WO2008155388A1

WO2008155388A1 - Display device with magnification function for limited-use password

Info

Publication number: WO2008155388A1
Application number: PCT/EP2008/057790
Authority: WO
Inventors: Sophie Augier; François MOUTEL; Thierry Karlisch; Louis Pierre Saphar
Original assignee: Gemalto Sa
Priority date: 2007-06-19
Filing date: 2008-06-19
Publication date: 2008-12-24
Also published as: EP2168116B1; EP2168116A1; ES2601489T3; EP2017812A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a device generating a number for one-time use “OTP”, comprising a display exhibiting two lines of characters, each line dedicated respectively to an instruction line and OTP number line. The device is distinguished in that it furthermore comprises magnifying means (110, 120, 130) able to carry out a function of magnification of the display of the “OTP” number at least, by distributing its display partly over the line of characters dedicated to the OTP and partly over that dedicated to the instruction.

Description

Display device with magnification function for limited-use password

The invention relates to a password display device or number of single use and / or limited "OTP" (acronym for the expression "one time password".

The numbers "OTP" are used in particular operations and / or session authentication / identification of electronic transactions. An OTP number is generated using a small electronic device such as a USB key, a mini smart card reader, a calculator, a personal assistant (PDA), a mobile phone, implementing a mechanism secure calculation that can use in particular a smart card, a PIN code, a random number. This generated number is displayed on a screen of the device for the user.

The display of the OTP is currently subject to the constraints of the "CAP (Chip Authentication Program) MASTER CARD" specifications which recommend two display lines of 12 characters minimum on one screen. These lines are each dedicated to a particular function: a line is dedicated to the display of an instruction for the user such as "enter your PIN code" and a line dedicated to the display of the result, that is to say say the number "OTP". Current screens use standard liquid crystal display (LCD) displays. As they are small, it is difficult to read messages or instructions or results, especially for the visually impaired.

There are screens with larger display lines thus providing a better visual reading comfort. However, these screens are more expensive, as well as the housings of the devices that receive them to the extent that they are proportioned accordingly to accommodate them. In addition, the resulting device becomes too bulky. There is also a solution in the form of audio function to hear the OTP but this poses problems of environmental safety.

The invention aims in particular to address the problems presented above economically.

The concept of the invention lies in the implementation of a particular enlargement function but without high resolution screen and without graphics controller that would be too expensive. More specifically, the invention proposes to divert the display of one of the two lines of characters dedicated to the benefit of the display of the other line to display large either the instruction or the OTP, and this to title of additional function to comply with the above specifications.

By this means, standard LCD lines are used with the same elementary controller without major additional cost and without an oversized device casing.

For this purpose, the subject of the invention is a device for generating OTP single use number, comprising a display having two lines of characters each dedicated respectively to an instruction line and an OTP number. The device is distinguished in that it further comprises magnification means capable of performing a function of enlarging the display of the OTP number at least, by a distribution of its display partly on the line of characters dedicated to the OTP and partly on that dedicated to instruction.

According to other features of the device, the enlargement is performed only on the height of each character; magnification doubles the height of each character and maintains the width.

The invention also relates to a display enlargement program for OTP display device able to control for each character pixel to be activated normally on a line of characters, said pixel having the coordinates (x, y) of a matrix of pixels, an activation of corresponding enlarged pixels of coordinates equal to (x,

2y); According to another characteristic, besides Coordinate pixel activation equal to (x, 2y) according to the previous mode, the program assigns the same value to the coordinate pixel (x, 2y - 1) to improve the contrast.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given by way of illustrative and non-limiting example, and with reference to the appended figures for which: FIG. 1 illustrates an architecture diagram an OTP generating device according to the invention; FIG. 2 illustrates a view of a standard type display with two lines of characters; FIG. 3 illustrates a schematic view of an elementary block of two-line display pixels as well as its various adaptations according to a preferred embodiment; - Figure 4 illustrates the display in operation; FIG. 5 illustrates an elementary block of pixels of each line indexed on an x, 0, y mark;

In FIGS. 1 and 2, the single-use number generator device OTP and / or limited in time in particular comprises a display 3 of the LCD type controlled by a microcontroller of the S3P7565 type, for example from SAMSUNG. The device comprises a card reader function thanks in particular to a contact card or contactless interface represented in the example by a contact connector 9 controlled by the microcontroller. The reader can read or receive validation signals of a PIN code entered by the user and controlled by the card. The device also comprises a human machine interface (HMI) represented here by a keyboard 11 for entering a PIN code.

