Techniques for securing a one-time passcode with an alteration code

1. A token apparatus comprising:

a controller, the controller being configured to generate a one-time passcode (OTP) in synchronization with a remote authentication server;

a display, the display being constructed and arranged to display the OTP;

an input apparatus, the input apparatus being constructed and arranged to receive a user-input alteration code, the user-input alteration code being used to alter the OTP in a standardized manner.

2. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the input apparatus is a set of rotatable rings, each rotatable ring of the set of rotatable rings having a set of numbers imprinted thereon such that a user is able to enter the user-input alteration code by rotating the rotatable rings with reference to the imprinted numbers; and

once the user has entered the user-input alteration code, an orientation of the rings depicts a pattern according to which the user is able to alter the OTP in the standardized manner.

3. The token apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the display is constructed and arranged to display n digits from left to right in a display direction, n being equal to a number of digits in the OTP, n also being equal to a number of digits in the alteration code;

the display direction of the OTP on the display is parallel to an axis of rotation, each rotatable ring being configured to rotate around the axis of rotation;

each rotatable ring is aligned with a different digit of the display; and

the set of numbers imprinted on each adjustable ring is a consecutive set of integers from 1 to n.

4. The token apparatus of claim 2 , wherein:

the display has a square shape, being constructed and arranged to display 8 digits around its perimeter, the OTP having 8 digits and the alteration code also having 8 digits, the set of rotatable rings including 8 rotatable rings, the rotatable rings being indexed by integers from 1 to 8;

each rotatable ring is configured to rotate around the square display;

each rotatable ring includes an indicator arrow imprinted thereon adjacent to the index integer of that ring, such that, when the user aligns a number imprinted on that rotatable ring with an alignment standard, the indicator arrow of that ring points toward a particular digit of the display; and

once the user has entered the user-input alteration code, the user is able to alter the OTP in the standardized manner by reading the digits of the OTP depicted in the display in an order defined by the indicator arrows of the rotatable rings in index order.

5. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input apparatus is an ancillary overlay device having an ancillary screen, a set of input keys, and a scanning device, such that:

the user is able to enter the alteration code using the set of input keys;

upon the alteration code being entered and the ancillary overlay device being placed directly over the token apparatus, the ancillary overlay device is constructed and arranged to:

scan the OTP displayed on the display;

alter the scanned OTP according to the alteration code entered by the user, thereby generating an altered OTP; and

display the altered OTP on the ancillary display.

6. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the input apparatus is a set of row sliders, each row slider of the set of row sliders having a set of numbers imprinted therebelow such that a user is able to enter the user-input alteration code by sliding the row sliders with reference to the imprinted numbers; and

once the user has entered the user-input alteration code, an orientation of the set of row sliders depicts a pattern according to which the user is able to alter the OTP in the standardized manner.

7. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the input apparatus includes a set of input keys such that the user is able to enter the alteration code using the set of input keys; and

the controller is configured to, upon the user inputting the alteration code using the set of input keys:

alter the OTP according to the alteration code entered by the user, thereby generating an altered OTP; and

display the altered OTP on the display.

8. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein:

the input apparatus includes a set of input keys such that the user is able to enter the alteration code using the set of input keys;

the token apparatus further includes a device interface for interfacing with a computer, the computer being configured to run an authentication program for authenticating the user; and

the controller is configured to, upon the user inputting the alteration code using the set of input keys:

alter the OTP according to the alteration code entered by the user, thereby generating an altered OTP; and

send the altered OTP to the computer via the device interface for authentication.

9. A method of operating a token device, the token device displaying a one-time passcode (OTP) in synchronization with a remote authentication server, the method comprising:

receiving an alteration code;

entering the alteration code onto the token device;

causing an altered OTP to be entered into an application that seeks to authenticate a user, the altered OTP having been generated from the OTP in a standardized manner based on the alteration code.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the alteration code includes receiving the alteration code from an alteration server distinct from the authentication server.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the OTP has exactly n digits and the alteration code has exactly n digits, each digit of the alteration code being selected from the integers from 1 to n, each digit of the alteration code being distinct from every other digit of the alteration code.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

entering the alteration code onto the token device includes rotating a set of rotatable rings mounted on the token device, each rotatable ring of the set of rotatable rings having a set of numbers imprinted thereon such that a user is able to enter the alteration code by rotating the rotatable rings with reference to the imprinted numbers;

causing the altered OTP to be entered into the application includes typing digits of the displayed OTP into the application in an order indicated by a set of order indicators on the set of rotatable rings as rotated according to the alteration code.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein:

entering the alteration code onto the token device includes sliding a set of sliders mounted, respectively, on a set of rows mounted on the token device, each row of the set of rows having a set of numbers imprinted thereon such that a user is able to enter the alteration code by sliding the sliders with reference to the imprinted numbers;

causing the altered OTP to be entered into the application includes typing digits of the displayed OTP into the application in an order indicated by a relative position of the sliders of the set of sliders as slid according to the alteration code.

