Encoding a validity period in a password
AssigneeGordon*Howard Associates, Inc.
InventorTed E. Dunning
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A password authentication mechanism is capable of determining whether a password has expired without referring to a database or other information repository. Additional information can be encoded in the password without unduly lengthening the password, so that the additional information can be extracted from the password when the user provides the password for authentication purposes. Thus, the password serves as an information-carrying data item as well as acting as an authentication mechanism. Such a password can be used, for example, to provide time-limited access to a vehicle in response to receipt of timely payment, and to disable the vehicle if payment is not made.
Claims16
A method comprising:
- authenticating a vehicle access password including encoded expiry information, the authenticating by:
- receiving the vehicle access password, the vehicle access password comprising an encoded representation of the expiry information;
- extracting a data packet from the vehicle access password, the vehicle access password not being identical to the data packet;
- parsing the data packet to obtain the representation of the expiry information for the vehicle access password;
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the vehicle access password is valid, configuring vehicle circuitry to enable use of the vehicle;
- and
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the vehicle access password is not valid, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle.
A computer program product for authenticating a vehicle access password including encoded expiry information, comprising:
- a non-transitory computer-readable medium;
- and
- computer program code, encoded on the medium, for:
- receiving the password for vehicle access, the password comprising an encoded representation of expiry information;
- extracting a data packet from the password, the password not being identical to the data packet;
- parsing the data packet to obtain the representation of the expiry information for the password;
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the password is valid, configuring vehicle circuitry to enable use of the vehicle;
- and
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the password is not valid, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle.
A system for authenticating a vehicle access password including encoded expiry information, comprising:
- a password input device, configured to receive the vehicle access password, the vehicle access password comprising an encoded representation of the expiry information;
- an extraction module, coupled to the password input device, configured to extract a data packet from the vehicle access password, the vehicle access password not being identical to the data packet;
- a parser, coupled to the extraction module, configured to parse the data packet to obtain the representation of the expiry information for the vehicle access password;
- and
- a vehicle access controller, coupled to the parser, configured to:
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the vehicle access password is valid, configure vehicle circuitry to enable use of the vehicle;
- and
- responsive to the expiry information indicating that the vehicle access password is not valid, configure vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.