# US 9,519,296 B1 · Randomized input device heating

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- Number: US 9,519,296 B1
- Document ID: US9519296B1
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B1
- Application number: 14/974,688
- Filed: 2015-12-18
- Granted: 2016-12-13
- Earliest claimed: 2015-08-26
- Assignees: International Business Machines Corporation
- Applicants: International Business Machines Corporation
- Inventors: Brendan Murray
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9519296B1

## CPC

- G06F 21/6254: {by anonymising data, e.g. decorrelating personal data from the owner's identification}
- G05B 15/02: electric
- G05D 23/1917: {using digital means}
- G06F 21/6209: {to a single file or object, e.g. in a secure envelope, encrypted and accessed using a key, or with access control rules appended to the object itself}
- G06F 21/83: input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
- G06Q 20/40: Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
- G06Q 20/4012: {Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN]}
- G06Q 20/40145: {Biometric identity checks}
- G06Q 20/4018: {using the card verification value [CVV] associated with the card}
- H04L 9/32: including means for verifying the identity or authority of a user of the system {or for message authentication, e.g. authorization, entity authentication, data integrity or data verification, non-repudiation, key authentication or verification of credentials}
- H04L 9/3226: {using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083)}
- H05B 1/0227: {Applications}
- G06F 2221/2113: Multi-level security, e.g. mandatory access control
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G05B: CONTROL OR REGULATING SYSTEMS IN GENERAL; FUNCTIONAL ELEMENTS OF SUCH SYSTEMS; MONITORING OR TESTING ARRANGEMENTS FOR SUCH SYSTEMS OR ELEMENTS (systems for controlling or regulating non-electric variables G05D; systems for regulating electric or magnetic variables G05F; control devices or systems insofar as characterised by mechanical features only G05G)
- G05D: SYSTEMS FOR CONTROLLING OR REGULATING NON-ELECTRIC VARIABLES
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- H05B: ELECTRIC HEATING; ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR; CIRCUIT ARRANGEMENTS FOR ELECTRIC LIGHT SOURCES, IN GENERAL

## Abstract

A security code input may be obfuscated from a thermal imaging device by randomly heating a random set of inputs of an input device. The security code is inputted on an input device, which communicates with a security system to grant or deny access to a user based on an entry of the security code. The input device includes a plurality of hearing elements. The input device may receive an input from the user. A random set of heating elements including one or more heating elements, are generated from the plurality of heating elements. A temperature is determined for the one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements. The temperature is then applied to the one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements of the input device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method for obfuscating a security code, the method comprising:
measuring an ambient temperature of an input device;
displaying the input device on a graphical user interface;
receiving an input from a user on the input device that grants access to a user based on an entry of a security code, the input device coupled to a plurality of heating elements;
communicating, in response to receiving the input, a random audible tone to the user;
recording a temperature of the input of the user on the input device;
generating, in response to receiving the input, a random set of heating elements including one or more heating elements of the plurality of heating elements;
determining a temperature of a temperature range for heating one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements based on the temperature of the input of the user, wherein the temperature range includes:
an upper threshold of the temperature range which is the temperature of the input of the user, and
a lower threshold of the temperature range which is the ambient temperature of the input device; and
applying the temperature of the temperature range to each of the one or more heating elements of the random set of heating elements.