Touch Gesture Encryption Key Generation

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing password-based encryption methods face challenges in balancing security and memorability, as easy-to-remember passwords are often insecure, while secure passwords are difficult to remember and communicate.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses a touch input device to generate encryption keys by decomposing user-defined gestures into alphanumeric elements via a look-up table, allowing for complex and secure passwords that are easy to remember.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a secure password is used for encryption, then security level is improved, but ease of remembering and communicating the password deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidease of remembering

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical keyboard input system with a touch gesture-based input system. Users create passwords by performing gestures (swiping, tapping, holding) on a touch-sensitive display, eliminating the need for physical keyboard interaction. This substitution enables complex password patterns to be created and remembered more easily through visual and motor memory of gesture paths rather than sequences of key presses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent transitions from one-dimensional linear password input (sequential key presses) to two-dimensional spatial gesture input on a touch display. Passwords are formed by drawing patterns, curves, or shapes across the display surface, adding spatial dimensionality to the password creation process. This dimensional change allows for more intuitive and memorable password structures while maintaining high security through complex gesture patterns.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a complex password is used for encryption, then security level is improved, but ease of input deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesecurity levelVSAvoidease of input

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the traditional mechanical keyboard input system with a touch gesture-based input system. Users create passwords by performing gestures (swiping, tapping, holding) on a touch-sensitive display, eliminating the need for physical keyboard interaction. This substitution enables complex password patterns to be created and remembered more easily through visual and motor memory of gesture paths rather than sequences of key presses.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If a textual password is communicated over another channel, then ease of sharing is improved, but security level deteriorates due to potential interception

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of sharingVSAvoidsecurity level

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces traditional text-based communication channels with visual gesture-based password sharing. Users can visually demonstrate or record their touch gestures and share them through secure channels, making it harder to intercept or guess the actual password compared to text-based passwords. The gesture-based system inherently provides better security during transmission while maintaining ease of sharing through visual demonstration.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS9165159B1Encryption based on touch gesture

Publication Date: 2015.10.20 MARVELL ASIA PTE LTD

AI summary

Some of the embodiments of the present disclosure provide a method comprising receiving an input from a touch input device. The input corresponds to a gesture produced by a user swiping a pattern on a surface of the touch input device. The method further comprises decomposing the gesture into segments, using a look-up table to determine alphanumeric elements that correspond to each of the segments, and assembling the alphanumeric elements into an encryption password.