METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR GENERATING HASH MNEMONICS

• US 20090313269A1
• Filed: 06/16/2008
• Published: 12/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/16/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: BACHMANN, Todd Adam
• Granted Patent: US 8,386,461 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/645 using a third party
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/34 Encoding or coding, e.g. Huffman coding or error correction
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3236 using cryptographic hash functions

Abstract

Methods and computing devices enable users to identify documents using a hash value mapped to a word mnemonic for easy recall and comparison. A hash algorithm may be applied a document to generate a distinguishing hash value. The hash value is mapped to a plurality of words to form the mnemonic. To obtain the words, the hash value may be mapped to word indices used to identify particular words in word lists. Word lists may include a list of nouns, a list of verbs, and a list of adverbs or adjectives, so that the resulting three word mnemonics are memorable. More word lists may be used to map hash values to four-, five- or more word mnemonics. The number-to-mnemonic mapping methods may be used to map large numbers, such as account numbers, telephone numbers, etc. into mnemonics which are easier for people to remember and compare.

Claims

1. A method for mapping a large number into a word mnemonic, comprising:

mapping the large number to a plurality of word indices;

using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists; and

combining each of the plurality of identified corresponding words to form the word mnemonic.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising reducing a size of the hash value prior to mapping the hash value to the plurality of word indices.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the large number is a hash value obtained by applying a hash algorithm to a document to generate the hash value.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the hash algorithm is a cryptographic hash algorithm.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the hash algorithm is a cyclic redundancy check algorithm.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the hash algorithm is a checksum algorithm.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the word mnemonic comprises first, second and third words, and the plurality of word lists comprises first, second and third word lists each containing a number of words, and the method further comprises:

dividing the hash value by a product of the number of words in the first word list times the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a reduced hash value;

dividing the reduced hash value by a product of the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder;

using the first whole number quotient as a first word index to identify the first word in the first word list;

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder;

using the second whole number quotient as a second word index to identify the second word in the second word list;

using the second remainder as a third word index to identify the third word in the third word list; and

combining the first, second and third words to form the word mnemonic.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns; and

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of verbs.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adjectives.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adverbs.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a first list of adjectives;

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a second list of adjectives; and

a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns.

12. The method of claim 3, wherein mapping the hash value into a mnemonic comprises:

dividing the hash value by a product of the number of words in the first word list times the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a reduced hash value;

segmenting the reduced hash value into a plurality of digit portions;

using each of the plurality of digit portions as an index to identify a corresponding word within one of a plurality of word lists; and

combining the identified words to form the word mnemonic.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein mapping the large number into a plurality of word indices comprises:

segmenting the large number into a plurality of digit portions; and

using the plurality of digit portions as the plurality of word indices.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein:

mapping the large number into a plurality of word indices comprises;

dividing the large number by a product of a number of words in a second word list times a number of words in a third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder, wherein the first whole number quotient is a first word index; and

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder, wherein the second whole number quotient is a second word index and the second remainder is a third word index;

using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists comprises;

using the first word index to identify a first word in a first word list;

using the second word index to identify a second word in the second word list; and

using the third word index to identify a third word in a third word list; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding words to form the word mnemonic comprises combining the first, second and third identified words to form the word mnemonic.

15. A method for mapping a large number into a word mnemonic, comprising:

mapping the large number into a plurality of N word indices, referred to as W₁, W₂ . . . W_N, by perform the steps of

a. dividing the large number by a product of the number of words in each of the word lists and retaining a division remainder R₀,

b. dividing the remainder R₀ by the number of words in list W₁ to obtain a whole number quotient Q₁, and a remainder R₁,

c. repeating step b for word indices W₂ thru W<sub>(N−

1)</sub> dividing a remainder R_i+1 by the number of words in list W_i to obtain a whole number quotient Q_i, and a remainder R_i and

d. setting Q_N to be a remainder of the last iteration, R<sub>(N−

1)</sub>;

using the indices Q_i to index into the plurality of word lists to identify corresponding words; and

combining the identified corresponding words into a word mnemonic.

