Patent US6934860B1 successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US6934860B1
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System, method and article of manufacture for knowledge-based password protection of computers and other systems
Assignee: Xerox Corp
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Filing: 2000-05-08
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Granted: 2005-08-23
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Expires: 2020-05-08
Abstract
Abstract A system, method and article of manufacture are provided for password protecting user access to a computer system. One or more images are displayed to a user. The user is then required to perform a sequence of actions involving the images. The performed sequence of actions is compared with a predefined sequence of actions. If the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions, user access is permitted.
Inventors
- 👤 Richard J. Goldstein
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 13:58
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/36; H; H04; H04L; H04L9/00; H04L9/32; H04L9/3226; H04L9/3271
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 21
Claim 1
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for password protecting user access, comprising: (a) displaying a composite image to a user, the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) requiring the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more of the plurality of images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images, and a graphical shape around an image; (c) comparing the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge-based password; and (d) permitting user access when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
136 words
A method for password protecting user access, comprising: (a) displaying a composite image to a user, the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) requiring the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more of the plurality of images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images, and a graphical shape around an image; (c) comparing the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge-based password; and (d) permitting user access when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising requiring the user to input an identifier associated with the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the predefined sequence of actions is associated with the identifier of the user, and further comprising retrieving the predefined sequence associated with the user from a database.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
41 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein the plurality of images included in the composite image are associated with the identifier of the user, and further comprising retrieving the plurality of images associated with the identifier from a database.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method as recited in claim 2 , wherein positioning each of the plurality of images with respect to one another displayed to the user in the composite image is dependent on the user identifier inputted by the user.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the actions are performed utilizing a computer input device.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising utilizing a network to receive the sequence of actions performed by the user prior to comparing the performed sequence of actions with a predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , further comprising encrypting the sequence of actions performed by the user.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
19 words
A method as recited in claim 1 , wherein the predefined sequence of actions are defined by the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for password protecting user access to a computer, comprising: (a) a code segment that displays a composite image to a user, the the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) a code segment that requires the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images and a graphical shape around an image. (c) a code segment that compares the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge based password; and (d) a code segment that permits user access to a computer when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
163 words
A computer program embodied on a computer readable medium for password protecting user access to a computer, comprising: (a) a code segment that displays a composite image to a user, the the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) a code segment that requires the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images and a graphical shape around an image. (c) a code segment that compares the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge based password; and (d) a code segment that permits user access to a computer when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
26 words
A computer program as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a code segment that requires the user to input an identifier associated with the user.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
41 words
A computer program as recited in claim 11 , wherein the predefined sequence of actions is associated with the identifier of the user, and further comprising a code segment that retrieves the predefined sequence associated with the user from a database.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
46 words
A computer program as recited in claim 11 , wherein the plurality of images included in the composite image are associated with the identifier of the user, and further comprising a code segment that retrieves the plurality of images associated with the identifier from a database.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
39 words
A computer program as recited in claim 11 , wherein each of the plurality of images with respect to one another displayed to the user in the composite image is dependent on the user identifier inputted by the user.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
42 words
A computer program as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a code segment that utilizes a network to receive the sequence of actions performed by the user prior to comparing the performed sequence of actions with a predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
24 words
A computer program as recited in claim 10 , further comprising a code segment that encrypts the sequence of actions performed by the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
20 words
A computer program as recited in claim 10 , wherein the predefined sequence of actions are defined by the user.
Claim 20
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for password protecting user access to a computer, comprising: (a) logic that displays a composite image to a user, the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) logic that requires the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images and a graphical shape around an image; (c) logic that compares the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge-based password; and (d) logic that permits user access to a computer when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
Claim 21
Independent Claim
146 words
A system for password protecting user access to a computer, comprising: (a) logic that displays a composite image to a user, the composite image including a plurality of images relevant to a knowledge-based password known to the user; (b) logic that requires the user to perform a sequence of actions to one or more images included in the composite image to produce a marked-up composite image; an action in the sequence of actions including drawing in the composite image at least one of a graphical shape connecting two of the images and a graphical shape around an image; (c) logic that compares the performed sequence of actions indicated by the marked-up composite image with a predefined sequence of actions consistent with the knowledge-based password; and (d) logic that permits user access to a computer when the performed sequence of actions matches the predefined sequence of actions.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2008-08-22 | 2009-02-21 | 2009-08-23 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2012-08-22 | 2013-02-21 | 2013-08-23 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2016-08-22 | 2017-02-21 | 2017-08-23 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |