Authentication on a computing device

#This disclosure relates to authentication on a computing device.

#Computing devices are often set up to require the use of a password to prove identity and/or gain access. However, repeated manual entry of passwords can become annoying and tedious. This may make people choose simple, short passwords, which are easily guessed, observed, or otherwise determined. In addition, users often have multiple computing devices that require authentication. In short, not requiring passwords is unsafe, yet requiring frequent password entry can be annoying.

#In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user of a first computing device with the ability to authenticate themselves on a remotely provided process or service using a second computing device on which the user is already authenticated.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system in which a user of a first computing device may be authenticated onto a remotely provided service or application using a second computing device on which the user has already been authenticated.

#FIG. 2 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process by which a first computing device may be authenticated onto a remotely provided service or application using a second computing device.

#FIG. 3 is a flow diagram illustrating an example process by which a passwordless login manager application running on a server that provides access to one or more services or applications manages a passwordless login session.

#In general, this disclosure describes techniques for providing a user of a first computing device with the ability to authenticate themselves on a remotely provided process or service using a second computing device on which the user is already authenticated. For example, the techniques of this disclosure provide a user with the ability to securely log into a remotely provided service or application (such as e-mail, cloud computing service, etc.) on a first computing device (e.g., a desktop computer, laptop, tablet, etc.) using a second computing device (e.g., mobile phone) on which the user is already logged into the service or application, without requiring manual entry of authentication information on the first computing device. Second computing device 104 may include any type of computing device but in the examples described herein generally includes a wireless and/or mobile device such as a mobile phone, a smart phone, a personal digital assistant, a digital music player, an e-reader, or other type of mobile device.

#FIG. 1 is a block diagram illustrating an example system 100 in which a user of a first computing device may be authenticated onto a remotely provided service or application using a second computing device 104 on which the user has already been authenticated. A server 110 provides one or more applications or services 112 that are accessed by computing devices, such as first computing device 102 and second computing device 104, over a network, such as the Internet. Server 110 may provide computation, software applications, data access, data management, and/or storage resources without requiring users to know the location and other details of the computing infrastructure. Server 110 also includes a passwordless login manager application 114 that manages passwordless login between two or more computing devices.

#For example, the one or more applications or services 112 provided by the server 100 may include an email application, a social networking application, a photo sharing application, a blog application, a discussion group application, a calendar application, an instant messaging application, cloud data storage, a secure website, and an e-commerce website. However, it shall be understood that these are but examples, and that many other types of applications or services may be provided by a server such as server 110.