Encoding methods and systems

Abstract

The invention provides a solution for secure input of a user's input into an electronic device. The invention comprises methods and apparatus for secure input of a user's identifier e.g. password or other code. An image of a keyboard is superimposed over a scrambled, operable keyboard within a display zone of a screen associated with an electronic device. The keyboard image depicts a non-scrambled keyboard, in that the keys depicted in the image are in an expected or standardised format or order eg QWERTY keyboard arrangement. The difference in positions of the keys depicted in the image, and those in the operable keyboard, provides a mapping which enables an encoded form of the identifier to be generated, such that the un-encoded version is never stored in the device's memory. Preferably, the image depicts a keyboard which is standard for the device which it is being displayed on. The device may be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, laptop, PC, payment terminal or any other electronic computing device with a screen. The underlying keyboard, which is at least partially obscured from the user's view by the image, may be generated at run time by a procedure call. Preferably, this procedure is native to the device ie part of a library which is provided as standard with the device.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is the national stage of International Patent Application No. PCT/GB2016/051550 filed on May 27, 2016, and which claims priority to British Patent Applications Nos. GB 1509030.1 filed on May 27, 2015, GB 1509031.9 filed on May 27, 2015, GB 1520760.8 filed on Nov. 24, 2015 and GB 1520741.8 filed on Nov. 24, 2015, all of which are hereby incorporated by reference in their entireties as if fully set forth herein.

BACKGROUND

1. Field

This invention relates generally to the fields of data encoding and authentication. The invention is suited for, but not limited to, use in situations where a user is required to enter an identifier or code (eg a password, username etc) which is used to validate their identity prior to completing an operation. The operation might be any type of operation. The invention is also suited for, but not limited to, verification of the user on a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet computer. The invention can also be used to encode any input which may be entered into an electronic device using a virtual keyboard. Thus, the invention is useful for but not limited to use in authentication applications.

2. Related Art

Security of electronic devices is a significant issue. Personal or commercially sensitive data, for example, is often encoded in some way to deter unauthorised persons from reading it. One common situation where a user's input needs to be encoded is during an authentication process.

Authentication techniques are used when an individual's identity needs to be verified prior to being allowed to perform an act or gain access to some controlled or managed resource such as a device, building, a computer system, a financial account, a service etc. One common approach to authentication is to record some pre-selected identifier comprising a code or combination of symbols which is then maintained in secrecy in a secure location and available only to authorised parties. The invention described herein is not intended to be limited with respect to the type, length or format of the user's identifier.

After the identifier has been selected and assigned to an authorised individual (or group of individuals), the user is required to supply the correct identifier each time he requests permission to perform the controlled act or gain access to the resource or service. The user's inputted identifier is compared with the pre-stored version. If the input matches the stored identifier then the user's identity is deemed to have been verified and access is granted. Alternatively, if the input does not match the pre-stored version then access is denied.

The use of PINs has become commonplace, especially in relation to banking and financial applications. Customers have become accustomed to, and trusting of, the use of PIN-based verification. Financial institutions also favour PIN-based authentication as it provides a more secure form of verification than, for example, a signature. Further still, when a transaction requires authentication via a PIN the liability for any fraud resulting from that transaction is deemed to lie with the user who has supplied the PIN. This is in contrast to ‘card not present’ transactions such as on-line transactions where the liability remains with the issuing financial institution.

Another authentication approach involves using a device to capture biometric data relating to the unique physical or behavioural attributes of the individual such as iris pattern, palm geometry or fingerprint. An advantage of biometric authentication is that users do not need to remember passwords or codes, and the required information is always carried inherently by the individual wherever they go so no additional hardware such as tokens need to be carried. Therefore, biometric authentication offers a convenient and simple authentication solution which is attractive to end users.

However, despite the attractions of biometric authentication, it has yet to be widely adopted within certain industries such as the banking industry. One reason for this is that the infrastructure of the banking industry is geared towards verification using a 4 digit PIN. This includes payment terminals, ATMs, switches, and the apparatus at both the acquiring and issuing banks, which would all need to be replaced or adapted at significant cost in order to move from PIN-based to biometric authentication. Other concerns arise in relation to the security of biometric data which may be captured from non-secure sources. For example, fingerprints can be ‘lifted’ from public places, voices can be recorded. In addition, while it is easy to change a stored PIN or identifier it is not possible for an individual change biometric data such as fingerprint, iris pattern etc.

These concerns can be reduced by the use of two or three-factor authentication wherein at least two of the following are used during authentication:

• • What you know (eg PIN, password or other identifier)
  • Who you are (eg fingerprint, retina pattern, face or voice patterns)
  • What you have (eg smart card, security token, mobile device)

Therefore, a system which requires a user to authenticate with both an identifier and biometric data on a device owned or operated by the user would provide enhanced security.