16. A method of mapping a number into a graphic mnemonic, comprising:

mapping the number to a plurality of graphic feature list indices;

using each one of the plurality of graphic feature list indices to identify a corresponding graphic feature within a respective one of a plurality of graphic feature lists; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding graphic features to form the graphic mnemonic.

17. A computer, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

mapping a large number to a plurality of word indices;

using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of the plurality of word lists; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding words to form a word mnemonic.

18. The computer of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising reducing the size of the hash value prior to mapping the hash value to the plurality of word indices.

19. The computer of claim 18, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps further comprising applying a hash algorithm to a document to generate a hash value, wherein the large number is the hash value.

20. The computer of claim 19, wherein the hash algorithm is a cryptographic hash algorithm.

21. The computer of claim 19, wherein the hash algorithm is a cyclic redundancy check algorithm.

22. The computer of claim 19, wherein the hash algorithm is a checksum algorithm.

23. The computer of claim 19, wherein the memory has stored therein a first, second and third word list each containing a number of words, and wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps mapping the hash value into a mnemonic comprising:

dividing the hash value by a product of the number of words in the first word list times the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a reduced hash value;

dividing the reduced hash value by a product of the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder;

using the first whole number quotient as a first word index to identify a first word in the first word list;

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder;

using the second whole number quotient as a second word index to identify a second word in the second word list;

using the second remainder as a third word index to identify a third word in the third word list; and

combining the first, second and third words to form the word mnemonic.

24. The computer of claim 17, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns; and

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of verbs.

25. The computer of claim 24, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adjectives.

26. The computer of claim 24, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adverbs.

27. The computer of claim 17, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a first list of adjectives;

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a second list of adjectives; and

a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns.

28. The computer of claim 17, wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps mapping the large number to the plurality of word indices comprising:

segmenting the large number into a plurality of digit portions;

using the plurality of digit portions as the plurality of word indices.

29. The computer of claim 17,

wherein the processor is further configured with software instructions to perform steps mapping the large number to a plurality of word indices comprising:

dividing the large number by a product of a number of words in a second word list times a number of words in a third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder, wherein the first whole number quotient is a first word index; and

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder, wherein the second whole number quotient is a second word index and the second remainder is a third word index,

wherein the processor is further configured with software instructions to perform steps using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists comprising

using the first word index to identify a first word in the first word list;

using the second word index to identify a second word in the second word list; and

using the third word index to identify a third word in the third word list; and

wherein the processor is further configured with software instructions to perform steps combining the plurality of identified words to form the word mnemonic comprising combining the first, second and third identified words to form the word mnemonic.

30. A computer, comprising:

a processor; and

a memory coupled to the processor,

wherein the processor is configured with software instructions to perform steps comprising;

mapping a large number to a plurality of graphic feature list indices;

using each one of the plurality of graphic feature list indices to identify a corresponding graphic feature within a respective one of a plurality of graphic feature lists; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding graphic features to form a graphic mnemonic.

31. A computer, comprising:

means for mapping a large number to a plurality of word indices;

means for using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists; and

means for combining the plurality of corresponding identified words to form a word mnemonic.

32. The computer of claim 31, further comprising means for reducing the size of the hash value prior to mapping the hash value to the plurality of word indices.

33. The computer of claim 32, further comprising:

means for applying a hash algorithm to the document to generate a hash value, wherein the hash value is the large number.

34. The computer of claim 33, wherein the hash algorithm is a cryptographic hash algorithm.

35. The computer of claim 33, wherein the hash algorithm is a cyclic redundancy check algorithm.

36. The computer of claim 33, wherein the hash algorithm is a checksum algorithm.

37. The computer of claim 33, further comprising:

means for dividing the hash value by a product of a number of words in a first word list times a number of words in a second word list times a number of words in a third word list to obtain a reduced hash;

means for dividing the reduced hash value by a product of the number of words in the second word list times the number of words in the third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder;

means for using the first whole number quotient as first word index to identify the first word in the first word list;

means for dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder;

means for using the second whole number quotient as a second word index to identify the second word in the second word list;

means for using the second remainder as a third word index to identify the third word in the third word list; and

means for combining the first, second and third words to form the word mnemonic.

38. The computer of claim 31, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns; and

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of verbs.

