Method for securing data input, communications terminal and corresponding program

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11295038-B2
Application number	US-201716467757-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 27, 2017
Priority date	Dec 9, 2016
Publication date	Apr 5, 2022
Grant date	Apr 5, 2022

Abstract

A method for securing entry of sensitive data, the method being implemented by a communications terminal having a processor, an entry touchpad screen on which the entry of sensitive data is carried out. Such a method includes: displaying a random keypad for the entry of a confidential code; receiving, by the processor, a reference pad display signal; and displaying the reference keypad, the reference keypad being inactive.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A method for securing entry of sensitive data, the method being implemented by a communications terminal comprising a processor and an entry touchpad screen on which the entry of sensitive data is carried out, wherein the method comprises:
displaying on the entry touchpad screen an active random keypad for entry of a confidential code, wherein the active random keypad allows entering the sensitive data;
receiving a key press of a key of the communications terminal from a user wishing to enter the sensitive data and responsively generating a display signal for displaying a reference keypad;
while the active random keypad is being displayed, receiving, by the processor, the display signal for displaying the reference keypad; and
displaying, by the processor, the reference keypad on the entry touchpad screen, said reference keypad being inactive and preventing entry of the sensitive data via the reference keypad and said reference keypad overlapping at least part of said active random keypad.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the reference keypad is preceded by masking the active random keypad.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the the key is situated at a pre-determined location of the communications terminal, leading to transmission of the display signal for the reference keypad to the processor.

4. The method according to claim 3 , wherein the displaying of the reference keypad ends at an interruption of the display signal and wherein the interruption of the display signal takes place at an interruption of the pressing on said key.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the displaying of the reference keypad ends at an interruption of the display signal.

6. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said reference keypad is displayed on said touchpad screen of said communications terminal in the form of an image representing a reference keypad.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein a size of the image representing the reference keypad is smaller than a size of the active random keypad.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein said active random keypad has a shape different from that of said reference keypad.

9. A communications terminal for securing entry of sensitive data and comprising:
a processor;
an entry touchpad screen on which the entry of sensitive data is carried out; and
a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon, which when executed by the processor configure the communications terminal to perform acts comprising:
displaying on the entry touchpad screen an active random keypad for entry of a confidential code, wherein the active random keypad allows entering the sensitive data;
receiving a key press of a key of the communications terminal from a user wishing to enter the sensitive data and responsively generating a display signal for displaying a reference keypad;
while the active random keypad is being displayed, receiving, by the processor, the display signal for displaying the reference keypad; and
displaying, by the processor, the reference keypad on the entry touchpad screen, said reference keypad being inactive and preventing entry of the sensitive data via the reference keypad and said reference keypad overlapping at least part of said active random keypad.

10. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising a computer program product stored thereon, which comprises program code instructions for executing a method of securing entry of sensitive data on a communications terminal, when the instructions are executed by a processor of the communications terminal, wherein the instructions configure the communications terminal to:
displaying on an entry touchpad screen of the communications terminal an active random keypad for entry of a confidential code, wherein the active random keypad allows entering the sensitive data;
receiving a key press of a key of the communications terminal from a user wishing to enter the sensitive data and responsively generating a display signal for displaying a reference keypad;
while the active random keypad is being displayed, receiving, by the processor, the display signal for displaying the reference keypad; and
displaying, by the processor, the reference keypad on the entry touchpad screen, said reference keypad being inactive and preventing entry of the sensitive data via the reference keypad and said reference keypad overlapping at least part of said active random keypad.

Assignees

• Banks And Acquirers Int Holding

Inventors

• Marcon Jerome

Classifications

• G07F7/1041

  PIN input keyboard gets new key allocation at each use · CPC title

• G06F21/6245

  Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes · CPC title

• G07F7/1091 Primary

  Use of an encrypted form of the PIN · CPC title

• G06F3/04886

  by partitioning the display area of the touch-screen or the surface of the digitising tablet into independently controllable areas, e.g. virtual keyboards or menus · CPC title

• G06Q20/4012

  Verifying personal identification numbers [PIN] · CPC title