With respect to mobile technology, more and more people are using handheld computing devices such as smart phones and tablet computers etc for identity-sensitive operations such as banking. However, such devices are notoriously insecure and passwords, PINs and other valuable authentication data can be compromised by third parties. Therefore, there is a significant challenge in providing an authentication solution which is secure even when used on a mobile device.

One such solution has been disclosed in WO 2014/013252 which teaches the concept of sending an image of a scrambled keypad from a server to a user's device (PC, mobile phone, tablet etc). An operable, functional keypad is generated on the device and the image is displayed on the screen in the same position as the keypad. The image is superimposed over the keypad such that it is hidden from view yet still functional in the background. The positions of the underlying keypad keys do not correspond to the positions of the same ‘keys’ depicted in the image. To the user, only the image of the scrambled keypad is visible and thus when the user touches or clicks on part of the image to select an input, the operable keypad interprets this input differently and an encoded version of the user's input is received into memory on the device. Thus, as the user's real identifier (eg PIN) is never entered into the keyboard buffer or elsewhere on the device it cannot be fraudulently obtained from it. The encoded identifier is then transmitted to a remote server which knows the order of keys depicted in the keypad image, and can thus decode the user's input. In effect, a mapping is created between the keypad configurations, and this mapping is used to both encode and decode the identifier. This solution provides significant advantages over other authentication techniques, because it does not require the user to remember a different identifier, does not require the use of special or additional hardware, and avoids entry of the user's real identifier into an insecure device.

However, keypads are typically designed and used for applications such as access control for buildings or electronic devices. Therefore, a keypad does not possess the full range of keys and functionality provided by a keyboard. For example, while a keyboard would include a space bar, punctuation keys, a return key, a backspace/delete key, modifier keys (eg shift), currency keys etc, a keypad would not. As a result, while a keypad is suitable for use with the input of short or numeric-only codes such as PINs, it does not lend itself for use with identifiers comprising non-numeric symbols such as usernames, passwords, pictorial identifiers etc. Therefore, its use is restricted as many authentication systems involve the use of at least partially non-numeric identifiers.

Moreover, a keypad cannot be used for entering general purpose input into an electronic device such as the typing of letters, narrative, emails and other communications etc. because it does not comprise the necessary range of keys. Therefore, a solution is required which would enable any type of input to be encoded/decoded, not just passwords, PINs etc for verification purposes.

SUMMARY

An improved solution has now been devised. The present invention is defined in the appended claims.

The invention may provide an authentication method. The method may enable encoding of a user's input into an electronic device. The method may comprise the steps of:

• generating an operable keyboard and providing said keyboard within a display zone of a screen associated with the electronic device;
• presenting an image of a keyboard within at least part of the display zone such that at a user is able to operate at least one key of the keyboard via the image;
• wherein:
• the keys of the operable keyboard and/or the keys depicted in the image are scrambled to enable an encoded version of the user's input to be generated.

Therefore, the configuration (layout) of keys in either the keyboard image, the operable keyboard or both may be scrambled. The configuration(s) may be scrambled relative to each other, or relative to some reference configuration. Importantly, the configurations are different relative to one another such that the position of at least one or more keys in the keyboard and image do not correspond with each other. This generates a mapping between the layouts. This mapping enables encoding of the user's input.

By using a keyboard and image in this way, rather than a keypad, the invention provides a solution which can be used for secure input and storage of a user's data beyond simply verification codes such as PINs and passwords etc. Any type of input can be encoded/decoded using the invention. For example, emails, letters, narrative etc which include alphanumeric characters and other symbols can be input using the invention. This provides a more versatile technical solution compared to the prior art which uses a keypad.

Preferably, the operable keyboard is generated at run-time by invoking a subroutine. The subroutine may be provided within a standard library associated with the device. It may be provided as part of an operating system or system library.

Preferably, the keyboard is a virtual keyboard. The virtual keyboard may be a software component that allows a user to enter characters and symbols as input into an electronic device. The virtual keyboard may be operated with different input devices, which may include a touchscreen, or a physical computer keyboard and a mouse. The character code produced by any key press of the operable keyboard may be determined by keyboard driver software. A key press may generate a scancode which can be interpreted as an alphanumeric character or control function.

Preferably, the keyboard comprises a return key, a space key, at least one punctuation key, a delete and/or or backspace key, at least one modifier key arranged to modify the normal action of another key, at least one cursor or navigation key. Alternatively, the keyboard may comprise a combination of these keys. The operable keyboard and/or the keyboard image may be provided in a QWERTY or QWERTZ, AZERTY format.

The image may depict a keyboard which is a default keyboard associated with the device. The image may be generated on the device. Alternatively, it may be received by the device from a remote computing resource such as a server.

The operable keyboard may be generated using a keyboard configuration (layout) derived using a random or pseudo-random number, or biometric data relating to the user. The order of the operable keys in the operable keyboard and/or the order of keys depicted in the image may be, at least partially, determined using biometric data derived from or associated with the user. The biometric data may comprise, or may be processed to provide, one or more strings, arrays or sequences of values which can be used to specify the order of the keys.

