Tech nical field of the invention

This invention relates to a password generator, particularly an offline mechanical password generator.

Bac kground to the invention

The inventors are aware of the need for a password generator. Online or software password generators are known. However, these generators are not trusted as it is possible for the software to send or reveal such passwords to unauthorised persons. It is an object to provide a password generator that is not online and not software driven.

The inventors are further aware that certain online applications or online registrations require a minimum number of characters and further normally require at least one lowercase, one uppercase and/or out of sequence numerical and special characters. S uch passwords are notoriously hard to memorise and often such passwords are written down or digitally stored on a computer, which may compromise the secrecy of the password. It is an object of this invention to provide a method to retrieve a password without compromising the secrecy of the password.

It is further an object of the invention to generate a vast, for all practical purposes, limitless number of possibilities of robust passwords.

G eneral des cription of the invention

3-D combination puzzles are well known, of which the R ubik s C ube ^÷ is the best known. Often the 3-D puzzle comprises of a number of large faces, which larger faces are made up of a number of movable smaller faces. It is an object of the invention to use the large number of possible combinations and permutations of smaller faces within the larger faces to generate passwords in conjunction with the method of affixing random symbols to the smaller faces. According to the invention there is provided a password generator, which includes:

a 3-D combination puzzle and

a sticker respectively for a number of the small faces, which sticker is provided with at least two, preferably three or more, randomly generated graphemes each.

In this specification, a grapheme is defined, as currently defined in Wikipedia ^÷ , as ^" the smallest unit used in describing the writing system of any given language _, and includes alphabetic letters, typographic ligatures, C hinese characters, numerical digits, punctuation marks, and other individual symbols of any of the world's writing systems. _.

P referably, each of the small faces are provided with a sticker. The graphemes may preferably be randomly generated for each set of stickers for a 3-D puzzle. The stickers may preferably be generated using a random process so that each set of stickers is unique. During the manufacturing process, this is controlled using a suitable and verified true random number generator or a very good pseudo-random number generator.

On each sticker, the graphemes may preferably be arranged on the corners of a triangle in the case of three graphemes, or on the corners of a square in the case of four graphemes or in a line in the case of two or more graphemes, which may be diagonal or in any other configuration which suggests that the graphemes on a small face be read in a particular order.

It will be appreciated that the graphemes may also be applied to the small faces in other ways such as by printing, painting and the like without detracting from the spirit of the invention. The stickers may preferably be round for some embodiments of the invention.

In addition, some of the stickers may be provided with indicia, colour or markers, which can function as clues which can help a person to identify a previously selected password when the 3-D puzzle is in a particular configuration, e.g. by distinguishing a specific grapheme by using a unique colour or a marker. In some embodiments the middle sticker of each face may be provided with a different colour, to help identify the large face used for a password.

Typically, in use, a person would move the small faces relative to each other until satisfied that the faces are sufficiently randomized. The person then selects any set of small faces from which a password can be identified. During the first step, it will be appreciated that the number of permutations are practically limitless. Then, depending on the number and layout of the graphemes on the stickers, a person can choose a favourite colour, for example, of the non- movable small faces, for example, to fix the large face to be used and then choose a pattern, colour, line or indicia of the small faces to guide that person to a chosen password. It will be appreciated that it is important to be able to check at a later time what the password is and yet be not easily discernible by another person looking at the 3-D puzzle. It will be appreciated that the number of combinations are virtually limitless and that unique passwords can be easily generated with clues to prevent a person from forgetting his or her selection of a password when the 3-D puzzle is in a specific configuration. It is often required to change the password after a specific time, which can be easily achieved with the password generator in accordance with the invention.

The invention also extends to a set of stickers, which is configured to be fitted to a 3-D puzzle to convert the 3-D puzzle into a password generator as described above. The invention also extends to the use of a converted 3-D puzzle as a password generator as described above.

The invention also extends to a device for generating random private keys in public-private key pairs for public key cryptography applications. It will be appreciated that the password generator as described above is suitable.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention is now described by way of an example with reference to the accompanying pictures.

In the pictures:

F igure 1 shows a picture of a perspective view of a password generator, in accordance with the invention;

F igure 2 shows a large face of the password generator, in one orientation; and

F igure 3 shows the large face of the password generator, in another orientation.

Referring now to the figures, the password generator is based on a 3x3x3 3-D puzzle, in accordance with the invention, is generally indicated by reference numeral 10. The password generator 10 includes a 3x3x3 3-D combination puzzle 12 and a sticker 14 for each of the 54 small faces 1 5. E ach sticker 14 is provided with three random, graphemes 16 each, arranged in a triangle. One grapheme 1 6.1 is in the colour red and marked with a marker ^" - ^" 17 on each sticker 14, to cater for colour blind persons. 26 of the 54 stickers include one capital letter in the Latin alphabet by design (with other suitable combinations possible). In this case the graphemes 16 are selected from characters of a typical QWE RTY keyboard.

A person can then randomly select a large face and randomly select 9 sequential characters 16, from three sequential small faces 15 in a horizontal, vertical or diagonal direction starting with an upright marked character, moving left; right, up or down through the small faces and clockwise or anti clockwise through the characters on each sticker 14 of the sequential small faces. For example, referring to F igure 2, a person chose ^" h m . c h M & W 1 _ as a password. To recall this password from the password generator 10, the person needs to remember the starting character ^" h_ in this case, in the upright position, on a middle right-side small face 15 going left through the small faces, clockwise through the characters 1 6 starting in each sticker 14 with the marked character. To make it easier to recall a person may decide on a random personal convention such as, for example, always starting with a marked character in the upright position on small face 1 5 in a specific position (right and middle) on a large face going left through the small faces, clockwise through the characters 16 starting in each sticker with the marked character. In such a case the person merely needs to recall the marked character ^" h_ to be able to orientate the password generator 10 and to recall his or her password.

To illustrate further, referring to F igure 3, for a Facebook ^÷ password, a person may decide to start with a red or marked 17 capital letter ^" F _ 1 6.1 and use the personal convention of an upright starting grapheme 16, going downwards through the small faces 15, going clockwise through the graphemes to come to a password of ^" FWnMch8o8_. To recall this password from the password generator 10, the person needs to remember the starting character ^" F _ 16.1 in this case, in the upright position, going down through the small faces 1 5, clockwise through the graphemes 16 starting in the 12 or past 12 o ^' clock position on each sticker 14. It should be appreciated that the password generator 10 can be rotated should the row of 3 small faces 15 continue past the edge of a large face 12. It shall be understood that the examples are provided for illustrating the invention further and to assist a person skilled in the art with understanding the invention and are not meant to be construed as unduly limiting the reasonable scope of the invention.