Touch-Screen PIN Interface Using Color-Shape Attributes
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for securing PIN entries in public places, such as using dynamic keypad layouts, cause delays and increase errors for users, especially elderly individuals, and provide opportunities for shoulder surfing attacks.
Innovation Solution
A secure locking interface on a touch-screen display that associates attributes like colors, shapes, and images with alphanumeric codes, allowing users to input PINs through a unique combination of attributes, eliminating exposure to prying eyes while maintaining ease of use.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traditional numeric keypad interface is used for PIN entry, then the input process is simple and familiar to users, but the PIN entry is exposed to shoulder surfing attacks in public places
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies color changes by displaying alphanumeric codes with associated color attributes on the touch-screen. Each code (0-9) is represented by a unique color combination, allowing users to input PINs by selecting colors rather than directly viewing numeric digits. This visual transformation obscures the actual PIN from observers while maintaining user recognition through color-coded patterns.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a traditional two-dimensional numeric keypad to a multi-dimensional attribute-based interface. Each alphanumeric code is associated with multiple attributes (colors, shapes, images), adding dimensional layers to the input mechanism. Users interact with these multi-attribute representations instead of direct numeric digits, creating a higher-dimensional security space that prevents shoulder surfing.
2Reliability
If dynamic keypad layouts are used to enhance security, then security is improved, but user errors increase and elderly users face difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by creating a standardized attribute-based interface that works consistently across different devices and contexts. The same principle of associating alphanumeric codes with visual attributes (colors, shapes) applies universally, providing a familiar and consistent interaction model for all users regardless of age or device type, thereby reducing errors while maintaining security.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-associating visual attributes (colors, shapes, images) with alphanumeric codes before the user needs to input the PIN. This pre-establishment of visual patterns creates a predictable and learnable interface structure, allowing users to memorize and reliably recall the attribute patterns without dealing with dynamic or unpredictable layout changes during the authentication process.
3Reliability
If attributes like colors and shapes are associated with alphanumeric codes, then PIN entry security is enhanced, but the interface complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies segmentation by breaking down the PIN input process into discrete attribute selections. Instead of presenting a complex multi-attribute object, the system segments the input into separate, manageable choices (e.g., select color first, then shape). This segmentation reduces the perceived complexity at each interaction step while maintaining the security benefits of multi-attribute association.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for generating a secure locking interface on a touch-screen display of a computing device are disclosed. The system comprises a processor, a memory communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein the memory stores processor-executable instructions, which, on execution, cause the processor to perform operations comprising associating a first attribute and a second attribute to at least one alphanumeric code upon receiving an authentication request for authenticating a user. The first attribute and the second attribute include at least one of colors, shapes, special characters, and images. Further, the operations comprise rendering an alphanumeric interface to the touch-screen display. The alphanumeric interface has the at least one alphanumeric code with the first attribute and the second attribute associated. Further, the operations comprise rendering a keypad interface to the touch-screen display, wherein the keypad interface has an input key for each of the first attribute and the second attribute.