GB2419733A

GB2419733A - Device and method of making a device for encoding and remembering pin-codes

Info

Publication number: GB2419733A
Application number: GB0424211A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roy Talbot
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-11-01
Filing date: 2004-11-01
Publication date: 2006-05-03
Also published as: GB0424211D0

Abstract

Device and method and kit for making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word is disclosed, where digits of the personal identification number are encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word. The device comprises: a substrate having recorded thereon : a sequence of alphabetical letters including at least the letters of the personal identification word; a first sequence of numerical digits including at least the first digit of the personal identification number, digits of the first sequence of digits being positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters, wherein a digit of the first sequence of digits that is the first digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is the first letter of the personal identification word, and wherein other digits of the sequence og digits are positioned on the substrate to correspond to other letters of the sequence of letters; and subsequent sequences of numerical digits for respective subsequent digits of the personal identification number and letters of the personal identification word, so that all of the digits of the personal identification number are recorded in respective positions on the substrate that correspond to respective letters of the personal identification word. The card can have a registration code recorded for return to an owner when lost. The card can have advertising material recorded on it. The card can have printed numerical digits adhered to it.

Description

1 2419733 REMEMBERING PERSONAL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERS (PINS) This

invention relates to a method and device for remembering personal identification numbers. In particular, this invention relates to a method and device for remembering personal identification numbers of the type used in connection with bank and credit cards.

A known method of security in relation to bank and credit cards is the use of a personal identification number (PIN). The PIN, which is typically a four digit numerical code, is issued and known only to an authorised user of the card, and must be memorised by that user. When the user wishes to use the bank or credit card in a cash related transaction, the user is required to enter the PIN into a keyboard associated with a computer based device.

Card issuers usually instruct users not to disclose their PIN to any third party and not to record the PIN on the surface of the card. To assist users in memorising their PIN, many card issuers provide a facility whereby a user may change the initial, randomly generated PIN to one that is more memorable.

However, card issuers also usually recommend that users do not share the same PIN for different cards in their possession, since it is believed that PIN- sharing may make a user more susceptible to card fraud.

There is thus a need for a means to aid a user in remembering a PIN. In particular, there is a significant need for a means to aid a user in remembering a plurality of different PINs.

A number of different methods for remembering a PIN were disclosed by www. chipandpin.co.uk (in October 2004). These include learning the pattern of the PIN digits on a keyboard, using the digits of an anniversary or birthday as the PIN, and speaking the PIN aloud in private several times.

GB 2261540 disclosed a device for use in recording and determining a PIN for a bank or credit card. The device comprises a substrate having recorded thereon potential digits of the PIN and a second member for recording the relative positions on the substrate of the actual digits of the PIN. The PIN is thus recorded in encoded form. The second member can be used in conjunction with the substrate to decode and determine the recorded PIN.

According to a first aspect of the invention, there is provided a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the device comprising a substrate having recorded thereon: a sequence of alphabetical letters including at least the letters of the personal identification word; a first sequence of numerical digits including at least the first digit of the personal identification number, digits of the first sequence of digits being positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters, wherein a digit of the first sequence of digits that is the first digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is the first letter of the personal identification word, and wherein other digits of the sequence of digits are positioned on the substrate to correspond to other letters of the sequence of letters; and subsequent sequences of numerical digits for respective subsequent digits of the personal identification number and letters of the personal identification word, so that all of the digits of the personal identification number are recorded in respective positions on the substrate that correspond to respective letters of the personal identification word.

The invention thus provides a device that may serve as a memory aid for remembering a PIN. Only a user of the PIN knows the personal identification word (P1W) that has been assigned to the PIN, and so only the user can use the device to determine the PIN.

For example, a PIN consisting of the numerical digits "1234" may be encoded as the word "CODE". In this case, the digit "1" in the first sequence of digits is positioned on the substrate to correspond to the letter "C", the digit "2" in the second sequence of digits is positioned on the substrate to correspond to the letter "0", the digit "3" in the third sequence of digits is positioned on the substrate to correspond to the letter "D", and the digit "4" in the fourth sequence of digits is positioned on the substrate to correspond to the letter "E".

In use, a user reads the digit in each sequence of digits corresponding to a respective letter of the P1W, thereby decoding the PIN.

It is, of course, important that the user memorises the P1W and does not write it down. However, the P1W may comprise a sequence of alphabetical letters that spell a memorable word, and thus may be easier to memorise than the PIN.