A plurality of operable keyboards may be generated. At least one keyboard in the plurality may be a scrambled keyboard. Additionally or alternatively, a plurality of keyboard images may be generated. At least one image in the plurality may be an image of a non-scrambled keyboard.

The method may comprise the step of transmitting the encoded version of the user's input to a remote computing resource. It may comprise the step of decoding the user's input. It may use the mapping between the image(s) and the keyboard(s) to decode the encoded version of the user's input.

The electronic device may be any device comprising a processor, input means and computing capabilities. It may, for example, be a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a payment terminal, a portable computing device or a personal computer.

The invention also provides a corresponding system for encoding a user's input into an electronic device comprising:

• • an electronic device; and
  • a screen associated with the electronic device;
• wherein the electronic device is arranged to:
• generate an operable keyboard and provide said keyboard within a display zone of the screen; and
• present an image of a keyboard within at least part of the display zone such that at a user is able to operate at least one key of the keyboard via the image;
• wherein:
• the keys of the operable keyboard and/or the keys depicted in the image are scrambled to enable of an encoded version of a user's input to be generated.

The system may be arranged to implement any embodiment of the method described herein. Any feature described in relation to the method may also apply to the system of the invention, and vice versa.

WO 2014/013252 discloses an arrangement wherein a plurality of scrambled keypad configurations is sent from a remote server to the electronic device for use in generating a plurality of scrambled, operable keypads. Moreover, WO 2014/013252 discloses the use of a scrambled image superimposed over an operable keypad.

By contrast, in accordance with the present invention, a keyboard is used instead of a keypad. As described above, this provides a more versatile arrangement which is able to provide an encoding solution for any type of input that can be entered via a keyboard. Also, according to this invention, the keyboard image may depict a non-scrambled or a scrambled keyboard. Also, one or more images may be generated and superimposed on one or more scrambled or non-scrambled keyboards. While one or more images in the plurality of images may depict a scrambled keyboard, at least one image in the plurality depicts a non-scrambled keyboard. The use of a non-scrambled image superimposed or displayed over an operable keyboard provides the advantage that the user can be presented with a keyboard layout that is familiar and expected. This results in fewer input errors being made by the user than when an image of a scrambled keyboard is used.

One or more keyboard images may be generated and/or one or more operable keyboard. However, at least one of the images or keyboards will depict a scrambled keyboard configuration so as to provide a mapping between the ‘keys’ of the image and the functional keys of the underlying operable keyboard.

The term ‘non-scrambled’ in this context may be interpreted as meaning that the keys depicted in the image are in accordance with a standard layout or configuration. The order of the ‘keys’ depicted in the image may be as expected by the user. By contrast, the term ‘scrambled’ may be interpreted as meaning that the arrangement of the keys is randomised, or somehow deviates from the default, standard or expected layout. The standard configuration may be standard relative to the device, or standard relative to a layout accepted within a community or region, such as the QWERTY layout. The term ‘scrambled’ may be used to mean that the keys in a keyboard configuration are altered relative to a reference configuration. The reference configuration may be specified by a keyboard configuration which is native to, or provided as standard with, the device.

The image may be generated on the user's electronic device, or may be sent to and received by the device from a separate resource such as a server.

One or more keyboard configurations may be sent to the device from a remote computing resource eg server. The one or more keyboard configurations may be used to generate the operable keyboard. The keyboard configuration may be sent to the device as a filename.

Additionally or alternatively, one or more scrambled keyboard configurations may be generated on or at the electronic device itself. The at least one scrambled keyboard configuration may then be used to generate at least one operable keyboard, or the image. The keyboard image and/or operable keyboard may also be generated on or at the electronic device. Advantageously, the workload is transferred from the remote resource to the local device. It also avoids the need for transmittal of the configuration(s) to the device.

The operable keyboard may be generated by executing a subroutine such as a function, method or procedure on the electronic device. The subroutine may be part of a library. The library may be provided as standard to the electronic device. Execution of the subroutine may cause a keyboard object to be generated in volatile memory on the electronic device. The operable keyboard may be generated at run-time.

The phrase ‘on or at’ may be interpreted as meaning that the scrambled keyboard configuration may be generated by the electronic device itself, or by one or more devices which are associated with the electronic device eg by physical or wireless connection to the electronic device. The scrambled keyboard configuration may therefore be generated locally to the electronic device (client) rather than being received from a remote resource (server).

The phrase ‘keyboard configuration’ may be used herein to refer to the order, arrangement or position of keys in a keyboard. It may also be used to refer to the order/layout of ‘keys’ as depicted in the keyboard image although it should be noted that in reality the image does not actually comprise operable ‘keys’.

The scrambled keyboard configuration may be generated on or at the electronic device by a software component, which may be referred to as a keyboard generation component (KGC), and may be arranged to generate the image(s) and/or operable keyboard (s). Additionally or alternatively, it may be arranged to generate one or more configurations for specifying the arrangement of keys in the scrambled operable keyboard(s). It may be installed on the electronic device after download from a remote resource ie remote with respect to the electronic device. The remote resource may be a server. It may be a cloud-based resource.

