Method for creating and using computer passwords

• US 20040034801A1
• Filed: 08/05/2003
• Published: 02/19/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 02/15/2001
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Original Assignee: NBOR Corp.
• Inventors: Jaeger, Denny
• Application Number:
  US10/635,883
• Publication Number:
  US 20040034801A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance

Abstract

A method for creating and using computer passwords includes the steps of displaying graphic objects on the display, selecting a plurality of the graphic objects and designating them as a password, applying the password to lock and password-protect a further graphic object, whereby the further graphic object cannot be accessed unless the password is first used to unlock the protected object. The combinatorial possibilities of the password includes the categories of the plurality of objects, the colors of the plurality of objects, and the spatial arrangement of the plurality of objects.

Claims

1. In a computer system having a display, a method for creating and using computer passwords, including the steps of:

displaying graphic objects on the display;

selecting at least one graphic object and designating it as a password;

applying said password to a further graphic object, whereby said graphic object cannot function unless said password is first applied to said further object.

2. In a computer system having a display, a method for creating and using computer passwords, including the steps of:

displaying graphic objects on the display;

selecting a plurality of said graphic objects and designating them as a password;

applying said password to lock and password-protect a further graphic object, whereby said further graphic object cannot be accessed unless said password is first used to unlock said further object.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of objects include at least one of the following categories of graphic objects:

alphanumeric characters, recognized hand drawn graphic objects, freeline hand drawn objects, and pictures.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of objects include more than one of the following categories of graphic objects:

alphanumeric characters, recognized hand drawn graphic objects, freeline hand drawn objects, and pictures.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein said plurality of objects are each displayed in a respective color.

6. The method of claim 5, further including at least two distinct color palettes, each of said plurality of objects having a respective color selected from said color palettes.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein one of said color palettes displays 34 colors.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the other of said color palettes displays millions of colors.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein the combinatorial possibilities of said password includes the categories of said plurality of objects, the colors of said plurality of objects, and the spatial arrangement of said plurality of objects.

10. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of designating as a password includes the step of accessing the Info Canvas of one of said plurality of selected graphic objects and selecting the Make Password entry, whereby all of said plurality of selected graphic objects are incorporated into said password.

11. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of designating as a password also glues together all of said plurality of selected objects.

12. The method of claim 2, wherein said step of applying said password includes the step of dragging said password to superpose on said further graphic object.

13. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of unlocking said password-protected further object includes the steps of displaying said further object, recalling or redrawing said plurality of objects that form said password, and dragging said plurality of object to superpose on said password-protected further graphic object.