The display shows in accordance with the functional specifications of the CAP (Chip Authentication Program) MASTER CARD two lines 5, 7 of 12 characters each.

According to these specifications, the line 5 can be dedicated to the display of an instruction for the user while the other line 7 can be dedicated to the display of the result namely the OTP number. These specifications are generalized in the sense that a large number of companies submit to them. These specifications especially in the banking field are similar to a standard that must be complied with to obtain a certification or approval of the device. Functional recommendations or specifications of a group of companies are constraints which encourage those skilled in the art to comply with them in such a way as to characterize the product and obtain the group's contracts or to use them as a reference.

These specifications or recommendations produce effects or are equivalent to a standard. The microcontroller also includes a single-use number generator OTP upon receipt of a validation signal received from the card. It provides an elementary control function of the pixels composing the display according to the display of alphanumeric characters of a single dimension.

The microcontroller also comprises memories (RAM, ROM, EEPROM) containing in particular a pixel display control program to be executed for the operation of the device.

According to an essential characteristic of the invention, the device comprises magnification means capable of performing a function of enlarging the display of the OTP number at least.

To comply with the standard or specifications, this function is additive. However, it could be automatically programmed for visually impaired people. The display of the instruction or instruction to the user could be displayed directly in enlarged format, as well as the result.

The enlargement according to the invention is effected by a distribution of its display partly on the line of characters dedicated to the OTP and partly on that dedicated to the instruction. Those skilled in the art are a priori confined to the constraints of the standard or specifications that impose a single or dedicated affection of these lines.

In FIG. 3, an elementary or modular block M of pixels extracted from the display of FIG. 2 comprises four matrices of pixels for four characters, each composed of 5 × 7 pixels.

In step B the block undergoes according to a preferred embodiment an adaptation consisting of removing a space separating the two dedicated lines. This operation is carried out at the request of the inventors by the screen or LCD display manufacturer by redistributing the connections or pinning the pixels of the screen.

In step C, the matched block now has two sets of pixels per 5 X 14 with no apparent discontinuity between the two lines of characters (after the seventh row of pixels).

In step D, the magnification function is activated. It intervenes preferably on the Y axis insofar as the lines are superimposed on the Y axis.

The characters that were confined in the dedicated lower line are then distributed over the two lines of characters. It should be noted that the enlargement is done only on the height of each character. The enlargement here preferably doubles the height of each character while maintaining the width.

Thus, the invention makes it possible to obtain an economic enlargement with a non-graphic microcontroller, whereas in principle a graphic controller would be necessary to realize a zoom function that would be performed on the X axis as well as Y.

In the operating mode, FIGS. 4 and 6, the display of the device displays on power-up, prior to a bank transaction, the instruction "enter code" on the upper line of the display, the code is transmitted to the card for example by the microcontroller of the reader (or device), the card verifies the code and transmits a validation signal to the microcontroller; in response, the latter activates the OTP number generator which generates it, in particular using security and / or personalization data obtained by the card.

The OTP obtained comprising the characters "0123456789" is displayed (step 100, FIG. 6), in accordance with a priority standard mode by default, by the display driver, directly on the lower line 7 of FIG.

1 display.

According to a preferred mode of operation, an actuation of any key (step 110) causes a display (step 120), in magnification mode along the Y axis (corresponding to the height of the characters).

In step 130, a new operation of any key on the keyboard 11 causes a return to the standard display (step 100).

Alternatively, any triggering other than by pressing a key, for example to the voice, or automatic with a time shift is also contemplated by the invention.

According to a preferred embodiment (FIG. 5), the magnification function, activated, automatic, or automatically set by default controls or matches for each character pixel to be displayed normally on a line of characters and coordinates ( x, y) of a matrix of pixels (P), an activation of pixels of coordinates (x, 2y) and (x, 2y-1).

Thus each pixel is doubled and shifted on the Y axis.

The device comprises a program in a microcontroller capable of performing the magnification function. Alternatively an equivalent function can be performed by wiring. For example, each pixel of a line is associated with one pixel or several target pixels of the other line, for example by a connection or wiring using a switching device that can be activated by any means in particular push button to perform one of the enlargement functions targeted by the application.

According to an alternative, the OTP display device may comprise in a microcontroller program memory, a display enlargement program able to control for each character pixel to be activated in a standard manner on a line of characters, said pixel having the coordinates (x, y) of a matrix of pixels, an activation of corresponding enlarged pixels of coordinates equal to (x,

2y).

According to a preferred mode for more contrast in the previous mode, in addition to a pixel activation of coordinates equal to (x, 2y) the program assigns the same value to the coordinate pixel (x, 2y-1).

The invention is applicable to any display device comprising at least two lines of characters, dedicated or not to information;

The invention applies as soon as the enlargement of an information is performed by encroaching on the two lines both a priori used each for a reduced display format of data or information.

For some applications, including OTP display conforming to CAP MASTER CARD, it is recommended to provide a display program or mode in which, the device can not operate in magnification mode (for example, even if a trigger or detector button is pressed) in order to comply with a regulation requiring operation with two dedicated lines; that is to say, for example, the program prevents using the "instruction" line or the "result" line in favor of an enlargement of the instruction or result as long as the instruction or the result was not posted beforehand. This magnification mode may be allowed or possible after or after regulatory operation has been followed.

Thus, the specifications of the CAP are scrupulously respected.

So by default, we have two dedicated lines and used as such in a normal mode.

The program can expect to expand automatically after the instruction is displayed and after a certain amount of display on one line to display on two lines. Likewise for the result, before having the result, we switch to a mode in which the dedicated line is activated to display the result for a certain time then we automatically switch or actuate a trigger, on two lines to enlarge . In a way, the magnification mode is inhibited as long as the normal regulatory sequence is not completed or has not been implemented.

This arrangement makes it possible to prevent the magnification mode from being permanently activated and that ultimately only one enlarged line is activated in permanence and that there is no longer two separate dedicated lines and therefore the respect of the regulations imposing it.

Thus, the device may comprise means for automatically inhibiting the magnification function to allow operation of the display on two dedicated lines in a normal mode.

This inhibition can be released automatically including temporarily as soon as the normal mode has been achieved for example after each step of the display of each line.

According to one variant, the magnification mode is automatically deactivated to return to normal operation of dedicated lines.

The magnification can be activated and deactivated automatically on event or after a certain time.

The event may preferably be an instruction display carried out on a dedicated line, code introduced on a dedicated line, result displayed on a dedicated line.

Claims

A device for generating a "OTP" single-use number, comprising a display having two lines of characters each dedicated to an instruction line and to an "OTP" number, respectively, characterized in that it furthermore comprises means for enlargement able to perform a function of enlarging the display of the "OTP" number at least, by a distribution of its display partly on the line of characters dedicated to the "OTP" number and partly on that dedicated to the instruction.

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the enlargement is performed only on the height of each character.

3. Device according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the enlargement doubles the height of each character and maintains the width.

4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the magnification means comprise a non-graphical microcontroller.

5. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises an enlargement function which activation activates, for each character pixel to be activated normally on a line of characters, said pixel having the coordinates ( x, y) of a matrix pixels, pixels of coordinates equal to (x, 2y) and (x, 2y-1)

6. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the device comprises a wiring or a program in a microcontroller capable of performing the enlargement function.

7. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the enlargement function is possible only after the display of the result or the instruction on a dedicated line.

8. Device according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises means for automatically inhibiting the magnification function to allow operation of the display on two dedicated lines in a standard or normal mode.

9. Display magnification program for OTP display device adapted to activate for each character pixel to be activated normally on a line of characters, said pixel having the coordinates (x, y) of a matrix of pixels, a pixel of coordinates equal to (x, 2y).

10. Display magnification program according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, additionally, a pixel activation of coordinates equal to (x, 2y) the program activates a coordinate pixel equal to (x, 2y - 1). ).