39. The computer of claim 38, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adjectives.

40. The computer of claim 38, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adverbs.

41. The computer of claim 31, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a first list of adjectives;

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a second list of adjectives; and

a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns.

42. The computer of claim 31, further comprising:

means for segmenting the large number into a plurality of digit portions;

means for using the plurality of digit portions as the plurality of word indices.

43. The computer of claim 31,

wherein means for mapping the large number to a plurality of word indices comprises:

means for dividing the large number by a product of a number of words in a second word list times a number of words in a third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder, wherein the first whole number quotient is a first word index; and

means for dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder, wherein the second whole number quotient is a second word index and the second remainder is a third word index,

wherein means for using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists comprises;

means for using the first word index to identify a first word in the first word list;

means for using the second word index to identify a second word in the second word list; and

means for using the third word index to identify a third word in the third word list; and

wherein means for combining the plurality of identified correspond words to form the word mnemonic comprises means for combining the first, second and third identified words to form the word mnemonic.

44. A computer, comprising:

means for mapping a large number to a plurality of graphic feature list indices;

means for using each one of the plurality of graphic feature list indices to identify a corresponding graphic feature within a respective one of a plurality of graphic feature lists; and

means for combining the plurality of identified corresponding graphic features to form a graphic mnemonic.

45. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps comprising:

mapping a large number to a plurality of word indices;

using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of the plurality of word lists; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding words to form a word mnemonic.

46. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform further steps comprising reducing a size of the hash value prior to mapping the hash value to the plurality of word indices.

47. The tangible storage medium of claim 46, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform further steps comprising applying a hash algorithm to a document to generate a hash value, wherein the hash value is the large number.

48. The tangible storage medium of claim 47, wherein the hash algorithm is a cryptographic hash algorithm.

49. The tangible storage medium of claim 47, wherein the hash algorithm is a cyclic redundancy check algorithm.

50. The tangible storage medium of claim 47, wherein the hash algorithm is a checksum algorithm.

51. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps mapping the hash value into a mnemonic comprising:

dividing the hash value by a product of the number of words in a first word list times the number of words in a second word list times the number of words in a third word list to obtain a reduced hash;

dividing the reduced hash value by a product of a number of words in the second word list times a number of words in the third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder;

using the first whole number quotient as a first word index to identify a first word in the first word list;

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder;

using the second whole number quotient as a second word index to identify a second word in the second word list;

using the second remainder as a third word index to identify a third word in the third word list; and

combining the first, second and third words to form the word mnemonic.

52. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns; and

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of verbs.

53. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adjectives.

54. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of adverbs.

55. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein:

a first word list within the plurality of word lists is a first list of adjectives;

a second word list within the plurality of word lists is a second list of adjectives; and

a third word list within the plurality of word lists is a list of nouns.

56. The tangible storage medium of claim 45, wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps mapping the large number to the plurality of word indices comprising:

segmenting the hash value into a plurality of digit portions;

using the plurality of digit portions as the plurality of word indices.

57. The tangible storage medium of claim 45,

wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps mapping the large number to the plurality of word indices comprising:

dividing the large number by a product of a number of words in a second word list times a number of words in a third word list to obtain a first whole number quotient and a first remainder, wherein the first whole number quotient is a first word index; and

dividing the first remainder by the number of words in the third word list to obtain a second whole number quotient and a second remainder, wherein the second whole number quotient is a second word index and the second remainder is a third word index,

wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps using each one of the plurality of word indices to identify a corresponding word within a respective one of a plurality of word lists comprising;

using the first word index to identify a first word in the first word list;

using the second word index to identify a second word in the second word list; and

using the third word index to identify a third word in the third word list; and

wherein the tangible storage medium has processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps combining the first, second and third identified words to form the word mnemonic.

58. A tangible storage medium having stored thereon processor-executable software instructions configured to cause a processor of a computer to perform steps comprising:

mapping a large number to a plurality of graphic feature list indices;

using each one of the plurality of graphic feature list indices to identify a corresponding graphic feature within a respective one of a plurality of graphic feature lists; and

combining the plurality of identified corresponding graphic features to form a graphic mnemonic.