METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTHENTICATING PASSWORD

• US 20130276100A1
• Filed: 09/20/2012
• Published: 10/17/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soongsil University Research Consortium Techno-Park
• Original Assignee: Soongsil University Research Consortium Techno-Park
• Inventors: Kim, Tae Jin, YI, Jeong Hyun, Ma, Gun II, Yi, Hyun Yi, Kim, Si Wan
• Granted Patent: US 8,661,532 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/19
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3271 using challenge-response

Abstract

Provided is a method and apparatus for authenticating a password, wherein the method includes: generating at least one input grid cell into which a password is input from among a plurality of grid cells realized on a screen of a user terminal; and authenticating the password when the password is identical to a number of identification grid cells included in an authentication range predetermined based on the at least one input grid cell, wherein the identification grid cells are set to authenticate the password from among the plurality of grid cells. Accordingly, password information may be prevented from being exposed to a third person observer since a variable password is input whenever a user tries password authentication in a terminal.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating a password, the method comprising:

generating at least one input grid cell into which a password is input from among a plurality of grid cells realized on a screen of a user terminal; and

authenticating the password when the password is identical to a number of identification grid cells included in an authentication range predetermined based on the at least one input grid cell,

wherein the identification grid cells are set to authenticate the password from among the plurality of grid cells.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a user setting one or more identification grid cells used to authenticate the password.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the generating of the at least one input grid cell comprises randomly arranging a location or number of the generated at least one input grid cell in the plurality of grid cells.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identification grid cells are expressed by any one of a symbol, a character, a figure, a color, or a combination thereof in the plurality of grid cells.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the identification grid cells are expressed in the plurality of grid cells only in the setting of the identification grid cells.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the password is expressed by any one of a symbol, a character, a figure, a color, or a combination thereof, which indicates a number of the identification grid cells, and

the authenticating of the password comprises authenticating the password when the number of identification grid cells indicated by the password is the same as the number of identification grid cells included in the authentication range.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the authenticating of the password comprises determining whether a number of identification grid cells included in a grid cell range located top, down, left, right, and diagonal of the at least one input grid cell is the same as the number of identification grid cells indicated by the password input to the at least one input grid cell.

8. A recording medium having recorded thereon a program executable by a user terminal performing the method of claim 1.

9. An apparatus for authenticating a password, the apparatus comprising:

an input grid cell generator for generating at least one input grid cell into which a password is input from among a plurality of grid cells realized on a screen of a user terminal; and

a password authenticator for authenticating the password when the password is identical to a number of identification grid cells included in an authentication range predetermined based on the at least one input grid cell,

wherein the identification grid cells are set to authenticate the password from among the plurality of grid cells.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a setter for a user to set one or more identification grid cells used to authenticate the password.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the input grid cell generator randomly arranges a location or number of the generated at least one input grid cell in the plurality of grid cells.

12. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the identification grid cells are expressed by any one of a symbol, a character, a figure, a color, or a combination thereof in the plurality of grid cells.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein the identification grid cells are expressed in the plurality of grid cells only while the identification grid cells are set.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the password is expressed by any one of a symbol, a character, a figure, a color, or a combination thereof, which indicates a number of the identification grid cells, and

the password authenticator authenticates the password when the number of identification grid cells indicated by the password is the same as the number of identification grid cells included in the authentication range.

15. The apparatus of claim 14, wherein the password authenticator determines whether a number of identification grid cells included in a grid cell range located top, down, left, right, and diagonal of the at least one input grid cell is the same as the number of identification grid cells indicated by the password input to the at least one input grid cell.