Touchscreen Data Validation via Erasure Zone Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current touchscreen technologies for payment terminals and similar devices face security challenges due to fingerprint residues left during sensitive data entry, with existing solutions compromising ergonomics, visibility, and being costly, and having short lifespans.

Innovation Solution

A method involving detection of data entry on a tactile input means followed by a movement to erase or attenuate the traces, with the erasure zone covering at least partially the contact zone, providing secure validation by obscuring the entry points, and optionally defining a predefined validation character.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If surface treatment solutions (varnish, film, chemical treatment) are applied to reduce fingerprints, then fingerprint visibility is reduced, but device cost increases and ergonomics degrade

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint visibilityVSAvoiddevice cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical/chemical surface treatments with a software-based touch input validation system. Instead of modifying the touchscreen surface physically, the system uses detection and validation logic to prevent fingerprint-based security breaches, thereby avoiding the cost and manufacturing complexity of surface treatments while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent converts the harmful effect of fingerprint residues into a beneficial security feature by implementing touch input validation that detects and validates touch patterns. The system uses the presence and characteristics of fingerprint traces as indicators of actual user interaction, turning what was previously a security vulnerability into a security advantage.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If surface treatment solutions are applied to reduce fingerprints, then fingerprint visibility is reduced, but character visibility and user ergonomics deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint visibilityVSAvoiduser ergonomics

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces physical surface modifications with a software-based validation system that monitors and validates touch inputs. This substitution preserves the original touchscreen surface properties, maintaining both fingerprint reduction and optimal character visibility, thereby preserving user ergonomics without compromising security.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If surface treatment solutions are applied to reduce fingerprints, then fingerprint visibility is reduced, but the treatment lifespan is short and requires renewal

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint visibilityVSAvoidsurface treatment lifespan

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces degradable physical surface treatments with a software-based validation system embedded in the terminal's operating system. This software solution has no physical degradation, requiring no renewal or maintenance, while continuously providing fingerprint resistance and security validation functionality.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If surface treatment solutions are applied to reduce fingerprints, then fingerprint visibility is reduced, but the overall device price increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefingerprint visibilityVSAvoiddevice price

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces expensive physical surface treatments with a software-based validation system that utilizes the existing touchscreen hardware and processor. This approach eliminates additional material costs and manufacturing expenses associated with surface treatments, thereby reducing the overall device price while maintaining security and fingerprint resistance.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentEP3693840B1Method for validating at least one input data item on a terminal, corresponding computer program, device and terminal

Publication Date: 2023.11.15 BANKS & ACQUIRERS INT HLDG SAS

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Figure 3b~3c
Figure 3d~3e

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for validating at least one piece of data entered on a terminal. Such a method comprises the following steps: - detection (E200) of at least one contact on a touch input means of the terminal, the at least one contact defining: - the at least one piece of data entered on said terminal; and - a contact area on the touch input means; - detection (E210), subsequent to the detection of at least one contact, of at least one movement of displacement of another contact on the touch input means, the at least one movement of displacement defining an erasure area on the touch input means; - validation (E220) of the at least one piece of data entered when the erasure area at least partially covers the contact area.