The software component may be configured to receive an input. It may be configured to use the input to provide one or more configurations for use in generation of the keyboard image(s) and/or operable keyboard(s). The input may be a pseudo or true random number, or it may be biometric data related to a user. The user may or may not be associated with the electronic device.

The keyboard image may be a representation of a keyboard. It may be a static image or a moving image. It may comprise a watermark. It is distinct and distinguishable from the operable keypad in that the image resembles a keyboard but does not comprise any keyboard functionality. Therefore, while portions of the image may represent or depict ‘keys’, and may appear as such to the user, the image itself or portions thereof do not possess any operable properties. Thus, clicking on, touching or otherwise selecting a portion of the keyboard image may not, in itself, result in an input being received by the electronic device. In one or more embodiments, one or more keys depicted in the image may be colour coded, watermarked or otherwise tagged to provide a visual assurance to the user that the image has been provided by a legitimate source.

By contrast, the operable keyboard comprises the functionality and properties which the skilled person would associate with a functioning keyboard. Thus, the operable keyboard may comprise a plurality of keys or buttons. The keyboard is configured such that each key or button has a value (eg digit, letter or other symbol) associated with it. This assignment of values to keys may typically be performed upon creation of the keyboard (when a subroutine is invoked at run time) but the associations may be changed after creation if the keyboard is re-configurable. In either event, the association of values to keys is performed prior to entry of the user's input such that when the user selects a given key, its pre-defined value is put into a portion of memory in the electronic device. The portion of memory may be a keyboard buffer.

The invention may enable the user to provide an input to the electronic device by operating one or more keys of the operable keyboard via or through the image. The keyboard image may be superimposed over the operable keypad in the sense that the operable keyboard is provided within the display zone of the screen but the image is presented at least partially within the same display zone such that it obscures or masks the operable keyboard from the user's view. The operable keyboard may be in the background, listening for an input, even though the user cannot see it or all of it. Preferably, the keyboard image masks or occludes the operable keyboard completely so the user appears to see an operable keypad but in reality is only able to see an image of a keyboard. Preferably, the symbols on the operable keys of the underlying keyboard do not correspond to the position of the ‘keys’ as shown in the keyboard image. In other words, the configuration of the operable keyboard may not match or be the same as the configuration of the keyboard depicted in the image. Thus, when the user selects what appears to be a key in the keyboard image, the operable keyboard active and monitoring for input within the display zone may cause a different symbol to be entered into the device's memory. In this manner, the user's real (ie intended) input may never be received into any portion of the device's memory. It may never be received by the keyboard buffer. An encoded version of the identifier is created due to the mapping between the different configurations used to generate the keyboard and the image.

This feature provides the significant advantage that the user's real input cannot be obtained by any party who has gained unauthorised access to the electronic device. It also distinguishes the invention over known solutions wherein data such as positional data is received from the user into memory and then translated into an encoded version of the user's input.

One or a plurality of operable keyboard may be generated on the electronic device during an encoding session. Additionally or alternatively, one or a plurality of keyboard images may be generated during the session. One or more keyboards may be generated from one (scrambled) keyboard configuration.

A plurality of operable keyboards and/or keyboard images may be arranged or ordered in a series, stack or queue or other data structure.

One operable keyboard in the plurality may be designated or selected as the active keyboard for receiving input from a user. The active operable keyboard may be the keyboard which is provided ‘immediately beneath’ the image presented to the user, such that when the user selects a portion of the image on the screen the active operable keyboard is caused to function.

Preferably, there is only one active keyboard at any given point in time. The remaining operable keyboards in the plurality may be dormant or inactive until designated as the active keyboard. Thus, a plurality of operable keyboards may be generated and placed into a data structure. The data structure may be iterated over so that the operable keyboard designated as the active one changes over time. The change may be effected following a certain period of time or after an event such as an input being received from a user. Thus, after an input from the user, the active operable keyboard may be replaced or exchanged for another operable keyboard in the plurality. The previously active keyboard may be erased from memory or marked for removal once it has become inactive. Thus, once an input (keystroke) has been received using a particular operable keyboard it may be deleted from the electronic device.

Alternatively, rather than cycling through a plurality of pre-generated operable keyboards, a new operable keyboard may be generated for each input when needed. Each newly generated operable keyboard may comprise a different configuration of keys from the others. A new operable keyboard may be generated when an input is expected or required from the user. For example, if the identifier is ten digits long a first keyboard may be used for receipt of the first input, then second keyboard generated for receipt of the second input and so on for all ten inputs.

Further still, a mutable (changeable) keyboard may be provided in addition to or instead of a plurality of operable keyboards. The configuration of the mutable operable keyboard may be altered after or upon an event such as receipt of an input from a user, or after a certain period of time. Thus, the same operable keyboard may remain as the active one, but the arrangement of the keys may change. The scrambled keyboard configurations may be used to determine the different configurations of the keyboard.