One advantage of the P1W is that there are many more permutations available for a P1W of a given length than there are for a PIN of the same length. A P1W is thus at least as secure as a PIN in the sense that there is a very small chance that it will be guessed or determined by attempting all possible permutations.

Digits of the sequences of digits may be positioned on the substrate to each correspond to one letter of the sequence of letters. For example, if the sequence of letters comprises twenty six letters then the sequence of digits comprises twenty six digits. Alternatively, digits of the sequences of digits may be positioned on the substrate to each correspond to two or three letters of the sequence of letters. For example, if the sequence of letters comprises twenty six letters then the sequence of digits comprises thirteen or nine digits.

The substrate may have recorded thereon a registration code for facilitating the return of the device to an owner when lost, or advertising material. A central database of registration codes and card owners could then be provided.

Advertising material could comprise advice on bank or credit card security.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the substrate may have recorded thereon a plurality of sets of sequences of numerical digits, each set being for a different pin number. For example, there may be four sets and each set may comprise four sequences of digits, thereby providing a capacity of four PINs each having four digits. This embodiment is particularly advantageous in that it enables a composite P1W to be used with multiple PINs without any need for PIN-sharing. For example, the composite P1W "SECURITY" could be used with two four digit PINs, the P1W for the first PIN being "SECU" and the P1W for the second PIN being "RITY".

In the above embodiment, the substrate preferably has recorded thereon a description associated with each set of sequences, the description describing the card to which the respective personal identification number relates. Thus, the description is essentially a label such as "BANK A" or "CREDIT CARD B".

Each sequence of numerical digits preferably comprises the digits from 0 to 9 in random order. The digits may alternatively be arranged in numerical order.

Other orders are possible.

The sequences of alphabetical letters and numerical digits are preferably arranged in rows. However, arrangement in columns is also possible. The sequence of letters may be repeated for each sequence of digits so that the sequences of letters and digits alternate.

The substrate may be a label for adhering to a bank or credit card, or be a bank or credit card sized card.

According to a second aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the method comprising: recording on a substrate a sequence of alphabetical letters including at least the letters of the personal identification word; recording on the substrate a first sequence of numerical digits including at least the first digit of the personal identification number, digits of the first sequence of digits being positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters, wherein a digit of the first sequence of digits that is the first digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is the first letter of the personal identification word, and wherein the other digits of the sequence of digits are positioned on the substrate to correspond to other letters of the sequence of letters; and repeating the previous step by recording on the substrate subsequent sequences of numerical digits for respective subsequent digits of the personal identification number and letters of the personal identification word, so that all of the digits of the personal identification number are recorded in respective positions on the substrate that correspond to respective letters of the personal identification word.

The sequences of digits recorded on the substrate may include further digits that are positioned at one or both of the ends of the sequences, and which do not correspond to letters of the sequence of letters. The further digits, either on their own or in combination with pre-printed digits or letters, may form user generated codes that may be used for marketing, loyalty, reward and promotional purposes. Such purposes may require a user to register the user generated codes with a central database.

The invention also provides a computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the method described above. The computer program may embodied on a computer readable medium. For example, the computer program may be stored on a computer server and made available over the Internet so that users can make the device using the computer program.

According to a third aspect of the invention, there is provided a kit for making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the kit comprising: a substrate; and instructions embodying the method of making the device described above.

For example, one embodiment may provide a kit for making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word. The kit comprises: a substrate having recorded thereon a sequence of all letters of an alphabet, and having spaces for a plurality of sequences of numerical digits such that digits of the sequences are positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters; and a plurality of labels each bearing a sequence of numerical digits from 0 to 9, the labels being for adhering to the spaces on the substrate, wherein the labels may adhered to the substrate so that a digit of each sequence of digits that is a respective digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is a respective letter of the personal identification word.

Examples of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following drawings, in which: Figures la and lb are front and rear views respectively of a device according to the invention; Figures 2a and 2b are front views of components of a first kit according to the invention; Figures 3a and 3b are front and rear views respectively of a component of a second kit according to the invention; Figure 4 is a front view of a component of a third kit according to the invention; Figure 5 is a front view of a component of a fourth kit according to the invention; Figure 6 is a front view of a component of a fifth kit according to the invention; Figure 7 is a front view of a component of a sixth kit according to the invention; Figure 8 is a front view of a component of a seventh kit according to the invention; and Figure 9 is a view showing a first method of making a device according to the invention; and Figures lOa and lOb are views showing a second method of making a device according to the invention.

