a self-contained intermediary unit with integrated credential storage, processing, and transmission capabilities. By consolidating these functions in a dedicated device rather than distributing complexity across the user system, the overall system architecture becomes more manageable despite the added functionality
Data Source
AI summary
User identities, password, etc. represent the barrier between a user's confidential data and any other third party seeking to access this data. As multiple software applications, web applications, web services, etc. embody this confidential data it is a tradeoff between easy recollection of said identities, passwords, etc. and data security. Generally for most users the balance is too far to convenience and ease of recollection such that the probability of third party illegally accessing the confidential data increases. Accordingly, it would be beneficial for users as well as organizations providing/controlling access to systems, resources, and data to be provided with an automatic means of entering password and/or security credential information without the user, for example, selecting the password, knowing the password, having access to the password, or entering the password where the organizations providing/controlling access can establish geo-fences relating to the credential information.