Patent US 6,571,336

A method for securing passwords, personal identification numbers and identifying patterns utilizes a MasterCode camouflaged within a grid which contains all the characters, symbols or pictograms of which the MasterCode is a subset. For securing numeric sequences, the MasterCode is comprised of ten characters randomly associated to a corresponding digit (including zero). The characters thereby associated with each numeric password are expanded into an ordinary, natural language word, a SecureWord using non-associated letters. The MasterCode is masked by its unique placement in a MasterGrid known only to the user. For securing passwords comprised of alpha numeric symbolic characters, each unique character, the MasterCode, is assigned a sequential number which becomes a sequence of positions in the MasterGrid with each MasterCode character placed in the appropriate position and the remainder of the character set filled in. SecureNumbers are the positions in the MasterGrid of each character in a password. For securing patterns, a MasterGrid containing a set of pictograms is chosen from an offered array of such sets. The user then makes a pattern in the MasterGrid, his MasterCode. To gain access, the user must identify his MasterGrid from an array of similar grids and correctly recreate his pattern. Apparati for implementing the method are also described.