Method and apparatus for using a finger swipe interface to control a system

A method executable on a computing device for using a finger swipe interface to control the functionality of a system implemented on the computing device, the computing device including a processor, a memory operatively connected to the processor and a display device operatively connected to the processor, the finger swipe interface being operatively connected to the computing device and capable of sensing an ordered sequence of M spatial movements performed by a specified object between a preselected set of P spatial points in proximity to the finger swipe interface, the method comprising the following steps:

• (a) storing, in a memory of a computing device, a key swipe pattern including a set of MK ordered movements to be executed between a set of PK spatial points;
• (b) storing, in the memory of the computing device, a key secondary indicia, the key secondary indicia being selected from a set of S different available secondary indicia;
• (c) initializing the finger swipe cycle by setting value N=1;
• (d) sensing, using a finger swipe interface operatively connected to the computing device, a pick(N) swipe pattern including a set of MN ordered movements executed in real time between a set of PN spatial points by a specified object in proximity to the finger swipe interface;
• (e) transferring the pick(N) swipe pattern from the finger swipe interface to the computing device and storing the pick(N) swipe pattern in the memory of the computing device using a processor operatively connected to the memory;
• (f) comparing, using the processor, the pick(N) swipe pattern stored in the memory to the key swipe pattern stored in the memory;
• (g) storing, in the memory, a “positive” swipe(N) result if the pick(N) swipe pattern is the key swipe pattern and storing, in the memory, a “negative” swipe(N) result if the pick(N) swipe pattern is not the key swipe pattern;
• (h) retrieving the swipe(N) result from the memory and displaying, on a display device operatively connected to the processor and having a plurality of discrete display locations, an array(N) of SN different secondary indicia selected from the set of S available secondary indicia,
• wherein each secondary indicia of the array(N) of SN secondary indicia is disposed in a different respective discrete display location of the plurality of discrete display locations,
• wherein the selection of which particular secondary indicia of the array(N) is to be located in each respective discrete display location is performed using one of a random or pseudo-random selection, and
• wherein if the “positive” swipe(N) result is retrieved from the memory, the array(N) of SN secondary indicia includes
• the key secondary indicia, and
• a set(N) of (SN−1) different non-key secondary indicia selected from the S available secondary indicia, and
• wherein if a “negative” swipe(N) result is retrieved from the memory, the array(N) of SN secondary indicia includes
• a set(N) of SN different non-key secondary indicia selected from the S available secondary indicia;
• (i) sensing, using the processor, a pick(N) secondary indicia selected in real time from the array(N) of SN secondary indicia displayed on the display device;
• (j) storing the pick(N) secondary indicia in the memory of the computing device;
• (k) comparing, using the processor, the pick(N) secondary indicia stored in the memory to the key secondary indicia stored in the memory;
• and
• (L) controlling, using the processor, a system implemented on the computing device to function in a first manner if the pick(N) secondary indicia is the key secondary indicia;
• and
• (m) controlling, using the processor, the system implemented on the computing device to function in a second manner if the pick(N) secondary indicia is a non-key secondary indicia.

A computing device for controlling the functionality of a system implemented on the computing device using a finger swipe interface, comprising:

• a processor;
• a memory operatively connected to the processor;
• a display device operatively connected to the processor;
• a finger swipe interface operatively connected to the processor and capable of sensing an ordered sequence of M spatial movements performed by a specified object between a preselected set of P spatial points in proximity to the finger swipe interface;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for storing, in the memory of the computing device, a key swipe pattern including a set of MK ordered movements to be executed between a set of PK spatial points;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for storing, in the memory of the computing device, a key secondary indicia, the key secondary indicia being selected from a set of S different available secondary indicia;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for initializing the finger swipe cycle by setting value N=1;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for sensing, using the finger swipe interface operatively connected to the computing device, a pick(N) swipe pattern including a set of MN ordered movements executed in real time between a set of PN spatial points by a specified object in proximity to the finger swipe interface;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for transferring the pick(N) swipe pattern from the finger swipe interface to the computing device and storing the pick(N) swipe pattern in the memory of the computing device using the processor;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for comparing, using the processor, the pick(N) swipe pattern stored in the memory to the key swipe pattern stored in the memory;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for storing, in the memory, a “positive” swipe(N) result if the pick(N) swipe pattern is the key swipe pattern and storing, in the memory, a “negative” swipe(N) result if the pick(N) swipe pattern is not the key swipe pattern;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for retrieving the swipe(N) result from the memory and displaying, on a display device operatively connected to the processor and having a plurality of discrete display locations, an array(N) of SN different secondary indicia selected from the set of S available secondary indicia,
• wherein each secondary indicia of the array(N) of SN secondary indicia is disposed in a different respective discrete display location of the plurality of discrete display locations,
• wherein the selection of which particular secondary indicia of the array(N) is to be located in each respective discrete display location is performed using one of a random or pseudo-random selection, and
• wherein if the “positive” swipe(N) result is retrieved from the memory, the array(N) of SN secondary indicia includes
• the key secondary indicia, and
• a set(N) of (SN−1) different non-key secondary indicia selected from the S available secondary indicia, and
• wherein if a “negative” swipe(N) result is retrieved from the memory, the array(N) of SN secondary indicia includes
• a set(N) of SN different non-key secondary indicia selected from the S available secondary indicia;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for sensing, using the processor, a pick(N) secondary indicia selected in real time from the array(N) of SN secondary indicia displayed on the display device;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for storing the pick(N) secondary indicia in the memory of the computing device;
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for comparing, using the processor, the pick(N) secondary indicia stored in the memory to the key secondary indicia stored in the memory;
• and
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for controlling, using the processor, a system implemented on the computing device to function in a first manner if the pick(N) secondary indicia is the key secondary indicia;
• and
• executable code stored in the memory of the computing device for controlling, using the processor, the system implemented on the computing device to function in a second manner if the pick(N) secondary indicia is a non-key secondary indicia.