ELECTRONIC APPARATUS AND RECORDING MEDIUM STORING PASSWORD INPUT PROGRAM

Abstract

The present invention relates to password input and contributes to facilitation and acceleration of the input. An electronic apparatus that accepts password input, comprising a displaying unit that includes a plurality of display positions displaying candidate symbols of a password, a processing unit that displays the candidate symbols at the display positions of the displaying unit, and an input unit that allows the candidate symbols to be selected with select buttons corresponding to the display positions of the displaying unit to input the password.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a block diagram of one configuration example of a password input/authentication system according to a first example;

FIG. 2 shows one configuration example of a displaying unit and an input unit;

FIGS. 3A and 3B show examples of candidate symbols of a password;

FIG. 4 is a flowchart of a process procedure for password input and authentication;

FIG. 5 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for input candidates of a password;

FIG. 6 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for monitoring select buttons;

FIGS. 7A, 7B, 7C, 7D, 7E, 7F, 7G, 7H, and 7I show the display of the candidate symbols and the selection of the select buttons;

FIGS. 8A and 8B show the display of the candidate symbols and the selection of the select buttons;

FIG. 9 shows the operation of the select buttons;

FIG. 10 is a flowchart of another example of a process procedure for monitoring the select buttons, according to a second example;

FIG. 11 is a flowchart of another example of a process procedure for monitoring the select buttons, according to a third example;

FIG. 12 is a block diagram of one configuration example of a password input/authentication system according to a forth embodiment.

FIG. 13 shows a PC (Personal Computer) equipped with the password input/authentication system.

FIG. 14 shows an example of a function selection setting screen.

FIG. 15 is a flowchart of a process procedure for password input and authentication.

FIG. 16 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for input candidates of a password.

FIG. 17 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for monitoring the select buttons.

FIGS. 18A, 18B, 18C and 18D show an example of the display of the candidate symbols and the input operation.

FIG. 19 shows a dialogue display screen.

FIGS. 20A, 20B, 20C, 20D, 20E, 20F and 20G show an example of the display of candidate symbols and the input operation.

FIG. 21 shows a dialogue display screen.

FIGS. 22A, 22B, 22C, 22D, 22E, 22F and 22G show an example of the display of candidate symbols and the input operation.

FIG. 23 is a diagram of an example of a dialogue display screen according to a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 24 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure of input candidates of a password.

FIG. 25 is a diagram of an example of a dialogue display screen according to a sixth embodiment.

FIG. 26 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure of input candidates of a password.

FIG. 27 is a diagram of an example of a dialogue display screen according to a seventh embodiment.

FIG. 28 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for monitoring the select buttons.

FIG. 29 is a diagram of an example of a dialogue display screen according to an eighth embodiment.

FIG. 30 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for a password input and authentication.

FIG. 31 is a diagram of an example of a dialogue display screen according to a ninth embodiment.

FIG. 32 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for input candidates of a password.

FIG. 33 is a block diagram of one configuration example of a password input/authentication system according to a tenth embodiment.

FIG. 34 is a flowchart of an example of a process procedure for password input and authentication.

FIG. 35 is a diagram of an example of a process procedure for picking up data from an IC (Integrated Circuit) card.

FIG. 36 shows an image display device that is an example of the displaying unit, according to other embodiments;

FIG. 37 shows a portable terminal device that is an example of an electronic apparatus using the password input/authentication system;

FIG. 38 shows a portable terminal device that is an example of an electronic apparatus using the password input/authentication system;

FIG. 39 shows a PDA that is an example of an electronic apparatus using the password input/authentication system;

FIG. 40 shows a PDA that is an example of an electronic apparatus using the password input/authentication system; and

FIG. 41 shows a PC that is an example of an electronic apparatus using the password input/authentication system.

Claims

1. An electronic apparatus that accepts password input, comprising: a displaying unit that includes a plurality of display positions displaying candidate symbols of a password;a processing unit that displays the candidate symbols at the display positions of the displaying unit; andan input unit that allows the candidate symbols to be selected with select buttons corresponding to the display positions of the displaying unit to input the password.

2. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a random-number generating unit that generates random numbers; anda database that stores the candidate symbols of the password,wherein the processing unit acquires the candidate symbols from the database and displays the candidate symbols at the display positions of the displaying unit, using the random numbers acquired from the random-number generating unit.

3. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets invalidation of pressing down of the select button to invalidate the candidate symbol selected with the select button to which the invalidation is set.

4. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets permission of display not including a candidate character applicable to the password at the display positions of the displaying unit to display the candidate symbols at the display positions.

5. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, comprising: a displaying unit in common with the displaying unit having the display positions or a displaying unit built separately from the displaying unit,wherein the displaying unit displays a dialogue display screen for setting any one or plural out of invalidation of pressing down of the select button, selection of the select button to which the invalidation is set, permission of display not including a candidate character applicable to the password at the display positions, or permission of display of a candidate character applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which the invalidation is set.

6. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein an input unit in common with the input unit provided with the select buttons corresponding to the display positions of the display unit or an input unit separate from the input unit is configured, and one or more of the select buttons in the input unit is selected to set invalidation of pressing down of the selected select button.

7. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets to permit to display the candidate symbol applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which invalidation is set, so as to display the candidate symbol at the display position.

8. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit selects setting for invalidating of pressing down of the select button and setting for permitting to display the candidate symbol applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which the invalidation is set, so as to make it possible to set to prioritize which of the settings.

9. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the processing unit sets input of a candidate symbol not applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button after completion of input of the candidate symbols applicable to the password.

10. A computer-readable recording medium storing a password input program, the program comprising the steps of: generating candidate symbols of a password;displaying the generated candidate symbols at a plurality of display positions; andallowing the candidate symbols to be selected with select buttons corresponding to the display positions to input the password.

11. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the steps of: generating random numbers; andusing the random numbers to acquire the candidate symbols of the password stored in a database.

12. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the steps of: setting invalidation of pressing down of the select button; andinvalidating the candidate symbol selected by the select button to which the invalidation is set.

13. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the steps of: setting permission of display not including a candidate character applicable to the password at the display positions; anddisplaying the candidate symbols at the display positions.

14. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of: displaying a dialogue display screen for setting any one or plural out of invalidation of pressing down of the select button, selection of the select button to which the invalidation is set, permission of display not including a candidate character applicable to the password at the display positions, or permission of display of a candidate character applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which the invalidation is set.

15. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of: setting permission to display the candidate symbol applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which invalidation is set.

16. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the steps of: selecting setting for invalidating of pressing down of the select button and setting for permitting to display the candidate symbol applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button to which invalidation is set; andsetting prioritization of which of the settings.

17. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of: setting input of a candidate symbol not applicable to the password at the display position corresponding to the select button after completion of input of the candidate symbols applicable to the password.

18. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displaying unit is constituted by a portion of a main display or a sub-display that is installed in the electronic apparatus.

19. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the displaying unit is constituted by images on a display screen.

20. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the select buttons are constituted by images on a display screen.

21. The electronic apparatus of claim 1, wherein the candidate symbols include characters or graphics.

22. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of generating the display positions on images on a display screen.

23. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of taking in the candidate symbol at the display position by selecting the select button.

24. The recording medium of claim 10, the program comprising the step of generating the select buttons on images on a display screen.