Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – System access control based on user identification by... – Pin/password generator device
Patent
1997-03-14
2000-04-25
Laufer, Pinchus M.
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
System access control based on user identification by...
Pin/password generator device
380 56, 380 52, 380 26, H04K 100
Patent
active
060556358
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method of facilitating authorized and simultaneously restraining unauthorized access to a multitude of alphanumeric sequences which are each associated with a specific access element such as a credit card, a code key for a door lock, coded equipment or the like. The invention also relates to a device for carrying out the method.
BACKGROUND ART
In today's computerized cashless world, there is an increasing use of access elements in the form of coded cards, for instance bank credit cards, code keys and the like, for enabling access to cash dispensers, petrol pumps, door locks, dator equipments or the like. In order to reduce the risk that any unauthorized person will use the access elements, it is recommended that the authorized person should memorise the alphanumeric sequences but not record them anywhere, or at least store such recorded sequences separately from the access elements.
Memory aiding devices have been proposed, where a possessor of a multitude of different sequences only has to remember one single password, which enables each one of the sequences to be retrieved. Such aiding devices are disclosed in GB-A-2 261 540, DK-B-164 309, EP-A-0 382 410 and EP-A-0 546 681.
The known methods are based upon the use of very bulky patterns of numerals where the correct sequences are hidden among a plurality of other numerals. A separate code key, for instance a slide means or a transparent window means, is then used to expose the correct sequence by use of a password which defines a correct orientation of the code key.
The known aiding devices are bulky and are so cumbersome to use, that they often require that the authorized person has to sit down at a table in order to accurately manage to handle the aiding means and retrieve the correct sequence. For a person standing in the street in a bank cash machine queue it would hardly be possible to readily retrieve the correct sequence by means of such cumbersome aiding means.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The object of this invention is to propose a method and a device of the kind mentioned by way of introduction, which is easier to use and where the device for carrying out the method is much less bulky.
The invention is based on the teaching that the correct sequences shall be encrypted by a mathematical manipulation by means of an encrypting sequence ("aiding sequence") common to every correct sequence, such that the possessor of the sequences only has to memorise said common encrypting sequence. The encrypted sequence may then be written down on the associated access element (credit card or the like) as a fictitious sequence. This fictitious sequence is of no use for any unauthorized person who is not in possession of the encrypting sequence. When the fictitious sequence is to be decoded, a reversed mathematical manipulation of the encrypting sequence is done by means of the fictitious sequence.
The authorized owner of the sequences has always the fictitious sequence handy, for instance it may be written directly on the access element, and he must only remember the encrypting sequence in order to be able to retrieve the correct sequence.
The aiding means required by this invention only consists of an alphanumeric numeral indicator, which can be designed so small that it may be fastened in a wallet or purse without intruding on other spaces of the wallet.
Further developments of the invention are set forth in the subclaims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
The invention will be described in further detail by reference to the accompanying drawings which illustrate some embodiments of the invention.
FIG. 1 illustrates a credit card wallet provided with an electronic device embodying features of the invention.
FIG. 2 illustrates a mechanical embodiment of a device embodying features of the invention.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
FIG. 1 shows a credit card wallet 1, the inside of which has, in the embodiment shown, five credit card pockets 2-6 for receiving a respective one of five credit cards 7-11. The credit
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