Sensitive Input Visual Masking by Hardware and Software Keyboard Type
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional computing environments lack a user-configurable approach to handle sensitive user input, leading to either security risks or usability hindrances when using physical and virtual keyboards, as they employ a one-size-fits-all character echoing method.
Innovation Solution
An operating system mechanism that distinguishes between hardware and software input devices, applying distinct, user-configurable visual transformations based on the input source, such as immediate hiding for hardware devices and brief echoing for software devices, to enhance security and usability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a one-size-fits-all character echoing method is used for both hardware and software input devices, then the system is simple to implement, but security risks arise when using physical keyboards and usability hindrances occur when using virtual keyboards
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the input handling by distinguishing between hardware input devices and software input devices. Different visual transformation settings are applied separately to each device type, allowing customized handling for keyboards, touchscreens, and other input methods rather than using a unified approach.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the visual transformation behavior based on the detected input device type. When a hardware keyboard is detected, one transformation setting is applied; when a software input method is detected, a different setting is applied. This dynamic adaptation resolves the contradiction between security and usability.
2Ease of operation
If character echoing is enabled for hardware input devices, then usability is improved through visual feedback, but security is compromised by displaying sensitive information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies different visual transformation qualities to different input device types. For hardware keyboards, a more secure transformation (e.g., masking characters) is applied, while for software input devices, a more user-friendly transformation (e.g., showing characters) is applied. This local differentiation resolves the security-usability contradiction.
3Reliability
If character echoing is disabled for hardware input devices, then security is improved by hiding sensitive information, but usability is hindered by lack of visual feedback
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies locally optimized visual transformations for each input device type. Hardware keyboards receive transformations that prioritize security, while software input devices receive transformations that prioritize usability. This resolves the contradiction by allowing each device type to have its optimal settings.
4Device complexity
If a single visual transformation setting is used for all input devices, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability to different input sources is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the visual transformation configuration into device-specific settings. Rather than a single global setting, separate transformations are defined for hardware keyboards, software keyboards, and other input devices. This segmentation enables adaptability while maintaining manageable complexity through automated detection.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically detects the active input device type and applies the appropriate visual transformation setting without requiring manual user configuration. This self-service approach provides adaptability to different devices while keeping the user experience simple, resolving the contradiction between complexity and adaptability.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods are disclosed herein for applying different visual transformations to sensitive user input based on input-device type. The described techniques distinguish between input sources and apply different, user-configurable, visual transformations based on the source of the input. In this way, user input from a hardware input device, which may provide tactile feedback, can be handled differently from input from a software input device, which may benefit from visual feedback. Such techniques can thereby improve security and usability when entering sensitive information, such as a password or an account number.