Method and system for supporting portable authenticators on electronic devices

• US 20050138390A1
• Filed: 04/07/2004
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Adams, Neil P., Brown, Michael S., Little, Herbert A., Tapuska, David
• Granted Patent: US 8,166,530 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 713/185
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1626 with a single-body enclosure integrating a flat display, e.g. Personal Digital Assistants [PDAs]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1632 External expansion units, e.g. docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/1656 Details related to functional adaptations of the enclosure, e.g. to provide protection against EMI, shock, water, or to host detachable peripherals like a mouse or removable expansions units like PCMCIA cards, or to provide access to internal components for maintenance or to removable storage supports like CDs or DVDs, or to mechanically mount accessories mounting of accessories to a computer display G06F1/1607; display hoods G06F1/1603; cooling arrangements for portable computers G06F1/203
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards

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.

Claims

1. A method of facilitating access to an electronic device with a portable authenticator, comprising the steps of:

(1) detecting an attempt to access the electronic device;

(2) in response to the step of detecting, prompting a user to enter a password at the electronic device;

(3) determining a validity of the entered password at the portable authenticator;

(4) at the electronic device, receiving the validity determination from the portable authenticator; and

(5) providing access to the electronic device in accordance with the received validity determination.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the validity determination step comprises the step of at the portable authenticator checking the entered password against an auxiliary password stored on the portable authenticator.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein the password prompting step comprises the step of prompting the user for the password upon detecting a presence of the portable authenticator.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the access providing step comprises the steps of maintaining the access after removal of the portable authenticator.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the access providing step comprises the steps of terminating the access after removal of the portable authenticator.

6. The method according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the electronic device includes a password stored thereon, and the validity determining step comprises the step of transmitting the entered password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a match between the entered password and the stored electronic device password.

7. The method according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the electronic device includes a password stored thereon, the entered password comprises an electronic device password and an auxiliary password, and the validity determining step comprises the steps of transmitting the entered auxiliary password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a match between the entered electronic device password and the stored electronic device password.

8. The method according to claims 4 or 5, wherein the electronic device includes a password stored thereon, the entered password comprises an electronic device password and an auxiliary password, and the validity determining step comprises the steps of transmitting the entered auxiliary password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a failure of the entered electronic device password to match the stored electronic device password.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the access providing step comprises providing access to the electronic device in accordance with a match between the entered auxiliary password and the stored auxiliary password.

10. The method according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the portable authenticator comprises a SmartCard.

11. An electronic device comprising:

an interface for effecting communication with a portable authenticator; and

processing means configured for communication with the interface, the processing means being further configured to;

(a) detect an attempt to access the electronic device;

(b) in response to the detection, prompt a user to enter a password at the electronic device;

(c) transmit the entered password to the portable authenticator for a validity determination thereof;

(d) receive the validity determination from the portable authenticator; and

(e) provide access to the electronic device in accordance with the validity determination.

12. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the portable authenticator is configured to determine the validity by checking the entered password against an auxiliary password stored on the portable authenticator.

13. The electronic device according to claim 12, wherein the processing means is configured to prompt the user for the password upon detecting a presence of the portable authenticator.

14. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the processing means is configured to maintain the access after removal of the portable authenticator.

15. The electronic device according to claim 13, wherein the processing means is configured to terminate the access after removal of the portable authenticator.

16. The electronic device according to claims 14 or 15, wherein the electronic device includes a memory storing an electronic device password thereon, and the processing means is configured to determine the validity by transmitting the entered password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a match between the entered password and the stored electronic device password.

17. The electronic device according to claims 14 or 15, wherein the electronic device includes a memory storing an electronic device password thereon, the entered password comprises an electronic device password and an auxiliary password, and the processing means is configured to determine the validity by transmitting the entered auxiliary password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a match between the entered electronic device password and the stored electronic device password.

18. The electronic device according to claims 14 or 15, wherein the electronic device includes a memory storing an electronic device password thereon, the entered password comprises an electronic device password and an auxiliary password, and the processing means is configured to determine the validity by transmitting the entered auxiliary password to the portable authenticator in accordance with a failure of the entered electronic device password to match the stored electronic device password.

19. The electronic device according to claim 18, wherein the processing means is configured to provide the access by providing access to the electronic device in accordance with a match between the entered auxiliary password and the stored auxiliary password.

20. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the processing means is disposed within a housing, and the interface is disposed within a cradle configured for supporting the housing, the cradle having means for communicating with the processing means.

21. The electronic device according to claim 11, wherein the processing means is disposed within a housing, and the interface is physically integrated with the housing.

22. The electronic device according to any one of claims 11 to 21, wherein the portable authenticator comprises a SmartCard.