User access control based on a graphical signature
AssigneeBarclays Bank PLC
InventorsAndrew Whaley, George French, Jeremy Goldstone, Ian Sayers
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A user inputs a pattern consisting of a plurality of lines. The lines are classified by relative length, overall direction and degree of curvature. Where a line is started from a new position, the direction from the previous starting point is taken into account. The series of lines is then serialised into a key value, which may then be used to decrypt data stored on a device. This enables data to be securely stored since the key is supplied by the user at runtime and is not itself stored on the device.
Claims14
A method of generating a cryptographic key for encryption and/or decryption of data stored locally on a device, the method comprising the steps of:
- i. receiving a graphical pattern from a user as input to the device,
- ii. dividing the graphical pattern into a sequence of lines,
- iii. deriving values for a plurality of predetermined parameters of the sequence of lines, and
- iv. generating the cryptographic key from the derived values;
- wherein the plurality of predetermined parameters include directions, defined relative to one of the sequence of lines, of a respective plurality of other ones of the sequence of lines.
A method of authenticating a user on a mobile device, the method comprising the steps of:
- i. receiving a graphical pattern from a user as input to the device,
- ii. dividing the graphical pattern into a sequence of lines,
- iii. deriving values for a plurality of predetermined parameters of the sequence of lines, and
- iv. authenticating the user by the derived values;
- wherein the plurality of predetermined parameters include directions, defined relative to one of the sequence of lines, of a respective plurality of other ones of the sequence of lines.
12-13. (canceled)
A mobile device comprising:
- memory storing data,
- a processor running an application, and
- a graphical input device,
- wherein the graphical input device is arranged to receive a graphical pattern from a user and to divide the graphical pattern into a sequence of lines, and an application is arranged to derive values for a plurality of predetermined parameters of the sequence of lines, and to generate a cryptographic key from the derived values, wherein the cryptographic key is operable to decrypt and/or encrypt the data, and wherein the plurality of predefined parameters include directions, defined relative to one of the sequence of lines, of a respective plurality of other ones of the sequence of lines.
A mobile device comprising:
- memory storing data,
- a processor running an application, and
- a graphical input device, wherein the graphical input device is arranged to receive a graphical pattern from a user and to divide the graphical pattern into a sequence of lines, and an application is arranged to derive values for a plurality of predetermined parameters of the sequence of lines, and to authenticate the user by the derived values;
- and wherein the predefined parameters include directions, defined relative to one of the sequence of lines, of a respective plurality of other ones of the sequence of lines.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.