Password security method

• US 5,042,067 A
• Filed: 03/23/1990
• Issued: 08/20/1991
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/1989
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Original Assignee: Fujitsu Limited
• Inventors: Moriyama, Junichi
• Primary Examiner(s): Tarcza, Thomas H.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Cain, David
• Application Number:
  US07/497,910
• Time in Patent Office: 515 Days
• Field of Search: 380/25, 380/49
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/33 by means of a password

Abstract

Disclosed is a password security method in a man-machine system for keeping the secrecy of a password during a setting process of the system. To keep not only the secret of the password but also the presence of the password from unauthorized users, the method comprises a prompt displaying step for prompting to enter an equipment name and not prompting to enter the password; a password discriminating step to discriminate whether or not a correct password is entered; a step for entering a normal mode when the correct password is not detected; and step for entering a password mode when the correct password is detected.

Claims

1. A password security method for maintaining the security of a password during a system set up process caused by accessing the system from an external source, comprising the steps of:

(a) prompting for entry of an equipment name while no prompt to enter the password is displayed;

(b) entering at least one of an equipment name, a special symbol, a password and a return code in response to step (a);

(c) discriminating whether or not a correct password is entered by comparing the password entered in step (b) to a reference password previously set in the system;

(d) executing a normal mode when the correct password is not detected; and

(e) executing a password mode when the correct password is detected.

2. A password security method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) discriminating whether or not a return code has been entered;

(g) discriminating whether or not a special code has been entered when the return code has not been entered; and

(h) moving back a cursor by one character when one character of the password is entered.

3. A password security method as claimed in claim 2, wherein step (h) includes the sub-step of:

(h1) displaying a predetermined fixed symbol instead of the password entered in step (b).

4. A password security method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(i) establishing a flag when the special code is detected in step (g); and

(j) storing entered data when the special code is not detected in step (g).

5. A password security method as claimed in claim 2, further comprising the steps of:

(i) discriminating whether or not the equipment name entered in step (b) is correct;

(j) displaying that the equipment name is not correct when the equipment name entered in step (b) is not correct.

6. A password security method as claimed in claim 5, further comprising the step of:

(k) displaying a message when the password entered in step (b) is discriminated to be correct.

7. A password security method as claimed in claim 6, further comprising the steps of:

(l) interrogating whether or not the password should be changed; and

(m) receiving a new password when step (l) indicates that the password should be changed.

8. A password security method as claimed in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

(f) discriminating whether or not a return code has been entered;

(g) discriminating whether or not a special code has been entered when the return code has not been entered; and

(h) moving back a cursor by one character when one character of the password is entered.

9. A password security method as claimed in claim 8, wherein step (h) includes the sub-step of:

(h1) displaying a predetermined fixed symbol instead of the password entered in step (b).

10. A password security method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(i) establishing a flag when the special code is detected in step (g); and

(j) storing entered data when the special code is not detected in step (g).

11. A password security method as claimed in claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

(i) discriminating whether or not the equipment name entered in step (b) is correct;

(j) displaying that the equipment name is not correct when the equipment name entered in step (b) is not correct.

12. A password security method as claimed in claim 11, further comprising the step of:

(k) displaying a message when the password entered in step (b) is discriminated to be correct.

13. A password security method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

(l) interrogating whether or not the password should be changed; and

(m) receiving a new password when step (l) indicates that the password should be changed.

14. A password security method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

(i) establishing a flag when the special code is detected in step (g); and

(j) storing entered data when the special code is not detected in step (g).

15. A password security method as claimed in claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

(i) discriminating whether or not the equipment name entered in step (b) is correct;

(j) displaying that the equipment name is not correct when the equipment name entered in step (b) is not correct.

16. A password security method as claimed in claim 15, further comprising the step of:

(k) displaying a message when the password entered in step (b) is discriminated to be correct.

17. A password security method as claimed in claim 16, further comprising the steps of:

(l) interrogating whether or not the password should be changed; and

(m) receiving a new password when step (l) indicates that the password should be changed.

18. A password security method as claimed in claim 4, further comprising the steps of:

(k) discriminating whether or not the equipment name entered in step (b) is correct;

(l) displaying that the equipment name is not correct when the equipment name entered in step (b) is not correct.

19. A password security method as claimed in claim 18, further comprising the step of:

(m) displaying a message when the password entered in step (b) is discriminated to be correct.

20. A password security method as claimed in claim 19, further comprising the steps of:

(n) interrogating whether or not the password should be changed; and

(o) receiving a new password when step (n) indicates that the password should be changed.