Assigning new passcodes to electronic devices
AssigneeAmazon Technologies, Inc.
InventorsEdward J. Gayles, Lawrence Arnold Lynch-Freshner, Sailesh Rachabathuni, David Berbessou
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electronic book distribution system includes electronic devices that reset their passcodes after specified authentication failures. The passcodes of an individual electronic device is reset to a value that is generated using a predefined function of a randomly generated support code. The support code is displayed to the user, and the user is instructed to contact a support service in order to obtain the new passcode. The support service independently authenticates the user, calculates the new device passcode using the same predefined function used by the electronic device, and provides the new passcode to the user.
Claims21
A method comprising:
- exiting a low power sleep state of a device based in part on receiving user input;
- receiving a predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes at the device associated with a user, wherein the passcodes do not match a device passcode;
- randomly generating a support code at least partly responsive to receiving the predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes that do not match the device passcode;
- calculating a new passcode using a predefined function that is based at least in part on the support code and a device identifier of the device;
- assigning, by the device, the new passcode for the device, the new passcode assigned without authenticating the user;
- and
- presenting an instruction for the user to contact a support service to retrieve the new passcode, the support service presenting the new passcode to the user after authenticating the user based on information other than the device passcode.
A device comprising:
- a display upon which electronic books are rendered;
- a character input interface;
- a processor;
- memory accessible to the processor, the memory containing instructions that are executable by the processor to perform actions comprising:
- exiting a low power sleep state of the device based in part on receiving user input;
- initiating an authentication of a user of the device based on entry, by the user, of a device passcode via the character input interface;
- failing to authenticate the user,
- generating, at least partly responsive to failing to authenticate the user, a support code;
- calculating a new passcode using a predefined function that is based at least in part on the support code and a device identifier of the device;
- enabling, by the device, the new passcode on the device, the new passcode enabled without authenticating the user;
- displaying the support code to the user on the display;
- and
- displaying an instruction for the user to authenticate with a support service, give the support code to the support service, and obtain the new enabled passcode.
A method comprising:
- exiting a low power sleep mode of an electronic device;
- requesting authentication information from a user;
- receiving a predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes that do not match a device passcode;
- obtaining a support code at least partly responsive to receiving the predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes that do not match the device passcode;
- calculating a new passcode using a predefined function that is based at least in part on the support code and a device identifier of the electronic device;
- enabling, by the electronic device, the new passcode to the electronic device as an additional device passcode, the new passcode enabled without authenticating the user, such that entry of the device passcode or entry of the new passcode enables functionality of the electronic device;
- and
- displaying, by the electronic device, an instruction for the user to contact a support service and to supply the support code to the support service in order to obtain the new passcode.
A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored thereupon which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
- exiting a low power sleep state of a device based in part on receiving user input;
- receiving a predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes at the device, wherein the passcodes do not match a device passcode;
- randomly generating a support code at least partly responsive to receiving the predetermined number of sequentially entered passcodes that do not match the device passcode;
- calculating a new passcode using a predefined function that is based at least in part on the support code and a device identifier of the device;
- assigning, by the device, the new passcode for the device, the new passcode assigned without authenticating a user;
- and
- displaying, by the electronic device, an instruction for the user to contact a support service and to supply the support code to the support service in order to obtain the new passcode.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.