US 8,943,566 B2 · Increased security for computer userID input fields

Abstract

A computer determines whether current location information of the computer indicates that the computer is at a home location. The computer determines a minimum number of characters to be entered by a user into a userID field to cause the computer to automatically display previously entered userIDs based on whether the computer is located at a home location. If fewer than the minimum characters are entered, previously entered userIDs are not displayed. Location information can be based on one or more of: wi-fi signal strengths, cell tower signal strengths and signal arrival timing information, whether the network connection is wireless or Ethernet cable, the wireless protocol, whether a wi-fi connection is secured or public, whether the computer is a mobile device, and satellite navigation system location.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A method to increase security for entry of a userID into a userID field displayed on a screen of a computer, the method comprising the steps of:

the computer determining whether information indicating a current location of the computer indicates that the computer is currently located at a home location of the computer;
the computer determining a minimum number of characters to be entered by a user into the userID field to cause the computer to automatically display on the screen userIDs entered previously into the userID field, the minimum number based on whether the current location information of the computer indicates that the computer is currently located at the home location, and the minimum number being greater if the computer is not currently located at the home location than if the computer is currently located at the home location;
responsive to each character entered by the user into the userID field, the computer determining if the minimum number of characters has been entered by the user into the userID field, and
if so, the computer displaying on the screen userIDs entered previously into the userID field that begin with the characters entered into the userID field, and
if not, the computer not displaying userIDs entered previously into the userID field.

2 more elements

A computer program product to increase security for entry of a userID into a userID field displayed on a screen of a computer, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices, the program instructions comprising:
program instructions to determine whether information indicating a current location of the computer indicates that the computer is currently located at a home location of the computer;
program instructions to determine a minimum number of characters to be entered by a user into the userID field to cause the computer to automatically display on the screen userIDs entered previously into the userID field, the minimum number based on whether the current location information of the computer indicates that the computer is currently located at the home location, and the minimum number being greater if the computer is not currently located at the home location than if the computer is currently located at the home location;
program instructions, responsive to each character entered by the user into the userID field, to determine if the minimum number of characters has been entered by the user into the userID field, and
if so, program instructions to display on the screen userIDs entered previously into the userID field that begin with the characters entered into the userID field, and
if not, further program instructions to not display userIDs entered previously into the userID field.

3 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Increased security for computer userID input fields

Life of this patent

Increased security for computer userID input fields

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18