1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to password input systems and, particularly, to a touch-screen based password input system and an electronic device having the same.
2. Description of Related Art
Generally, passwords, such as personal identification numbers (PINs), are inputted via a physical or virtual keyboard to gain access to resources. However, when inputting a password by the keyboard, users must take the extra precaution to look at the keyboard, find and press desired keys sequentially. This task is not convenient.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a touch-screen based password input system and an electronic device having the same, which can overcome the above-mentioned problems.
Referring to
The multi-touch screen 20, such as a liquid crystal display (LCD) based touch panel, is configured for receiving and detecting user inputs, each of which involves tapping at least one point of the multi-touch screen 20 simultaneously. For example, the multi-touch screen 20 can detect a first user input 210 of tapping the multi-touch screen 20 with one finger, as shown in
The password input system 10 is configured for interpreting a sequence of user inputs as a password and inputting the password to the electronic device 100 for authentication, to prove identity or gain access to resources of the electronic device 100. For example, in this embodiment, the password input system 10 can interpret a sequence of user inputs into a PIN. In detail, if the user inputs 210, 230, 240, as shown in
The detecting unit 12 is configured for determining the numbers of touch point(s) of each of the sequence of user inputs. For example, the determining unit 12 can count the numbers of touch point(s) of the user inputs 210, 230, 240, as shown in
The storing unit 14 is configured for storing a character database which includes a collection of numbers of touch point(s) and a collection of machine-readable characters, where each machine-readable character is associated with a corresponding number of touch point(s). In this embodiment, all the machine-readable characters are numerals. To provide better understanding of the character database, an example is given below. However, the character database is not limited to this embodiment, but can be set and edited by manufacturers or users.
The indexing unit 16 is configured for looking up matching machine-readable characters of the numbers of touch point(s) of the user inputs in the character database. For example, the indexing unit 16 looks up matching machine-readable characters for the user inputs 210, 230, 240, as shown in
The outputting unit 18 is configured for outputting the matching machine-readable characters to the electronic device 100, e.g., a processor of the electronic device 100, sequentially, as a password. For example, the outputting unit 18 of this embodiment can output a PIN “120”.
When inputting a password using the password input system 10, users are free from the inconvenience of looking at a keypad to find the desired keys, therefore inputting passwords become easier, as compared to using keypads.
While various exemplary and preferred embodiments have been described, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited thereto. To the contrary, various modifications and similar arrangements (as would be apparent to those skilled in the art) are intended to also be covered. Therefore, the scope of the appended claims should be accorded the broadest interpretation so as to encompass all such modifications and similar arrangements.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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200810303309.2 | Aug 2008 | CN | national |