GENERATION OF RANDOMIZED PASSWORDS FOR ONE-TIME USAGE

• US 20170169198A1
• Filed: 12/09/2015
• Published: 06/15/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 12/09/2015
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Hand Held Products Incorporated (Honeywell International Inc.)
• Inventors: Nichols, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 10,282,526 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication

Abstract

An electronic device dynamically generates a password for one-time only usage. The one-time password is constructed by placing, in a random sequential order: (i) several randomly chosen digits and (ii) several digits, which are randomly selected from personal identification numbers, which were previously provided by an authorized user. The current user of the device is presented with a natural-language password hint, which describes the sequence of digits in the password. Only the authorized user knows the personal identification numbers; and so is able to construct, on-the-fly, the one-time password, and present that password to the device. The password hint may be presented aloud, in audio form, and the password may be entered into the device via speech. If someone nearby hears the hint and/or the password, they cannot use it at a later time to gain device control or data access, since the password is only valid the one time.

Claims

1. An electronic device configured for password protection, said electronic device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory communicatively coupled to the processor;

wherein;

said memory is configured to store a personal data character string (PDCS), wherein the characters of the PDCS represent a personal data associated with an authorized user of the electronic device; and

said processor is configured to;

select one or more characters of the PDCS; and

generate a password comprising a combination of the one or more selected characters of the PDCS.

2. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to randomly select the one or more characters of the PDCS.

3. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate the password by combining the one or more selected characters of the PDCS in a random sequential order.

4. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate one or more additional characters; and

generate the password as a combination of;

the one or more selected characters of the PDCS; and

the one or more additional characters.

5. The electronic device of claim 1 further comprising a user interface which is communicatively coupled to the processor, wherein said user interface is configured to:

present a data prompt comprising a data category of said PDCS; and

to receive a data value responsive to the data prompt, wherein;

said received data value is stored in the memory as the PDCS associated with the data category.

6. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein said user interface comprises at least one of:

an audio user interface; and

a voice reception interface.

7. The electronic device of claim 5, wherein the data prompt comprises a data category for a data value which is distinctively associated with the authorized user.

8. The electronic device of claim 7, wherein the generated password consists of one or more digits selected from among a plurality of digits of the stored PDCS.

9. The electronic device of claim 1, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a description of said generated password, said description comprising:

(a) a data category of the personal data of the PDCS;

(b) an ordinal placement of the one or more selected characters within the PDCS;

(c) a description of any additional characters of said generated password; and

(d) a description of an ordering, within the generated password, of the selected characters referred to by (a) and (b), and the additional characters of (c).

10. A computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium storing instructions that, when executed by a processor of an electronic device, causes the processor to execute a method for password access, the method comprising:

storing in a memory of the electronic device a personal data character string (PDCS), wherein the characters of the PDCS represent a personal data associated with an authorized user of the electronic device; and

selecting, via the processor, one or more characters of the PDCS; and

generating, via the processor, a password formed by a combination of the one or more selected characters of the PDCS.

11. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises randomly selecting the one or more characters of the PDCS.

12. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises generating the password by combining the one or more selected characters of the PDCS in a random sequential order.

13. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

generating via the processor one or more additional characters; and

generating via the processor the password as a combination of;

the one or more selected characters of the PDCS; and

the one or more additional characters.

14. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises:

presenting, via a user interface of the electronic device, a data prompt comprising a data category of said PDCS; and

receiving, via the user interface of the electronic device, a data value responsive to the data prompt, wherein;

said received data value is stored in the memory as the PDCS associated with the data category.

15. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 14, wherein the data prompt comprises a data category for a data value which is distinctively associated with the authorized user.

16. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the generated password consists of one or more digits selected from among a plurality of digits of the stored PDCS.

17. The computer-readable, non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the method further comprises generating a description of said generated password, said description comprising:

(a) a data category of the personal data of the PDCS;

(b) an ordinal placement of the one or more selected characters within the PDCS;

(c) a description of any additional characters of said generated password; and

(d) a description of an ordering, within the generated password, of;

the selected characters referred to by (a) and (b), and

the additional characters of (c).

18. In an electronic device comprising a processor and a memory which is communicatively coupled to said processor, a method for password access, the method comprising:

storing in the memory of the electronic device a personal data character string (PDCS), wherein the characters of the PDCS represent a personal data associated with an authorized user; and

selecting, via the processor, one or more characters of the PDCS; and

generating, via the processor, a password formed by a combination of the one or more selected characters of the PDCS.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising randomly selecting the one or more characters of the PDCS.

20. The method of claim 18, further comprising generating the password by combining the one or more selected characters of the PDCS in a sequential order which is randomly determined.