Image or pictographic based computer login systems and methods

Abstract

Image based login procedures for computer systems include: (a) displaying a first image on a computer screen; (b) receiving user input indicating a portion of the first image; (c) determining if the user input corresponds to a first acceptable user input for user authentication; and (d) proceeding with the authentication procedure when this user input corresponds to the first acceptable user input for user authentication. Additionally or optionally, when proceeding with this authentication procedure, the systems and methods further may include: displaying a second image on the screen; receiving new user input indicating a portion of the second image; and determining if this new input corresponds to a second acceptable user input for user authentication.

The invention claimed is: 
     
       1. A user authentication method, comprising acts of:
 displaying a first image on a display screen; 
 receiving a first user input comprising a first shape that is drawn around a portion of the displayed first image; 
 performing a first authentication step comprising verifying that the portion of the displayed first image around which the first shape is drawn, matches a designated portion of the first image that is predetermined for user authentication; 
 displaying a second image on the display screen, wherein displaying of the second image provides no indication of a result of the first authentication step; 
 receiving a second user input comprising a second shape that is drawn around a portion of the displayed second image; 
 performing a second authentication step comprising verifying that the portion of the displayed second image around which the second shape is drawn, matches a designated portion of the second image that is predetermined for user authentication; and 
 determining that a user is successfully authenticated upon successful completion of the first and second authentication steps; 
 wherein at least one of the fast or second authentication steps further comprising:
 verifying that the respective first or second shape matches a predetermined shape, and 
 verifying that a direction in which the respective first or second shape is drawn matches a predetermined direction. 
 
 
     
     
       2. The method according to  claim 1 , further comprising an act of:
 allowing the user to access a computer system when the user is determined to be successfully authenticated. 
 
     
     
       3. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein the second image is an enlargement of a part of the first image. 
     
     
       4. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or the second user inputs include electronic ink input. 
     
     
       5. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second authentication steps further comprising verifying that a color used to draw the respective first or second shape matches a predetermined color. 
     
     
       6. The method according to  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first or second authentication steps further comprising verifying that the respective first or second shape is drawn by starting at a predetermined spot of the predetermined shape. 
     
     
       7. A computer-readable storage medium device including computer-executable instructions stored thereon for performing steps of:
 displaying a first image on a display screen; 
 receiving a first user input comprising a first shape that is drawn around a portion of the displayed first image; 
 performing a first authentication step comprising verifying that the portion of the displayed first image around which the first shape is drawn, matches a designated portion of the first image that is predetermined for user authentication; 
 displaying a second image on the display screen, wherein displaying of the second image provides no indication of a result of the first authentication step; 
 receiving a second user input comprising a second shape that is drawn around a portion of the displayed second image; 
 performing a second authentication step comprising verifying that the portion of the displayed second image around which the second shape is drawn, matches a designated portion of the second image that is predetermined for user authentication; and 
 determining that a user is successfully authenticated upon successful completion of the first and second authentication steps; 
 wherein at least one of the first or second authentication steps further comprising:
 verifying that the respective first or second shape matches a predetermined shape, and 
 verifying that the direction in which the respective first or second shape is drawn matches a predetermined direction. 
 
 
     
     
       8. A system, comprising:
 a display screen; 
 an input system for receiving user input; and 
 a processor system programmed to:
 display a first image on the display screen in response to a first user's initiation of a procedure requiring authentication of the first user as an authorized user, wherein the first image comprises a designated portion of the first image that was previously selected by the authorized user as a portion of the first image that must be properly selected when the first image is displayed to the first user for user authentication; 
 receive a first user input via the input system, wherein the first user input indicates a user-selected portion of the displayed first image, 
 
 wherein the first user input comprises a shape that is drawn at least partially around the user-selected portion of the displayed first image; and 
 determine that the first user input constitutes a proper selection of the designated portion of the first image for or user authentication, when the first user it satisfies pre-specified conditions for proper selection of the designated portion of the first image; 
 wherein the pre-specified conditions include:
 a first condition that the user-selected portion of the displayed first image corresponds to the designated portion of the first image at least within a permitted level of variation between the user-selected portion of the displayed first image and the designated portion of the first image, 
 a second condition that the shape that is drawn at least partially around the user-selected portion of the displayed first image matches a predetermined shape, and 
 a third condition that the shape that is drawn at least partially around the user-selected portion of the displayed first image is drawn by starting at a predetermined spot of the predetermined shape. 
 
 
     
     
       9. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor system is further programmed to:
 display a second image on the display screen, wherein
 displaying the second image provides no indication of an improper selection of the designated portion of the first image, and further wherein the second image comprises a designated portion of the second image that was previously selected by the authorized user as a portion of the second image that must be properly selected when the second image is displayed to the first user for user authentication, and 
 receive a second user input via the input system, wherein the second user input indicates a user-selected portion of the displayed second image, and determine if the second user input constitutes a proper selection of the designated portion of the second image for user authentication. 
 
 
     
     
       10. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein when the second user input is determined to be a proper selection of the designated portion of the second image for user authentication, the processor system is further programmed to allow the first user to access a computer system. 
     
     
       11. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the second image is an enlargement of a part of the first image. 
     