The scrambled keyboard configuration(s) may be generated using a true random number generator or pseudo random number generator. The true or pseudo random number (hereinafter simply ‘the random number’) may be fed as input into the software component referred to as the keyboard generation component (KGC). Thus, when using a random number as input to the configuration component, different keyboard configuration(s) may be produced each time the invention is used by the same user.

Preferably, the random number is generated locally to the electronic device. It may be generated on the processor of the electronic device or using a device which is in local communication (wired or wireless) with the device. Thus, it may be generated by a plug-in device or a device connected to the electronic device via a wireless protocol such as Bluetooth, NFC etc.

The scrambled keyboard configuration may be generated using biometric data related to a user. The biometric data may be generated or captured in a variety of ways. As with respect to the random number generation above, it is preferably generated by the electronic device or locally to the electronic device. The biometric data may comprise any form of data relating to a physical or behavioural attribute of the user. It may comprise data relating to a fingerprint, iris pattern etc. The invention is not to be limited with respect to the type of biometric data used or the manner in which it is collected or processed. Various biometric data capture and analysis systems are known in the art and considered to be suitable for use with the present invention.

In this document, the phrase “biometric data” may be used to mean data which is captured directly from the user (i.e. “raw” biometric data such as may be captured by a sensor). It may also mean biometric data which has been derived from a biometric capture process. For example, it may be processed data which has been obtained or derived following a biometric authentication process. This may be a cryptographic key which has been generated during a biometric authentication process, or a registration process involving the capture of the user's biometric data.

The biometric data may be processed to provide a sequence or identifier which is unique to the user eg a cryptographic key. The sequence may be a string of values or characters. This string may be fed into the software component (KGC) so as to specify the order of keys in one or more operable keyboards and/or images generated by or at the electronic device. Thus, when using biometric data as input to the software component, the same keyboard configuration(s) may be produced each time the invention is used by the same user.

Thus, “raw” biometric data relating to the user may be used to generate the keyboard configuration(s) ie biometric which has been captured by a capture device from the user. Additionally or alternatively, some other form of data may be used as the input to the keyboard configuration algorithm. This data may be derived from or in some way related to the user's biometric data. It may be, for example, a cryptographic key. The cryptographic key may be used to generate a seed used in the configuration generation. The key may be a private or public cryptographic key which is associated with a user and/or a digital wallet associated with a user. The wallet may be stored on the electronic device. The cryptographic key may have been generated during a biometric authentication process, or a registration process involving the capture of the user's biometric data.

The electronic device may be a mobile and/or handheld device such as a smart phone, tablet, payment terminal, payment card reader or smart-card reader. Additionally or alternatively, it may be a personal computing device associated and/or registered with a user. This distinguishes the invention over those prior art arrangements which are designed for use with non-personal computing devices such as ATM machines. The term ‘personal computing device’ is used herein to refer to an electronic computing device, such as a PC, laptop, mobile phone, tablet computer which can be associated with, registered to, and/or owned by an individual.

Preferably, the operable keyboard and/or the keyboard image is erased from the device following one or more input(s) from a user, or following a specified period of time. The position of the display zone on the screen, and/or its dimensions, may be specified by a subroutine such as a procedure or method call. The display zone may comprise a plurality of sub-zones, each sub zone corresponding to a keyboard key. The sub-zone may be referred to as ‘hot spots’. Thus, selection of a particular hot spot on the screen may cause a key of the active, operable keyboard to be activated such that an (encoded) input is placed into memory.

A method in accordance with the invention may comprise the step of storing an encoded version of a user's identifier in memory associated with the electronic device, the identifier being received by the operable keyboard via the keyboard image such that the user's identifier is never stored on the device in an un-encoded form. It may comprise the steps of storing an encoded version of an identifier entered into the electronic device by the operable keyboard via the keyboard image; and transmitting the encoded version of the identifier to a remote computing resource.

A scrambled keyboard configuration may be transmitted to the remote computing resource. A plurality of scrambled keyboard configurations may be sent to the remote computing resource. The remote computing resource eg server may decode the encoded version of the user's identifier. It may use one or more scrambled keyboard configurations to decode the encoded version of the user's identifier.

The invention may be arranged to generate one keyboard configuration for each value in the user's identifier. Additionally, it may generate a keyboard configuration for use in generating a keyboard image.

The invention also provides an electronic computing apparatus arranged and configured to implement the method described above. The apparatus may comprise a screen and at least one software component arranged and configured to perform any version of the method described above. The screen may be a touch screen.

The apparatus may comprise, or be associated with or in communication with:

• a true random number generator and/or a pseudo random number generator;
• means for capturing or generating biometric data related to a user; and/or
• means for reading data from a smart card. The smart card may be a payment card. It may be any type of IC card which is independent of the operation of the device ie it may not be a SIM card.