Figures Ia and lb are front and rear views respectively of a device according to the invention. The device is a credit card sized cardboard substrate 1 having information recorded on the front and rear sides 3, 5 thereof. Each side 3, 5 comprises two arrays 7 of information. Each array 7 relates to a PIN for a different bank or credit card, and has a label 9 comprising a number and a written description of the respective bank or credit card.

Each array 7 of information comprises a sequence of alphabetical letters II arranged in a row and four sequences of numerical digits 13 arranged in rows.

The digits of each sequence of digits 13 are positioned so that they are in line with, and correspond to, respective letters of the sequence of letters 11. The sequence of letters 11 comprises the twenty six letters of the alphabet arranged in alphabetical order for ease of use. The sequences of digits 13 each comprise twenty six digits from 0 to 9 in random order.

The personal identification word (P1W) of the device is the sixteen letter sequence "BANK-CARD-SECURITY", which will be termed a "composite P1W" because it comprises a plurality of words. This P1W is chosen by the user when the device is made. The device is associated with the PINs for four bank or credit cards, and these PINs are "7258", "2529", "2806" and "1619". These PINs are randomly allocated to the respective bank or credit cards by the card issuer. Both the P1W and the PINs are kept secret by a user of the card. The P1W is, in general, easier to remember than the four PINs.

The device means that the user need not remember the PINs, and instead need only remember the P1W. The device can then be used by the user to decode the P1W into the PINs.

For example, when the user wishes to use the credit card described as "credit card C" in a cash related transaction, they are generally required to enter the PIN into a keyboard associated with a computer based device. The cash related transaction may, for example, involve use of an automatic teller machine (ATM) or purchase of goods in a retail outlet.

To determine the PIN of the credit card C, the user refers to the device. In particular, the user looks for the description 9 relating to the credit card C. It can be seen from Figure lb that the third array 7 of letters and digits relates to credit card C. The user therefore recognises that the ninth to twelfth letters of the P1W relate to the PIN for the credit card C. These letters are "S", "E", "C" and "U". The user then refers to the sequence of letters 11 in the third array 7 and locates the first relevant letter, "S". The letter "S" is relatively easy to find because the letters of the sequence 11 are in alphabetical order. Once the letter "S" has been located, the user determines the corresponding numerical digit in the first sequence of digits 13 of the third array 7, i.e. the sequence 13 immediately below. It can be seen from Figure lb that the corresponding numerical digit in the first sequence of digits 13 is "2" (circled). Thus, "2" is the first digit of the PIN for the credit card C. The same procedure as that described above is repeated for each of the tenth, eleventh and twelfth letters of the P1W, corresponding to the second, third and fourth digits of the PIN for the credit card C. It can be seen from Figure lb that the second, third, and fourth digits of the PIN for credit card C are "8" (circled in the second sequence of digits 13 of the third array), "0" (circled in the third sequence of digits 13 of the third array) and "6" (circled in the fourth sequence of digits 13 of the third array 7).

In this way, the user is able to use the secret P1W to determine the secret PIN for each of their bank and credit cards.

Figures 2a and 2b are front views of components of a first kit according to the invention. The kit comprises a pre-printed cardboard substrate 1 and a plurality of adhesive labels 15, four of which are shown in the Figure.

The substrate 1 of the kit is similar to the substrate 1 of the device described above. However, instead of having sequences of numerical digits 13, there are instead blank spaces 17. Similarly, instead of having descriptions of bank and credit cards 9, there are blank spaces 19.

The adhesive labels 15 are transparent labels each having printed thereon a sequence of numerical digits 21 from 0 to 9 and randomly arranged. The sequences of numerical digits 21 are longer than the sequences of alphabetical letters 11 on the substrate 1. The labels 21 have an adhesive backing and are provided on a backing paper, as is generally known in the art.

A user may use the kit shown in Figures 2a and 2b to make the device shown in Figures 1 a and lb. The provision of a kit allows a user to combine any P1W of their choosing with any PINs that they may have for their bank and credit cards. Use of a similar kit to that shown in Figures 2a and 2b will be described below with respect to Figure 9.

Figures 3a and 3b are front and rear views respectively of a substrate I of a second kit according to the invention. The second kit is similar to the first kit described above. However, the substrate I of the second kit is a folding substrate. This allows for the provision of sufficient arrays 7 for the PINs of six bank or credit cards, as well as advertising material or advice information 23, while at the same time maintaining a substrate 1 that is bank or credit card sized when folded.

