# US 10,118,591 B2 · Encoding a validity period in a password > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,591 B2 - Document ID: US10118591B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/159,568 - Filed: 2014-01-21 - Published: 2014-05-15 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2004-01-28 - Assignees: Gordon*Howard Associates, Inc. - Applicants: Gordon * Howard Associates, Inc. - Inventors: Ted E. Dunning - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118591B2 ## CPC - B60R 25/10: actuating a signalling device - B60R 25/2018: {Central base unlocks or authorises unlocking} - G06F 21/35: communicating wirelessly - H04L 9/3226: {using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083)} - H04L 9/3236: {using cryptographic hash functions} - H04L 9/3297: {involving time stamps, e.g. generation of time stamps} - H04L 63/0846: {using time-dependent-passwords, e.g. periodically changing passwords} - H04L 2209/56: Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash - H04L 2209/84: Vehicles - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N) - H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 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. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the expiry information for the vehicle access password comprises an expiry date, the method further comprising: determining whether the expiry date has passed. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The method claim 2, further comprising: responsive to the expiry date having passed, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1, wherein the representation of the expiry information for the vehicle access password comprises an amount of time, the method further comprising: determining whether the amount of time has expired. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The method of claim 4, further comprising: responsive to the amount of time having expired, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle. ### Claim 6 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. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the representation of the expiry information for the password comprises an expiry date, the computer program product further comprising computer program code for: determining whether the expiry date has passed. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The computer program product of claim 7, further comprising computer program code for: responsive to the expiry date having passed, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The computer program product of claim 6, wherein the representation of the expiry information for the password comprises an amount of time, the computer program product further comprising computer program code for: determining whether the amount of time has expired. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising computer program code for: responsive to the amount of time having expired, configuring vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle. ### Claim 11 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. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the representation of expiry information for the vehicle access password comprises an expiry date, the system further comprising: an expiry date comparator, coupled to the vehicle access controller, for determining whether the expiry date has passed. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The system of claim 11, wherein the representation of the expiry information for the password comprises an amount of time, the system further comprising: an expiry comparator, coupled to the vehicle access controller, configured to determine whether the amount of time has expired. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The system of claim 13, wherein: the vehicle access controller, responsive to the time period having expired, configures vehicle circuitry to disable the vehicle. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 wherein: the password further includes a warning time period encoded therein; and the method further comprises outputting an alert when a current date is within the warning time period. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method of claim 1 further comprising: deriving a warning time period from the expiry information; and outputting an alert when a current date is within the warning time period.