The invention may also provide an encoding or verification method comprising the steps of:

• using biometric data related to the user to generate a keyboard configuration;
• superimposing an image of a keyboard over an operable keyboard so as to generate a mapping between the keyboard and the image, wherein the keyboard or the image is generated using the keyboard configuration.

A plurality keyboard images may be generated wherein at least one is an image of a non-scrambled keyboard. Preferably, the keyboard configuration is a scrambled keyboard configuration. Thus, the order of keyboard keys specified by the configuration may be altered relative to a default or reference configuration. The method may include the steps of:

• capturing, generating or receiving the biometric data on or at an electronic device;
• generating the operable keyboard and/or keyboard image on or at the electronic device.

One or more embodiments of the invention may provide a two-factor authentication solution wherein:

• • 1) The identity of the user is verified using biometric data; and
  • 2) The user's authorisation to perform a transaction is verified by entry of a correct, pre-selected identifier.

It is important to note that for the sake of brevity and clarity, some features described above in relation to one aspect of the invention may not have been repeated in relation to other aspects of the invention. However, any feature mentioned above in relation to one aspect of the invention may be equally applicable to any other aspect of the invention. Features described in relation to the system may also be used in relation to the method and vice versa.

These and other aspects of the present invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to, the embodiment described herein. An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows a flowchart illustrating one possible embodiment in accordance with the method of the invention. This illustrates the invention being used in relation to authentication of a user, although the invention is not limited with respect to this use and can be sued for general purpose encoding of a user's input.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

The invention provides a solution for secure entry and storage of a user's input. In the following description, the invention is described in relation to a verification method for authentication of a user's identity. However, it is important to note that the invention is not limited to such an application and can be used to encode any type of input, not just passwords, PINs and other authentication-related identifiers. Also, the invention may be used as part of a wider authentication process or system not described herein.

In one embodiment, the present invention presents an image of a keyboard on a user's electronic device eg mobile phone such that it obscures or occludes an operable keyboard from the user's view. The user, therefore, sees what appears to be an operable keyboard, but in fact is simply an image devoid of functionality. In accordance with the present invention, however, the layout of keys in the image and/or operable keyboard is scrambled or randomised, so that the keys shown in the image do not correspond to the position of the keys in the operable keyboard.

The operable keyboard underlying the image comprises keys or buttons which have symbols assigned to them, as is known in the art. The operable keyboard may be referred to as a virtual keyboard. The user enters his/her identifier eg PIN, password, or personal identification code (PIC) by selecting portions of the screen which depict ‘keys’ corresponding to the symbols in the identifier. The operable keyboard which has been generated behind the image detects the user's key strokes and enters the symbols assigned to the keyboard's selected keys into the buffer. This allows an encoded version of the real identifier to be constructed and sent to a remote server for verification. It is important to note that the invention does not perform a translation or encoding operation on the user's input as is known in some prior art arrangements. In such known systems, the ‘real’ identifier is entered into the keyboard buffer before being encoded. This enables unauthorised parties to access the user's identifier via the buffer. The invention, however, avoids this problem by never storing the real version of the identifier, even temporarily in the buffer. As the order of the keys in the operable keyboard is different from the order of the keys depicted in the image, the user's ‘real’ input is never actually entered into memory on the device. This provides the significant benefit that the real identifier cannot, therefore, be derived by an unauthorised party from the device. Further still, unless someone knows the configuration of keys in both the operable keyboard and the keyboard image, they cannot decode the encoded identifier.

In one embodiment, the keyboard image and/or the configuration of keys for the operable keyboard are generated on the user's device. This provides the advantage that the processing work is transferred to the client (user's) device rather than server. Alternatively, the image and/or configuration is sent to the device from a remote server. In yet other embodiments, a mixture of on-device generation and server-provided images/configurations may be used.

In one embodiment, a software component installed on the user's device receives an input. It uses that input to determine the configuration of keys for one or more operable keyboards. Additionally or alternatively, it uses the input to determine the configuration of ‘keys’ to be depicted in one or more keyboard images. The operable keyboard (s) and/or keyboard image(s) can then be generated using the configurations specified by the software component. However, at least one non-scrambled keyboard image is used.

In one embodiment, the input to the generation component (KGC) is a random number. In another embodiment, the input is biometric data relating to the user. The biometric data can be a fingerprint, for example. The skilled person will readily understand that any type of biometric data can be used. The invention is not limited with respect to the format, type or method of capture of the biometric data.

If a random number is used as input, the resulting configuration(s) will be different each time the invention is used. If, however, biometric data is used as the input, the resulting configurations will be the same each time the invention is used. This is because the user's biometric data eg fingerprint, retina pattern etc remains constant and will always provide the same input.

In either embodiment, the input is generated on, by or at the user's device. In other words, it is generated locally to the user's device rather than by a remote resource. The input may be generated by one or more components which comprise part of the user's device, or are in proximity to the user's device and connected thereto by a physical or wireless interface.

In use, the user registers with a system in accordance with the invention. The requisite software is then downloaded to the user's device, including the keyboard generation component. Hereinafter, the user's device will be referred to as a mobile phone but any electronic device with computing capabilities may be used.

When the user's identity needs to be verified, the required input is generated either by a random number generator or by a biometric capture device. For example, the user may press a finger against the screen of the phone, or may look into a camera, or speak into a microphone etc. The biometric capture device generates a string which represents the captured biometric property.

The biometric data or random number (string) is then fed into the keyboard generation component. The KGC then uses that input to generate a plurality of keyboard configurations. Preferably, the order of symbols or values in each of the configurations is unique such that no configuration is duplicated. The keyboard configurations may be generated from the random or biometric string using values or substrings selected from the string. For example, the first thirty values of the string may be used for the first 30-digit keyboard configuration, the next 30 values may be used for the second configuration and so on. Thus, the KGC must ensure that the input string is of sufficient length to provide the required values for the keyboard configurations.

In an illustrative embodiment using a keyboard comprising 10 symbols, there will be 10 values (ie characters, digits or symbols) in each configuration generated by the invention. The number of configurations generated will be the number of values in the user's identifier plus one. This will enable one scrambled, operable keyboard to be generated per keystroke required from the user to enter the identifier, plus one for a keyboard image. For example, in an embodiment wherein the user's identifier consists of 10 values, the configuration generation component will produce 11 configurations: one for each digit in the identifier and one for generation of the image that the user will see.

Only one operable keyboard is ‘active’ at any given time. Thus, when the user selects (what appears to be) a key on the image, only the active keyboard is able to detect user input. In an embodiment wherein a plurality of operable keyboards has been pre-generated by the device at the start of an authentication session, only one is designated, arranged or executed so as to be the active operable keyboard for receipt of the user's next keystroke. After receipt of an input, the active keyboard may be altered in some way (eg the keys may be reconfigured) or may be deselected as the active keyboard (eg by deletion from memory or removal from the stack).

It should be noted, though, that the user's identifier can be any type or length of identifier, comprising any type of value. It may comprise any type of characters or symbols.

At least one image is an image of a default (non-scrambled) keyboard. Thus, the ‘keys’ depicted in the image are presented in a sequential order as expected by the user in conformity with, for example, the standard keyboard of the device. In other embodiments, only one underlying, operable keyboard may be generated and used to receive all keystrokes from the user.

In yet other embodiments, more than one keyboard images may be used over the top of one or more operable keyboard. This plurality of images may include at least one image of a scrambled keyboard. The image may be changed after each input (keystroke) from the user, or may be changed after a predetermined event such as three incorrect attempts. For example, a scrambled image may be used to obtain the user's identifier, but if this is unsuccessful or verification fails, another scrambled keyboard image is used and the authentication process is repeated. Upon three unsuccessful attempts using scrambled images, the user may be presented with an image of a non-scrambled keyboard.

It should be noted that a scrambled image may be used in conjunction with a scrambled or non-scrambled operable keyboard. However, when a non-scrambled image is used, it is arranged to mask a scrambled operable keyboard in order to provide the necessary mapping for encoding purposes.

Turning to FIG. 1, the general concept utilised by an embodiment of the invention in relation to an authentication session is shown. In such an application, the keyboard configuration is preferably generated on the device. The authentication method may be expressed as follows.

• • 1. Generate an input string on or at the user's device using biometric data capture or random number generation—see FIG. 1, step 101.
  • 2. Feed the input string into a keyboard generation component (KGC)—step 102
  • 3. The generation component uses the input string to generate a plurality of keyboard configurations—step 103
  • 4. Use one of the keyboard configurations to generate and display an image of a scrambled keyboard, and use the remaining configurations to generate the scrambled, operable keyboards to underlie the image; superimpose the image ‘over’ the active operable keyboard so that when the user provides an input (keystroke) via the image, the active keyboard reads an input into the buffer—step 104
  • 5. Construct an encoded version of user's identifier from multiple inputs detected by the operable keyboards(s)—step 105
  • 6. Send the encoded version of user's identifier and the plurality of keyboard configurations to a remote location for decoding—step 6
  • 7. If the user's inputted identifier is incorrect (ie verification fails), repeat the authentication process; in a subsequent authentication process (eg after three failed attempts) repeat the process using an image of a non-scrambled keyboard with a scrambled operable keyboard

In one implementation, the keyboard configurations which are derived from the (random or biometric) input string can be used as inputs to procedure calls which are executed and placed onto a stack. In such an embodiment, a new keyboard is generated as and when required for each expected keystroke. In an alternative implementation, however, a plurality of keyboards with different configurations may be pre-generated at the start of the session and placed into a data structure. The encoded result can then be generated by iterating over that the data structure.