Figure 4 is a front view of a substrate I of a third kit according to the invention.

The substrate 1 is similar to those described above, except that the sequence of alphabetical letters is repeated for each sequence of numerical digits, i.e. for each digit of a PIN.

The substrate shown in Figure 4 also has advice information 25 recoded thereon, and a registration number 27 recorded thereon. A user may register the device using the registration number 27 so as to facilitate the return of the device should it be lost. A confidential database of registration numbers 27 and user names and addresses may be centrally maintained for this purpose.

Figure 5 is a front view of a substrate I of a fourth kit according to the invention. Again, the substrate I of the fourth kit is similar to that of previous kits. However, the substrate I only has spaces 17 for one numerical digit in the sequences of digits for each pair of letters of the sequences of letters 11.

Thus, a device made from the fourth kit will have sequences of digits that are only thirteen digits long. Such an arrangement simplifies the making of the device, but also leads to a slight reduction in security (in terms of the number of coding permutations of the P1W).

Figure 6 is a front view of a substrate I of a fifth kit according to the invention.

The substrate 1 of the fifth kit is similar to that of previous kits. However, the substrate I is in the form of a small adhesive label for application to a surface of a bank or credit card. The substrate I only has one array 7, since it is adapted for use with a single PIN.

Figure 7 is a front view of a substrate I of a sixth kit according to the invention.

The substrate 1 is similar to that shown in Figure 5. However, instead of having one numerical digit per two letters, there is one numerical digit per three letters. Thus, in the substrate 1 shown in Figure 7, the sequences of digits each comprise nine digits.

Figure 8 is a front view of a substrate of a seventh kit according to the invention. The substrate I shown in Figure 8 is the same as those described above except that the sequences of letters and digits 11, 13 are arranged in columns.

Figure 9 is a view showing a first method of making a device according to the invention. The method is shown in relation to the seventh kit described above, but the skilled person will appreciate that the method is substantially the same for all of the kits.

As mentioned above the kit comprises a substrate I having spaces 17 for sequences of numerical digits. The kit also comprises a plurality of labels 15 each having printed thereon the sequences of digits.

Before the device is made, a user must first select a P1W. In this example, it is assumed that the user has only one bank card and so a four digit P1W is required. For the purposes of this example, the P1W "CARD" is selected. The PIN of the bank card is not selected by the user, but is instead allocated to the card by the card issuer, i.e. the bank. For the purposes of this example, the PIN is "6123".

To make the device, the user adheres one label 15 to the substrate 1 for each digit of the PIN. The labels 15 are positioned on the substrate in the order of the digits of the PIN. The labels are also positioned so that the digit of the PIN on the label correspond with the respective letter of the P1W in the sequence of letters.

Once the labels 15 have been adhered to the substrate 1, the portions of the labels that are not positioned to correspond to any letters of the sequence of letters 11 are removed.

Figures lOa and lOb are views showing a second method of making a device according to the invention. The second method is similar to that of the first method described above, except that a different design of substrate 1 is used.

As shown in Figure lOa, the substrate used in the second method has preprinted letters or digits 29 at the end of the spaces that are provided for the sequences of digits. When the labels 15 having the sequences of digits printed thereon are adhered to the substrate 1, a digit on either side of each sequence of digits combines with the pre-printed letters or digits 29 to provide a user generated code. The portions of the labels 15 to either side of these user generated codes are then removed.

The user generated codes may be used for marketing, loyalty, reward and promotional purposes. Such purposes may require a user to register the user- generated codes with a central database.

The above methods of making the device may be carried out as described above. Alternatively, the methods may be carried out on a computer under the control of a suitable computer program. A service for making the device may be provided to users by a remote server over the Internet.

In use, provided the P1W and PIN are kept secret by the user, a third party has no way of determining the PIN from the device, since the digits of the PIN are disguised among many other randomly generated digits.

A number of specific examples of the device, kit and method of making the device are described above. However, other examples that are within the scope of the invention will be apparent to the skilled person.

For example, the invention has been described in relation to PINs for bank and credit cards. However, it is apparent that the invention is equally applicable to other sequences of numerical digits where confidentiality is required. For example, the invention may be applied to a sequence of digits for a combination lock, It will also be appreciated that the sequences of digits may be of any length.

The sequences of digits described above are printed on a substrate or on labels. However, the digits may alternatively be manually handwritten onto the substrate.

Claims

CLAIMS: 1. A device for use in decoding a personal identification number

encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the device comprising a substrate having recorded thereon: a sequence of alphabetical letters including at least the letters of the personal identification word; a first sequence of numerical digits including at least the first digit of the personal identification number, digits of the first sequence of digits being positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters, wherein a digit of the first sequence of digits that is the first digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is the first letter of the personal identification word, and wherein other digits of the sequence of digits are positioned on the substrate to correspond to other letters of the sequence of letters; and subsequent sequences of numerical digits for respective subsequent digits of the personal identification number and letters of the personal identification word, so that all of the digits of the personal identification number are recorded in respective positions on the substrate that correspond to respective letters of the personal identification word.

2. The device of claim 1, wherein digits of the sequences of digits are positioned on the substrate to each correspond to one letter of the sequence of letters.

3. The device of claims 1, wherein digits of the sequences of digits are positioned on the substrate to each correspond to two or three letters of the sequence of letters.

4. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the substrate has recorded thereon a registration code for facilitating the return of the device to an owner when lost.

5. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the substrate has recorded thereon advertising material.

6. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the substrate has recorded thereon a plurality of sets of sequences of numerical digits, each set being for a different pin number.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the substrate has recorded thereon a description associated with each set of sequences of numerical digits, the description describing the card to which the respective personal identification number relates.

8. The device of any preceding claim, wherein each sequence of numerical digits is printed on a label and adhered to the substrate.

9. The device of any preceding claim, wherein each sequence of numerical digits comprises the digits from 0 to 9 in random order.

10. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the sequences of alphabetical letters and numerical numbers are arranged in rows.

11. The device of any preceding claim, wherein the substrate is a label for adhering to a bank or credit card.

12. The device of any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the substrate is the same size and shape as a standard bank or credit card.

13. A method of making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the method comprising: recording on a substrate a sequence of alphabetical letters including at least the letters of the personal identification word; recording on the substrate a first sequence of numerical digits including at least the first digit of the personal identification number, digits of the first sequence of digits being positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters, wherein a digit of the first sequence of digits that is the first digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is the first letter of the personal identification word, and wherein the other digits of the sequence of digits are positioned on the substrate to correspond to other letters of the sequence of letters; and repeating the previous step by recording on the substrate subsequent sequences of numerical digits for respective subsequent digits of the personal identification number and letters of the personal identification word, so that all of the digits of the personal identification number are recorded in respective positions on the substrate that correspond to respective letters of the personal identification word.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein digits of the sequences of digits are positioned on the substrate to each correspond to one letter of the sequence of letters.

15. The method of claims 13, wherein digits of the sequences of digits are positioned on the substrate to each correspond to two or three letters of the sequence of letters.

16. The method of any one of claims 13 to 15, further comprising recording on the substrate a registration code for facilitating the return of the device to an owner when lost.

17. The method of any one of claims 13 to 16, further comprising recording on the substrate advertising material.

18. The method of any one of claims 13 to 17, comprising recording on the substrate a plurality of sets of sequences of numerical digits, each set being for a different pin number.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising recording on the substrate a description associated with each set of sequences of numerical digits, the description describing the card to which the respective personal identification number relates.

20. The method of any one of claims 13 to 19, wherein recording each of the first and subsequent sequences of numerical digits on the substrate comprises adhering a label to the substrate, the label having a sequence of numerical digits printed thereon.

21. A computer program comprising computer program code means adapted to perform the method of any one of claims 12 to 20 when run on a computer.

23. The computer program of claim 21 or 22 embodied on a computer readable medium.

24. A kit for making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the kit comprising: a substrate; and instructions embodying the method of any one of claims 12 to 20.

25. A kit for making a device for use in decoding a personal identification number encoded as a personal identification word, digits of the personal identification number being encoded as respective letters of the personal identification word, the kit comprising: a substrate having recorded thereon a sequence of all letters of an alphabet, and having spaces for a plurality of sequences of numerical digits such that digits of the sequences are positioned on the substrate to correspond to respective letters of the sequence of letters; and a plurality of labels each bearing a sequence of numerical digits from 0 to 9, the labels being for adhering to the spaces on the substrate, wherein the labels may adhered to the substrate so that a digit of each sequence of digits that is a respective digit of the personal identification number is positioned on the substrate to correspond to a letter of the sequence of letters that is a respective letter of the personal identification word.