US 8,474,029 B2 · Method and system of user authentication using a portable authenticator

Abstract

Systems and methods are provided for facilitating access to an electronic device. Password information is stored on the electronic device, and on a portable authenticator. When a user attempts to access the electronic device, the user is prompted to enter a password at the electronic device. The portable authenticator determines the validity of the entered password. The electronic device receives the results of the validity determination from the portable authenticator, and provides access to the electronic device based on the received validity determination.

Claims29

Dependent claims

A method in an electronic device of facilitating access to the electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting at the electronic device an attempt to access the electronic device;
in response to detecting the attempt, prompting for password entry at the electronic device;
receiving an entered password at the electronic device;
performing at the electronic device a first determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
transmitting the entered password to a portable authenticator that is communicably coupled to the electronic device, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored portable authenticator password;
receiving the second determination from the portable authenticator;
and
controlling access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

5 more elements

A method in an electronic device of facilitating access to the electronic device, the method comprising:

detecting an attempt to access the electronic device;
in response to detecting the attempt, prompting for entry of a first password and a second password at the electronic device;
receiving a first entered password and a second entered password at the electronic device;
performing at the electronic device a first determination whether the first entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
transmitting the second entered password to a portable authenticator that is communicably coupled to the electronic device, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the second entered password corresponds to a first stored portable authenticator password;
receiving the second determination from the portable authenticator;
and
controlling access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

5 more elements

An electronic device comprising:

a portable authenticator interface through which the electronic device is configured to be communicably coupled to a portable authenticator;
an input device through which the electronic device is configured to receive an entered password;
a processor communicably coupled to the portable authenticator interface and to the input device;
and
a memory communicably coupled to the processor, the memory to store software arranged:
to prompt for password entry at the electronic device in response to detecting at the electronic device an attempt to access the electronic device;
to receive the entered password via the input device;
to perform at the electronic device a first determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
to transmit the entered password to the portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored portable authenticator password;
to receive the second determination from the portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface;
and
to control access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

9 more elements

An electronic device comprising:

a portable authenticator interface through which the electronic device is configured to be communicably coupled to a portable authenticator;
an input device through which the electronic device is configured to receive a first entered password and a second entered password;
a processor communicably coupled to the portable authenticator interface and to the input device;
and
a memory communicably coupled to the processor, the memory to store software arranged:
to prompt for entry of a first password and a second password at the electronic device in response to detecting an attempt to access the electronic device;
to receive the first entered password and the second entered password via the input device;
to perform at the electronic device a first determination whether the first entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
to transmit the second entered password to a portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the second entered password corresponds to a stored portable authenticator password;
to receive the second determination from the portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface;
and
to control access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

9 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium able to be communicably coupled to a processor of an electronic device, the computer readable medium storing software arranged:

to prompt for password entry at the electronic device in response to detecting at the electronic device an attempt to access the electronic device;
to receive an entered password via an input device of the electronic device;
to perform at the electronic device a first determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
to transmit the entered password from the electronic device to a portable authenticator via a portable authenticator interface of the electronic device, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the entered password corresponds to a stored portable authenticator password;
to receive the second determination from the portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface;
and
to control access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

4 more elements

A non-transitory computer readable medium able to be communicably coupled to a processor of an electronic device, the computer readable medium storing software arranged:

to prompt for entry of a first password and a second password at the electronic device in response to detecting an attempt to access the electronic device;
to receive a first entered password and a second entered password via an input device of the electronic device;
to perform at the electronic device a first determination whether the first entered password corresponds to a stored electronic device password;
to transmit the second entered password from the electronic device to a portable authenticator via a portable authenticator interface of the electronic device, in order for the portable authenticator to perform a second determination whether the second entered password corresponds to a stored portable authenticator password;
to receive the second determination from the portable authenticator via the portable authenticator interface;
and
to control access to the electronic device in accordance with the first determination and the second determination.

4 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Method and system of user authentication using a portable authenticator

Life of this patent

Method and system of user authentication using a portable authenticator

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims29