Systems and methods for authentication code entry using mobile electronic devices

Abstract

Systems and methods for authentication code entry using mobile electronic devices are disclosed. In one embodiment, in an information processing device comprising at least one computer processor, a display, and an input device a method for authentication code entry may include: (1) receiving, at the information processing device, a masking pattern for receiving entry of an authentication code, the masking pattern specifying an order for entering the authentication code; (2) presenting, on the display, a prompt to enter the authentication code in accordance with the masking pattern; (3) receiving, at the input device, a masked authentication code entry where the masked authentication code entry comprises the authentication code entered in accordance with the masking pattern; and (4) storing the masked authentication code entry.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for authentication code entry, comprising:
 in an information processing device comprising at least one computer processor, a display, and an input device:
 receiving, at the information processing device, a masking pattern for receiving entry of an authentication code, the masking pattern specifying an order for entering the authentication code; 
 presenting, on the display, a prompt to enter the authentication code in accordance with the masking pattern; 
 receiving, at the input device, a masked authentication code entry where the masked authentication code entry comprises the authentication code entered in accordance with the masking pattern; and 
 storing the masked authentication code entry. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the masking pattern comprises a plurality of placeholders, and the order for entering the authentication code specifies a first subset of the plurality of placeholders that receive values of the authentication code and a second subset of the plurality of placeholders that receive dummy values. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the masked authentication entry comprises the authentication code and a plurality of dummy values. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 wirelessly transmitting the masked authentication code entry to a point of transaction device.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the prompt is displayed in a manner such that it cannot be machine-read by the information processing device. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the information processing device comprises a mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein the masked authentication code is stored in secure storage of the mobile electronic device. 
     
     
         8 . A method for authentication code entry, comprising:
 in an information processing device comprising at least one computer processor, a display, and an input device:
 receiving, over a network and from a mobile electronic device, a request to generate a masking pattern for receiving entry of an authentication code, the masking pattern specifying an order for entering the authentication code; 
 generating the masking pattern; 
 associating the masking pattern with a customer account; and 
 communicating the masking pattern to the mobile electronic device. 
   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the masking pattern specifies the order of entering values of the authentication code and dummy values in an authentication code entry. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the masking pattern is communicated to the mobile electronic device with a prompt for entering the authentication code in accordance with the masking, wherein the prompt is displayed in a manner such that it cannot be machine-read by the information processing device. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising:
 receiving, from a point of transaction device, a customer account identifier and a masked authentication code entry received from the mobile electronic device;   retrieving the masking pattern for the account associated with the customer account identifier;   identifying the authentication code in the masked authentication code entry based on the masking pattern; and   validating the authentication code.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the masked authentication entry comprises the authentication code and a plurality of dummy values. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 11 , further comprising:
 communicating the validation of the authentication code to the point of transaction device.   
     
     
         14 . A method for conducting a transaction using a stored authentication value, comprising:
 in a point of transaction device comprising at least one computer processor:
 receiving information for a financial instrument requiring validation of an authentication code to conduct a transaction; 
 receiving, from a computer application executed by a mobile electronic device, a masked authentication code entry comprising authentication values and dummy values, wherein the authentication values are not identified as part of the authentication code; 
 communicating, to a backend for a financial institution associated with the financial instrument, the masked authentication code entry; and 
 receiving, from the backend, approval or denial for the transaction. 
   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the point of transaction device prompts the mobile electronic device for the masked authentication code entry. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the masked authentication code entry is received wirelessly.