Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for variable keyboard display

US5949348A · kind A · utility

76Cited by
12References
7Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateApr 26, 1994
Grant dateSep 7, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateApr 26, 2014

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC G)Physics
  • CPC primaryG07F7/1041
  • WIPO fieldControl
  • WIPO sectorInstruments

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing and using a variable format, configuration and location keyboard image which enables a digitizing device to present a different keyboard configuration and/or location to each user so that detection by an unauthorized viewer of a personal identification number (PIN) or other secret identification number during entry will become significantly more difficult. The presentation may include a random or scrambled keyboard entry image for each customer, and a single or set of customer preselected images that will be tied to the customer's account number which is read from the magnetic strip on a personal card. In addition to the keyboard, the device provides a single write surface for capturing a signature entry so that the two security features are incorporated in a single device.

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.