CREDENTIAL DEVICE PAIRING

• US 20110113485A1
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Published: 05/12/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Little, Zachary W., Michaud, Alain Luc
• Granted Patent: US 8,776,215 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

In one or more implementations, a computing device receives an indication that a device is attempting to pair with the computing device. If a user is not currently authenticated with respect to the computing device, inputs received by the device are restricted from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computing device comprising:

receiving an indication that a device is attempting to pair with the computing device; and

if a user is not currently authenticated with respect to the computing device, restricting inputs received from the device from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the indication is received wirelessly by the computing device from the device.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising permitting use of the inputs received by the computing device from the device for uses other than authenticating the user if the user has been authenticated by the computer.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user does not involve a user name and password.

5. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user includes verification of a user name and password stored locally at the computer.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user involves a user name and password that are communicated via a network connection for verification by an authentication service.

7. A method as described in claim 6, wherein the authentication by the authentication service permits access to a plurality of website without reentering the user name and the password.

8. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising:

pairing the device with the computing device to form a relationship between the computing device and the device that involves communication channel to permit subsequent inputs received from the device to be used for uses other than authenticating the user by the computing device.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the pairing is performed after the user is authenticated.

10. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the device is a wireless input device.

11. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the device is a camera.

12. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the device is a human interactive device.

13. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the device is configured to employ biometrics to be used to authenticate the user.

14. A method as described in claim 13, wherein the biometrics include a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or collection of voice data.

15. One or more computer-readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

in response to an attempt by a wireless device to pair with the computing device, determine whether a user has been authenticated by the computing device;

if the user has not been authenticated by the computing device, restrict inputs received from the wireless device from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user; and

if the user has been authenticated by the computing device, permit use of inputs received from the wireless device by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user.

16. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein the authentication of the user does not involve a user name and password.

17. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, wherein:

the authentication of the user involves a user name and password that are communicated via a network connection for verification by an authentication service; and

the authentication by the authentication service permits access to a plurality of website without reentering the user name and the password

18. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 15, further comprising:

authenticating the user using one or more of the inputs; and

upon completion of the authenticating, pairing the device with the computing device to form a relationship between the computing device and the device that involves communication channel to permit subsequent inputs received from the device to be used for uses other than authenticating the user by the computing device.

19. A computing device comprising one or more modules to:

initiate a boot-up process of the computing device;

receive an indication wirelessly by the computing device from wireless keyboard during the boot-up process, the indication indicating that the wireless keyboard is attempting to pair with the computing device;

restrict inputs received from the wireless keyboard from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user; and

responsive to authentication of the user using inputs received from the wireless keyboard;

pair the wireless keyboard with the computing device;

complete the boot-up process of the computing device; and

permit the computing device to use subsequent inputs received from the wireless keyboard for uses other than authenticating the user.

20. A computing device as described in claim 19, wherein the inputs include one or more biometric inputs that are usable to uniquely identify the user using one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits.