FIELD: physics, computer engineering.
SUBSTANCE: method of identifying a user by using a PIN code involves assigning the user with a unique number for accessing an identification system. A PIN code table corresponding to the said unique number is created and the unique number and PIN code table are stored by both parties. PIN codes are read by the user from the table and the PIN code is sent to the identification system where the incoming PIN code is compared with the PIN code stored in the identification system with output of a control solution. Columns and rows of the table are assigned indices, with possibility of unambiguous determination of any cell of the PIN code table as a set of indices of intersecting elements of the table, where the indices are displayed in random order. A single character is randomly placed into each cell of the table. The user and the identification system assume the same order of reading characters from the PIN code table, beginning with the character indicated in given cell of the PIN code table. First, the user enters the identification system by entering the unique number and if such a unique number is available in the memory of the identification system, the identification system responds by randomly selecting a cell of the PIN code table and determines the set of indices of the elements of the table at whose intersection lies the cell and sends that set of indices to the user. The said user uses the set of indices on their copy of the PIN code table, finds the cell containing the first PIN code character and, using the received order of reading characters from the PIN code table, identifies the rest of the cells containing the rest of the PIN code characters. Further, the user enters the obtained PIN code or list of cells of the table containing PIN code characters into the identification system which compares the obtained PIN code with the PIN code obtained inside the identification system from the PIN code table stored in it in accordance with the received order of their reading. If the entered PIN code coincides with that obtained inside the identification system, the latter confirms successful user identification. If the entered PIN code does not coincide with that obtained inside the identification system, the latter carries out an action assigned by the corresponding program, e.g. switches on an alarm signal or blocks the user with the given unique number for a certain time.
EFFECT: increased security of the procedure of entering a PIN code owing to encoding, with easier manufacture of PIN cards.
5 cl, 1 dwg