     
       12. The system according to  claim 9 , wherein the second user input includes electronic ink input comprising a shape that is drawn at least partially around the user-selected portion of the displayed second image. 
     
     
       13. The system according to  claim 12 , wherein the shape that is drawn at least partially around the user-selected portion of the displayed second image comprises a predetermined shape that is drawn as a condition for proper selection of the designated portion of the second image. 
     
     
       14. The system according to  claim 8 , wherein the processor system is further programmed to allow the first user to access a computer system. 
     
     
       15. A system, comprising:
 a display screen; and   a processor configured to:
 display a first image on the display screen in response to an initiation of an authentication procedure, wherein the first image comprises predesignated portions of the first image that were previously selected as portions of the first image to be selected when the first image is displayed for authentication; 
 receive a first input via an input system, wherein the first input indicates a first selected portion of the displayed first image, wherein the first input comprises a first shape; 
 receive a second input via the input system, wherein the second input indicates a second selected portion of the displayed first image, wherein the second input comprises a second shape; and 
 determine that the first input and the second input are part of proper selection of the predesignated portions of the first image for authentication when the first input and the second input satisfy pre-specified conditions for proper selection of the predesignated portions of the first image, 
 wherein the pre-specified conditions include:
 a condition that each of the first input and the second input match a predetermined shape comprising at least one of: a straight line, a curved line, or a closed shape; and 
 a condition that a first direction that the first shape is drawn in the first input matches a first predetermined direction and that a second direction that the second shape is drawn in the second input matches a second predetermined direction. 
 
   
     
     
       16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the pre-specified conditions further include:
 a condition that the first input and the second input are entered in an order that matches a predetermined order.   
     
     
       17. The system according to claim 15, wherein the first image is a user provided image. 
     
     
       18. The system according to claim 15, wherein the input system includes a touch input system. 
     
     
       19. The system according to claim 15, wherein the processor further configured to:
 determine a first permitted level of variation of the first input based on at least one of: complexity of the first image, the resolution of the first image, the input means, or calculation based on user inputs; and   authenticate the first input based in part on the first permitted level of variation.   
     
     
       20. A system, comprising:
 a display screen; and   a processor configured to:   display a first image on the display screen in response to an initiation of an authentication procedure, wherein the first image comprises a predesignated portion of the first image that was previously selected as a portion of the first image to be selected when the first image is displayed for authentication;   receive a first input via an input system, wherein the first input indicates a selected portion of the displayed first image, wherein the first input comprises a shape that is drawn at least partially around the selected portion of the displayed first image;   determine that the first input constitutes a proper selection of the predesignated portion of the first image for authentication when the first input satisfies pre-specified conditions for proper selection of the predesignated portion of the first image,
 wherein the pre-specified conditions include:
 a condition that the selected portion of the displayed first image corresponds to the predesignated portion of the first image at least within a permitted level of variation between the selected portion of the displayed first image and the predesignated portion of the first image, 
 a condition that the shape that is drawn at least partially around the selected portion of the displayed first image matches a predetermined shape, and 
 a condition that a direction in which the shape is drawn matches a direction characteristic of the predetermined shape. 
 
   
     
     
       21. The system according to claim 20, wherein the shape is a circle. 
     
     
       22. The system according to claim 20, wherein the first image is a user provided image. 
     
     
       23. The system according to claim 20, wherein the input system includes a touch input system. 
     
     
       24. The system according to claim 20, the processor further configured to:
 require that a predetermined number of shapes is received via the input system for authentication.   
     
     
       25. The system according to claim 20, the pre-specified conditions further include:
 a condition that the first input matches a predetermined shape comprising at least one of a curved line or a closed shape.   
     
     
       26. A method, comprising:
 displaying a first image on a display screen in response to an initiation of an authentication procedure, wherein the first image comprises a predesignated portion of the first image that was previously selected as a portion of the first image to be selected when the first image is displayed for authentication;   receiving a first input via an input system, wherein the first input indicates a selected portion of the displayed first image, wherein the first input comprises a shape that is drawn at least partially around the selected portion of the displayed first image;   determining that the first input constitutes a proper selection of the predesignated portion of the first image for authentication when the first input satisfies pre-specified conditions for proper selection of the predesignated portion of the first image,
 wherein the pre-specified conditions include:
 a condition that the selected portion of the displayed first image corresponds to the predesignated portion of the first image at least within a permitted level of variation between the selected portion of the displayed first image and the predesignated portion of the first image, 
 a condition that the shape that is drawn at least partially around the selected portion of the displayed first image matches a predetermined shape, and 
 a condition that a direction in which the shape is drawn matches a direction characteristic of the predetermined shape. 
 
   
     
     
       27. The method of claim 26, wherein the shape is a circle. 
     
     
       28. The method of claim 26, wherein the first image is a user provided image. 
     
     
       29. The method of claim 26, wherein the input system includes a touch input system. 
     
     
       30. The method of claim 26, further comprising:
 determining a first permitted level of variation of the first input based on at least one of: complexity of the first image, the resolution of the first image, the input means, or calculation based on user inputs; and   authenticating the first input based in part on the first permitted level of variation.