Apparatus, system, and method for generating and authenticating a computer password

In an access device, a method of constructing and transmitting a password utilized by an authentication device to authenticate the access device, said method comprising:

• receiving from a user, a plurality of predefined characters forming a User ID;
• receiving an index value from the authentication device;
• identifying a character set associated with the index value in a lookup table in which a plurality of character sets are stored, each character set including a plurality of predefined characters, wherein each character set is associated with a predefined index value;
• generating a password utilizing the identified character set associated with the index value received from the authentication device;
• and
• transmitting the password to the authentication device.

A system for constructing, transmitting, and authenticating a password utilized by an authentication device to authenticate an access device, said system comprising:

• an authentication device for authenticating the password, comprising:
• communication means for receiving the password from the access device and returning an acknowledgment message to the access device;
• means for positively authenticating the access device if the password matches stored information associated with the access device;
• and
• means for selecting an index value and including the selected index value in the acknowledgment message returned to the access device, said index value being associated with a stored character set;
• and
• an access device for constructing and transmitting the password, comprising:
• means for receiving from a user, a plurality of predefined characters forming a User ID;
• a lookup table for storing a plurality of character sets, each character set including a plurality of predefined characters, wherein each character set is associated with a predefined index value;
• communication means for receiving the acknowledgment message from the authentication device, said acknowledgment message including the index value;
• means for generating a password utilizing a character set associated with the index value received from the authentication device;
• and
• means for transmitting the password to the authentication device.