Authenticating human interface device

A system comprising a computer (PC) and an authentication device (TK), the authentication device (TK) comprises a mechanism by which the authentication device (TK) identifies itself to a computer (PC) as a native human interface device selected from the set including the elements mouse and keyboard, comprises a connector and interface mechanism to communicate with the computer (PC) as a native human interface device, and transmits to the computer (PC) authentication credentials in the manner of a native human interface device protocol, wherein if the authentication device identifies itself to the computer as a mouse, the transmitting comprises sending data to the computer by simulating mouse events by encoding logic one as a first mouse event and by encoding logic zero as a second mouse event distinct from the first mouse event, whereas if the authentication device identifies itself to the computer as a keyboard, the transmitting comprises sending data to the computer by simulating keyboard events indicative of a long press of a key to indicate logic zero or logic one and a short press to indicate the opposite logic value of a long press;

• and
• the computer (PC) comprises a mechanism by which a program executing on the computer (PC) receives data from the authentication device using the native human interface device protocol to encode the authentication credential as a string of bits simulating human-interface device events according to a predetermined protocol wherein bits in the authentication credential having the value zero are encoded using a certain event and bits in the authentication credential having the value one as a certain other human-interface device event thereby receiving authentication credentials from the authentication device via the connector and interface mechanism whereby the authentication device may be recognized by the computer without installation of any non-native software.

A method to have a computer (PC) recognize an authentication device (TK), comprising:

• operating the authentication device (TK) to communicate with the computer (PC) as a native human interface device according to a connector and interface mechanism and to identify itself to the computer (PC) as a native human interface device selected from the set including the elements mouse and keyboard;
• operating the authentication device to transmit authentication credentials to the computer over a native human interface device protocol, wherein if the authentication device identifies itself to the computer as a mouse, the transmitting comprises sending data to the computer by simulating mouse events by encoding logic one as a first mouse event and by encoding logic zero as a second mouse event distinct from the first mouse event, whereas if the authentication device identifies itself to the computer as a keyboard, the transmitting comprises sending data to the computer by simulating keyboard events indicative of a long press of a key to indicate logic zero or logic one and a short press to indicate the opposite logic value of a long press;
• and
• operating the computer (PC) according to instructions of a program to receive authentication credentials from the authentication device (TK) over the native human interface device protocol via the connector and interface mechanism whereby the authentication device may be recognized by the computer without installation of any non-native software, wherein the authentication credential is encoded as a string of bits as simulated human-interface device events according to a predetermined protocol, wherein bits in the authentication credential having the value zero are encoded using a certain event and bits in the authentication credential having the value one as a certain other human-interface device event.