In yet another implementation, only one mutable, operable keyboard object may be generated. The plurality of configurations may then be used to alter the order of the keys in the same operable keyboard after each keystroke has been detected.

Once the user's encoded identifier has been constructed, it can be sent to a remote server for comparison against the stored version of the identifier. In order to decode the identifier, the server needs to know the mapping of the keys in the keyboard(s) and image. Therefore, the keyboard configurations generated by the user's device are also sent to the server.

The invention may be implemented on a payment terminal. The payment terminal might incorporate a card-reading component so that data can be read from the chip and/or magnetic strip of an IC card, or via NFC/contactless communication technologies. The payment terminal can be a dedicated device for processing payments and authenticating a user for such transactions. Therefore, such a payment terminal is not a general purpose computing device such as a smart phone or PC. In other embodiments, the invention can be implemented on a non-dedicated device such as a mobile phone, tablet computer, personal computer, lap top etc.

Therefore, the invention provides a secure authentication solution even when implemented on a mobile device. The generation of the keyboard configurations on the user's device provides the benefits that processing is performed locally rather than remotely. The combination of biometrics with identifier eg PIN provides a multi-factor authentication which requires the user to be identified on the device (‘who the user is’) and then authenticated by identifier (‘what the user knows’). This alleviates security concerns relating to the use of biometric authentication alone.

It should be noted that the above-mentioned embodiments illustrate rather than limit the invention, and that those skilled in the art will be capable of designing many alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the appended claims. In the claims, any reference signs placed in parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claims. The word “comprising” and “comprises”, and the like, does not exclude the presence of elements or steps other than those listed in any claim or the specification as a whole. In the present specification, “comprises” means “includes or consists of” and “comprising” means “including or consisting of”. The singular reference of an element does not exclude the plural reference of such elements and vice-versa. The invention may be implemented by means of hardware comprising several distinct elements, and by means of a suitably programmed computer. In a device claim enumerating several means, several of these means may be embodied by one and the same item of hardware. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage.

Claims

1. A method of encoding a user's input into an electronic device, the method comprising: generating a plurality of operable keyboards;providing one of the plurality of operable keyboards within a display zone of a screen associated with the electronic device, the provided operable keyboard being an active keyboard;generating a plurality of images of a keyboard;presenting one of the plurality of images within at least part of the display zone such that the presented image superimposes over the active keyboard, wherein the positions of respective keys of the active keyboard do not correspond to the positions of same keys in the presented image; andreceiving user input at one or more locations corresponding to the positions of the keys in the presented image, wherein each input activates a different key of the active keyboard in the corresponding position to generate an encoded version of the user's input,wherein at least one of (1) the layout of the keys of the active keyboard and (2) the layout of the keys depicted in the presented image are scrambled with respect to a reference or expected layout.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is generated at run-time by invoking a subroutine.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards includes at least one of: i) a virtual keyboard;ii) a return key;iii) a space key;iv) at least one punctuation key;v) a delete key;vi) a backspace key;vii) at least one modifier key; andviii) at least one cursor key.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of images depicts a keyboard which is a default keyboard associated with the device.

5. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of images is generated on the device, orat least one of the plurality of images is received by the device from a remote computing resource.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is generated using a keyboard configuration derived using a random or pseudo-random number, or biometric data relating to the user.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the order of the operable keys in at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards or the order of keys depicted in at least one of the plurality of images is at least partially determined using biometric data derived from or associated with the user.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein: the biometric data comprises, or is processed to provide, one or more strings, arrays or sequences of values which are used to specify the order of the keys.

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of operable keyboards is a scrambled keyboard.

10. The method according to any claim 1, wherein: at least one of the plurality of images is an image of a non-scrambled or scrambled keyboard.

11. The method according claim 1, further comprising: transmitting the encoded version of the user's input to a remote computing resource.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein: the electronic device is a mobile phone, a tablet computer, a payment terminal, a portable computing device or a personal computer.

13. The method according to claim 1, further comprising: generating a scrambled keyboard layout based on biometric data related to a user; andgenerating a mapping between the active keyboard and the presented image,wherein the active keyboard or the image is generated using the generated scrambled keyboard layout.

14. A system for encoding a user's input into an electronic device comprising: an electronic device; anda screen associated with the electronic device,wherein the electronic device is configured to: generate a plurality of operable keyboards;provide one of the plurality of operable keyboards within a display zone of a screen associated with the electronic device, the provided operable keyboard being an active keyboard;generate a plurality of images of a keyboard;present one of the plurality of images within at least part of the display zone such that the presented image superimposes over the active keyboard, wherein the positions of respective keys of the active keyboard do not correspond to the positions of same keys in the presented image; andreceive user input at one or more locations corresponding to the positions of the keys in the presented image, wherein each input activates a different key of the active keypad in the corresponding position to generate an encoded version of the user's input,wherein at least one of (1) the layout of the keys of the active keyboard and (2) the layout of the keys depicted in the presented image are scrambled with respect to a reference or expected layout.