CONDITIONAL SUPPLEMENTAL PASSWORD
First Claim
1. A method of password protecting access control, the method comprising the following steps:
- (a) assigning a primary password to a user, with the primary password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least a first access controlled module;
(b) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (a), activating the primary password;
(c) prior to, subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (a), assigning to the user a secondary password, with the secondary password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least the first access controlled module;
(d) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (c), deactivating the secondary password;
(e) subsequent to steps (a), (b), (c) and (d), performing pre-expiration deactivation of the primary password; and
(f) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (e), activating the secondary password.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A password protected machine where a primary alternative password and a secondary alternative password are assigned, but the secondary alternative password cannot be used to gain access unless and until the primary alternative password has been deactivated. Also, a password protected machine where a user is assigned at least two alternative passwords, and where the use of one alternative password will automatically deactivate the other password. Preferably, there is a primary password and a secondary password such that: (i) the use of the primary password does not deactivate the secondary password, but (ii) the use of the secondary password does deactivate the primary password.
25 Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method of password protecting access control, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) assigning a primary password to a user, with the primary password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least a first access controlled module; (b) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (a), activating the primary password; (c) prior to, subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (a), assigning to the user a secondary password, with the secondary password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least the first access controlled module; (d) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (c), deactivating the secondary password; (e) subsequent to steps (a), (b), (c) and (d), performing pre-expiration deactivation of the primary password; and (f) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (e), activating the secondary password. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4)
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5. A password protected machine comprising:
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a user input module structured and/or programmed to allow entry of passwords by a user; an access controlled module structured and/or programmed to be accessed by the user only upon receipt of an assigned and activated password from the user; a password database structured and/or programmed to store a plurality of passwords associated with the user and respective activation status of the plurality of passwords; a password control module structured and/or programmed to;
(i) assign and store a primary password for the user in the password database, (ii) assign and store a secondary password for the user in the password database, (iii) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the primary password, and (iv) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the secondary password; andan access control module structured and/or programmed to control the password control module to activate the secondary password in response to pre-expiration deactivation of the primary password. - View Dependent Claims (6, 7, 8)
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9. A machine readable medium for use with a password protected machine that includes a user input module structured and/or programmed to allow entry of passwords by a user, an access controlled module structured and/or programmed to be accessed by the user only upon receipt of an assigned and activated password from the user, and a password database structured and/or programmed to store a plurality of passwords associated with the user and respective activation status of the plurality of passwords, the machine readable medium being programmed with the following code:
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password control software programmed to;
(i) assign and store a primary password for the user in the password database, (ii) assign and store a secondary password for the user in the password database, (iii) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the primary password, and (iv) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the secondary password; andaccess control software programmed to control the password control software to activate the secondary password in response to pre-expiration deactivation of the primary password. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of password protecting access control, the method comprising the following steps:
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(a) assigning a primary alternative password to a user, with the primary password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least a first access controlled module; (b) prior to, subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with step (a), assigning to the user a secondary alternative password, with the secondary alternative password, when activated, being usable to gain access comprising access to at least the first access controlled module; (c) subsequent to and/or contemporaneous with steps (a) and (b), receiving an entered password from the user; (d) subsequent to step (c), determining that the entered password sufficiently matches the secondary alternative password; and (e) subsequent to step (d), deactivating the primary alternative password in response to a determination that the secondary alternative password has been received at step (d). - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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17. A password protected machine comprising:
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a user input module structured and/or programmed to allow entry of passwords by a user; an access controlled module structured and/or programmed to be accessed by the user only upon receipt of an assigned and activated password from the user; a password database structured and/or programmed to store a plurality of passwords associated with the user and respective activation status of the plurality of passwords; a password control module structured and/or programmed to;
(i) assign and store a primary alternative password for the user in the password database, (ii) assign and store a secondary alternative password for the user in the password database, (iii) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the primary alternative password, and (iv) on an ongoing basis, set the activation status of the secondary alternative password; andan access control module structured and/or programmed to;
(i) allow a user to access the access controlled module when the primary alternative password is received through the user input module and has activated status;
(ii) allow a user to access the access controlled module when the secondary alternative password is received through the user input module and has activated status; and
(iii) deactivate the primary password when the secondary alternative password is received through the user input module and has activated status. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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Specification