Verification Code Character Substitution for Security and Usability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing verification code methods are complex and time-consuming for users, leading to increased errors and prolonged verification processes, while also being difficult for unauthorized scripts to recognize, thus affecting user experience and security efficacy.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that replace variable characters in a pre-generated character string with backup characters based on a pre-established correspondence, generating a verification code that is intuitive for users and difficult for machines to recognize, without altering the code's meaning or using distortion, color change, or background addition.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If complex display methods are used for verification codes (such as adding background, distorting text, providing multiple pictures), then security against unauthorized scripts is improved, but user recognition accuracy deteriorates and verification time increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against unauthorized scriptsVSAvoidverification time
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of verification code generation from visual distortion methods to character substitution methods. By replacing original characters with substitute characters according to predefined rules, the system maintains security while improving user recognition. The substitute characters are selected from a set of characters with similar visual features, making them difficult for scripts to distinguish but recognizable by humans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The patent creates a copy of the verification code in the form of substitute characters that replicate the security function without copying the visual distortion approach. The substitute characters serve as a simplified representation that maintains the cryptographic security while being more user-friendly than distorted images or complex visual puzzles.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

2Reliability

If complex display methods are used for verification codes (such as adding background, distorting text, providing multiple pictures), then security against unauthorized scripts is improved, but user recognition accuracy deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against unauthorized scriptsVSAvoiduser recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of verification code generation from visual distortion methods to character substitution methods. By replacing original characters with substitute characters according to predefined rules, the system maintains security while improving user recognition. The substitute characters are selected from a set of characters with similar visual features, making them difficult for scripts to distinguish but recognizable by humans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If character distortion, color change, or background addition is used, then security against unauthorized scripts is improved, but user convenience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against unauthorized scriptsVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of verification code generation from visual distortion methods to character substitution methods. By replacing original characters with substitute characters according to predefined rules, the system maintains security while improving user recognition. The substitute characters are selected from a set of characters with similar visual features, making them difficult for scripts to distinguish but recognizable by humans.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentEP3554000B1Validation code based verification method and device
Publication Date: 2021.05.19 ADVANCED NEW TECHNOLOGIES CO LTD
  • EP3554000B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1b
  • EP3554000B1 patent drawingFigure 2a
  • EP3554000B1 patent drawingFigure 2b

AI summary

Implementations of the present application disclose a method and apparatus for verification based on a verification code. The method includes: receiving a verification request; obtaining a pre-generated first character string after receiving the verification request, where the first character string includes at least one variable character; replacing some or all variable characters with backup characters based on a pre-established correspondence between a variable character and a backup character, to obtain a second character string; and generating a verification code based on the second character string, and verifying a user corresponding to the verification request. In the implementations of the present application, accuracy of recognizing the verification code by the user can be increased, and a time consumed in a verification process can be reduced. In addition, difficulty of recognizing the verification code by a computer program can be increased, and a possibility that the computer program performs an unauthorized operation can be effectively reduced.