3D Pass-Go

Abstract

A 3D graphical password authentication method displays a 3D grid upon a user's request to access a restricted resource. The 3D graphical password authentication method requires the user to enter his or her access password by touching one or more intersections, namely touching the corresponding sensitive areas, on the 3D grid with an input device. A password is then produced as a sequence of the coordinates of the intersections touched along with penup values.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented password authentication method comprising:
 a. displaying a three-dimensional (3D) grid with a plurality of horizontal lines in the directions of X-axis and Y-axis and a plurality of vertical lines in the direction of Z-axis on a screen of a mobile device upon a user's request to access a restricted resource;   b. receiving a password entered by said user using an input device of the mobile device by touching sensitive areas surrounding four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid, wherein the password is encoded as a sequence of 3D coordinates of said four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid; and   c. granting access to said user if the entered password matches a predetermined password.   
     
     
         2 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of said four or more non-coplanar intersections is located on an exterior corner of said 3D grid. 
     
     
         3 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , wherein the sensitive areas are visible to said user. 
     
     
         4 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , wherein said 3D grid includes predetermined number of reference aids, and wherein said reference aids are placed at predetermined positions along said 3D grid. 
     
     
         5 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 4 , wherein said reference aids comprise a predetermined number of reference dots having predetermined shape, size, pattern and color, and wherein said reference dots are placed at predetermined positions along said 3D grid. 
     
     
         6 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 4 , wherein said reference aids comprise a predetermined number of reference cells with predetermined shape, size, pattern and color, and wherein said reference cells are placed at predetermined positions along said 3D grid. 
     
     
         7 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 4 , wherein said reference aids comprise a predetermined number of reference lines with predetermined shape, size, pattern and color, and wherein said reference lines are placed at predetermined positions along said 3D grid. 
     
     
         8 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , wherein said 3D grid is zoomed in or out. 
     
     
         9 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , wherein said 3D grid is rotated or flipped. 
     
     
         10 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 1 , further comprising using an indicator means to notify and acknowledge user input. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 10 , wherein said indicator means is a visual dot indicator appeared simultaneously on a touched intersection as a response to the user input, and wherein said visual dot indicator has a predetermined size, shape, pattern and color. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-implemented password authentication method of  claim 10 , wherein said indicator means is a visual line indicator appeared simultaneously whenever two intersections are continuously touched without a break, and said visual line indicator is drawn from a first touched intersection to a second touched intersection on said 3D grid as a response to the user input, and wherein said visual line indicator has a predetermined size, shape, pattern and color. 
     
     
         13 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions that are executable by a processor to carry out a password authentication method, the password authentication method comprising:
 a. displaying a three-dimensional (3D) grid with a plurality of horizontal lines in the directions of X-axis and Y-axis and a plurality of vertical lines in the direction of Z-axis on a screen of a mobile device upon a user's request to access a restricted resource; and   b. receiving a password entered by said user using an input device of the mobile device by touching sensitive areas surrounding four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid, wherein the password is encoded as a sequence of 3D coordinates of said four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid; and   c. granting access to said user if the entered password matches a predetermined password.   
     
     
         14 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein at least one of said four or more non-coplanar intersections is located on an exterior corner of said 3D grid. 
     
     
         15 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the sensitive areas are visible to said user. 
     
     
         16 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said 3D grid includes predetermined number of reference aids, and wherein said reference aids are placed at predetermined positions along said 3D grid. 
     
     
         17 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said 3D grid is zoomed in or out. 
     
     
         18 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein said 3D grid is rotated or flipped. 
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein the password authentication method further comprises using an indicator means to notify and acknowledge user input. 
     
     
         20 . A password authentication system, the password authentication system comprising:
 a. a display unit configured to display a three-dimensional (3D) grid with a plurality of horizontal lines in the directions of X-axis and Y-axis and a plurality of vertical lines in the direction of Z-axis on a screen of a mobile device upon a user's request to access a restricted resource; and   b. an interface unit configured to receive a password entered by said user using an input device of the mobile device by touching sensitive areas surrounding four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid, wherein the sensitive areas are visible to said user, and wherein the password is encoded as a sequence of 3D coordinates of said four or more non-coplanar intersections of said 3D grid; and   c. a control unit configured to grant access to said user if the entered password matches a predetermined password.