14. The method of claim 9 wherein:

entering the alteration code onto the token device includes typing the alteration code using a set of input keys mounted on the token device; and

causing the altered OTP to be entered into the application includes sending, via a device interface mounted on the token device, the altered OTP to a computer configured to run the application for authenticating the user, wherein the altered OTP is generated by the token device by applying the alteration code to the OTP according to a standardized algorithm.

15. The method of claim 9 , wherein the method further includes, entering a secret personal code onto the token by typing the secret personal code using a set of input keys mounted on the token device, the token displaying the OTP upon receiving an expected secret personal code.

16. An authentication system, comprising:

an authentication server, the authentication server storing a set of secret seeds, each secret seed being associated with a distinct token device;

an authentication agent for authenticating an identity of a user assigned to possess a particular token device having a particular secret seed; and

an alteration server, separate from the authentication server, the alteration server being configured to generate an alteration code for a particular authentication transaction;

wherein the authentication agent is configured to:

receive an authentication request from the user, the authentication request including an altered one-time passcode (OTP);

obtain the particular seed associated with the particular token device assigned to the user;

obtain the alteration code for the particular authentication transaction involving the received authentication request;

verify that the altered OTP from the received authentication request is the result of applying the alteration code to alter an OTP in a standardized manner, the OTP having been generated by the particular token device using the particular seed in synchronization with the authentication server.

17. The authentication system of claim 16 , wherein:

the authentication agent is separate from the authentication server;

the authentication agent is separate from the alteration server;

the authentication agent is configured to obtain the particular seed associated with the particular token device assigned to the user by:

sending a seed request to the authentication server, the seed request indicating the user; and

receiving the particular seed associated with the particular token device assigned to the user from the authentication server in response to the seed request; and

the authentication agent is configured to obtain the alteration code for the particular authentication transaction involving the received authentication request by:

sending an alteration code request to the alteration server, the alteration code request identifying the particular authentication transaction using the received authentication request; and

receiving the alteration code in response to the alteration code request.

18. The authentication system of claim 16 , wherein:

the authentication agent and the alteration server run on a single machine, separate from the authentication server; and

the authentication agent is configured to obtain the particular seed associated with the particular token device assigned to the user by:

sending a seed request to the authentication server, the seed request indicating the user; and

receiving the particular seed associated with the particular token device assigned to the user from the authentication server in response to the seed request.

19. The authentication system of claim 16 , wherein:

the authentication agent and the authentication server run on a single machine, separate from the alteration server; and

the authentication agent is configured to obtain the alteration code for the particular authentication transaction involving the received authentication request by:

sending an alteration code request to the alteration server, the alteration code request identifying the particular authentication transaction using the received authentication request; and

receiving the alteration code in response to the alteration code request.

20. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input apparatus includes a set of adjustable elements having a set of numbers imprinted in connection therewith such that a user is able to enter the user-input alteration code by adjusting the adjustable elements with reference to the imprinted numbers.

21. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the input apparatus includes a set of input keys such that the user is able to enter the user-input alteration code using the set of input keys.

22. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the user-input alteration code was generated by a remote alteration server, separate from the remote authentication server.

23. The token apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the OTP has exactly n digits and the user-input alteration code has exactly n digits, each digit of the user-input alteration code being selected from the integers from 1 to n, each digit of the user-input alteration code being distinct from every other digit of the user-input alteration code.

24. The method of claim 9 , wherein entering the alteration code onto the token device includes adjusting a set of adjustable elements mounted on the token device, each adjustable element having a set of numbers imprinted in connection therewith such that the user is able to enter the user-input alteration code by adjusting the adjustable elements with reference to the imprinted numbers.

25. The method of claim 9 , wherein receiving the alteration code includes receiving the alteration code from a remote alteration server, separate from the remote authentication server.