Grouped Password Input Display for Error Correction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional password input methods that obscure characters to prevent theft make it difficult for users to detect and correct errors, leading to wasted time and reduced usability, especially in mobile terminals with poor password input experiences.

Innovation Solution

A password input method that displays input characters in groups, where the current character is shown and previous characters are hidden based on a group length, allowing users to identify and correct errors without clearing the entire password, and optionally recovering previous characters to plaintext after authentication failure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If all input characters are hidden as asterisks to prevent theft, then password security is improved, but the user cannot detect error characters and must re-enter the entire password, reducing usability

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassword securityVSAvoidusability
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the password input process into groups of characters. Within each group, the first character is displayed in plaintext while subsequent characters are hidden as asterisks. This segmentation allows users to verify their input within each group without exposing the entire password, resolving the contradiction between security and usability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Ease of operation

If the current character is displayed in plaintext while previous characters are hidden, then users can detect current errors, but users still cannot identify previous error characters, requiring full re-entry

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveerror detection capabilityVSAvoidtime wasted on full re-entry
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

By dividing the password into groups and displaying the first character of each group in plaintext, the patent enables users to detect errors at the start of each group. This eliminates the need for full re-entry when errors occur, as users can identify and correct errors within the current group while previous groups remain visible for verification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Reliability

If passwords are made very long with special characters to enhance security, then password strength is improved, but the possibility of error input increases and correction becomes more difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassword strengthVSAvoidinput complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides long passwords into manageable groups, where each group's first character is displayed in plaintext. This segmentation makes long passwords with special characters easier to input and verify, as users can check their input group by group rather than attempting to remember or verify the entire long password at once.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP2701038B1Password input method and device
Publication Date: 2018.09.05 TENCENT TECHNOLOGY (SHENZHEN) CO LTD
  • EP2701038B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2701038B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2701038B1 patent drawingFigure 4(a)~4(c)

AI summary

The embodiment of the disclosure provides a password input method and a password input device, which are applied to products or systems including input of password. The method includes: when a password character is input, acquiring an input serial number of the current input character; determining whether the input serial number is one more than an integer multiple of a group length, if so, displaying the current input character, and displaying input characters before the current input character as hidden characters. Through the group display of the input password characters, users could check whether there is an error input character. Compared with the prior art, the disclosure greatly avoids the situation of having to clear all characters and input the password once again due to error input of characters, which realizes group-based password display mode during the password input process, thereby improving the usability of products or systems including input of password and improving user experience.