Method and device for entering a computer database password

• US 20040172564A1
• Filed: 01/26/2004
• Published: 09/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Martyn Sergeevich Nunuparov, Thomas Robert Ruddy, Yulia Vladimirovna Federova
• Original Assignee: Martyn Sergeevich Nunuparov, Thomas Robert Ruddy, Yulia Vladimirovna Federova
• Inventors: Federova, Yulia Vladimirovna, Nunuparov, Martyn Sergeevich, Ruddy, Thomas Robert
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,556 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

The invention relates to computers, more particularly to a method and apparatus for entering a password to gain access to computer databases. The object of the invention is to provide efficient protection of the user'"'"'s password from reproduction by an unauthorized person, to substantially increase the number of possible combinations and to create passwords that are maximum easy for the users to memorize. An embodiment of the invention comprises entering parameters of a password entry dynamic image to a computer; displaying to the user the dynamic image with the selected parameters; pointing at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time. Another embodiment comprises setting a predetermined access code in the form of a rhythmic pattern; preliminary entering said rhythmic pattern via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer to store and use the rhythmic pattern in subsequent password entries; when entering the password, entering said rhythmic pattern via a set of contact means of the user'"'"'s entry device.

Claims

1. A method for entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising the steps of:

determining parameters of a password entry dynamic image, entering said parameters via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer and storing said parameters;

displaying to the user on a display said dynamic image with the user-determined parameters;

pointing, via time pointing means, at least one predetermined object of said dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time;

comparing said stored parameters of the password entry dynamic image with parameters of said pointed objects of the dynamic image and, responsive to correspondence between said parameters, identifying the password.

2. The method of claim 1 characterized in that said dynamic image is a set of several screens, each having a time-variable state, wherein appearance of said predetermined object on at least one predetermined screen is pointed via the user'"'"'s time pointing device.

3. The method of claim 2 characterized in that the state of the screen is periodically varied.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that said parameters of the dynamic image are selected from the group including a number of screens, a number of objects displayed on each of the screens, a state modification mode of each of the screens, a state modification rate of each of the screens, an indication of the order and screen on which the objects of the dynamic image are to be selected, an indication which of the screens are significant for entering a password, and combination of said parameters.

5. The method of claim 1 characterized in that said dynamic image is an animated image including animated objects that vary position in space and/or state in time, wherein appearance of a predetermined object in at least one position and/or state is pointed via the user'"'"'s time pointing device.

6. The method of claim 5 characterized in that said parameters of the dynamic image are selected from the group including a number of animated objects, an animation rate of the objects, an indication in which order the animated objects are to be selected, and an indication which of the animated objects are significant for entering the password.

7. An apparatus for entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising

a user'"'"'s entry device for entering parameters of a password entry dynamic image to a computer;

a display for displaying to the user the dynamic image with the user-selected parameters;

time pointing means for pointing at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time;

means for storing the entered parameters of the password entry dynamic image, comparing said stored parameters with parameters of the pointed objects of the dynamic image and, responsive to correspondence between the parameters, identifying the password.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 characterized in that said time pointing means comprises at least one contact means to point the time when actuated by the user.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 or 8 characterized in that said time pointing means is based on at least one entry device selected from the group including a mouse, a keyboard and a graphic tablet.

10. The apparatus of any one of claims 7 to 9 characterized by further comprising means for implementing a state modification mode of each of the screens, a state modification rate of each of the screens, an animation rate of objects of the dynamic image, an order of selection of objects of the dynamic image on respective screens responsive to a user-entered indication which of the actuated contact means are significant for entering the password.

11. A method for entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising the steps of:

setting a predetermined access code in the form of a rhythmic pattern;

preliminary entering said rhythmic pattern via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer to store and use said rhythmic pattern in a subsequent password entry;

when entering the password, entering said rhythmic pattern via said user'"'"'s entry device;

comparing said stored rhythmic pattern with the entered rhythmic pattern and, responsive to correspondence between said rhythmic patterns, identifying the password.

12. The method of claim 11 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device comprises a set of contact means, wherein a predetermined number of contact means and an order of actuations of the contact means by the user are selected for entering the rhythmic pattern.

13. The method of claim 11 or 12 characterized in that said rhythmic pattern is a fragment of a music composition, wherein said contact means in said set of contact means are assigned functions of keys of a musical instrument.

14. The method of claim 11 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device comprises at least one contact means, wherein a duration of each actuation of said contact means in the sequence of actuations thereof is determined for entering the rhythmic pattern.

15. The method of claim 13 or 14 characterized in that said rhythmic pattern is a combination of long and short actuations of said contact means.

16. An apparatus for entering a password to a computer database, comprising

a user'"'"'s entry device for entering a rhythmic pattern to a computer;

means for storing the pre-selected rhythmic pattern entered via the user'"'"'s entry device;

means for comparing said stored rhythmic pattern with a rhythmic pattern entered by the user at subsequent password entries and, responsive to correspondence between said rhythmic patterns, identifying the password.

17. The apparatus of claim 16 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device is selected from the group including a mouse, a keyboard and combination thereof, wherein a set of contact means for entering the rhythmic pattern is selected from said keyboard and mouse.

18. The apparatus of claim 17 characterized in that each element of said rhythmic pattern corresponds to actuation of one of the contact means.

19. The apparatus of claim 17 characterized in that said set of contact means includes groups of contact means having the same function so that each element of said rhythmic pattern corresponds to actuation of any one of contact means in said group of contact means.