User-computer interaction method for use by a population of flexible connectable computer systems

• US 7,249,266 B2
• Filed: 05/04/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/05/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SafeNet Data Security (Israel) Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Aladdin Knowledge Systems Limited (Thales SA)
• Inventors: Margalit, Yanki, Margalit, Dany
• Primary Examiner(s): Peeso; Thomas R.
• Application Number:
  US10/837,664
• Publication Number:
  US 20040202325A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,176 Days
• Field of Search: 713/193, 713/189
• US Class Current: 713/193
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/34 involving the use of external additional devices, e.g. dongles or smart cards
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/79 in semiconductor storage media, e.g. directly-addressable memories
• CPC Class Codes: G06K 19/07733 the record carrier containing at least one further contact interface not conform ISO-7816

Abstract

A user-computer interaction method for use by a population of flexibly connectible computer systems and a population of mobile users, the method comprising storing information characterizing each mobile user on an FCCS plug to be borne by that mobile user; and accepting the FCCS plug from the mobile user for connection to one of the flexibly connectible computer systems and employing the information characterizing the mobile user to perform at least one computer operation.

Claims

1. An FCCS plug device to be borne by a mobile user, the FCCS plug device comprising:

a portable device which mates with a flexibly connectible computer system and comprises a memory; and

information characterizing the mobile user and stored in said memory accessibly to the flexibly connectible computer system,

wherein said FCCS plug device connects to said flexibly connectible computer system via a USB protocol; and

said information characterizing the mobile user is employed to perform at least one computer operation.

2. An FCCS plug device according to claim 1, wherein said information characterizing the mobile user is selected from the group consisting of:

an identity of said mobile user, authentication information, banking information and access rights information.

3. An FCCS plug device according to claim 1, wherein said at least one computer operation is selected from the group consisting of:

authentication, two factor authentication, three factor authentication, authentication using biometry, digital signatures, storing confidential information, controlling access to computer networks, cryptography, content encryption, password security, Sign-On functionality, certifying a key holder, securing storage, one-time password and secure PIN entry.

4. An FCCS plug device according to claim 3, wherein said Sign-On functionality is operative to allow said mobile user to interact with at least one of:

an operating system, a network, the Internet, an Internet Service Provider, a protected Web page, a group ware, a communication application, a sensitive password application, a protected file, a protected Microsoft Office file and a protected Bios.

5. An FCCS plug device according to claim 3, wherein the elements of said authentication are selected from the group consisting of:

something said user knows, something said user has, something said user is, a password, a Sign-On-Key and biometric data of said user.

6. An FCCS plug device according to claim 1, wherein said memory is secured.

7. An FCCS plug device according to claim 1, wherein said memory is selected from the group consisting of:

RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, I²C, IX²C, 2/3 wire bus, SIM memory and smart card memory.

8. An FCCS plug device according to claim 1, further comprising a smart card chip.

9. An FCCS plug device according to claim 8, wherein said smart card chip is operative to perform at least one operation selected from the group consisting of:

securing memory, cryptography, one-time password and secure PIN entry.

10. An FCCS plug device according to claim 8, wherein said smart card chip supports an ISO 7816-3 protocol.

11. An FCCS plug device according to claim 8, wherein said smart card chip is a SIM.

12. An FCCS plug device to be borne by a mobile user, the FCCS plug device comprising:

means for directly connecting said FCCS plug device with a port of a flexibly connectible computer system; and

a memory comprising information characterizing the mobile user operative to perform at least one computer operation, said memory being accessible to the flexibly connectible computer system.

13. An FCCS plug device according to claim 12, wherein said information characterizing the mobile user is selected from the group consisting of:

an identity of said mobile user, authentication information, banking information and access rights information.

14. An FCCS plug device according to claim 12, wherein said at least one computer operation is selected from the group consisting of:

authentication, two factor authentication, three factor authentication, authentication using biometry, digital signatures, storing confidential information, controlling access to computer networks, cryptography, content encryption, password security, Sign-On functionality, certifying a key holder, securing storage, one-time password and secure PIN entry.

15. An FCCS plug device according to claim 14, wherein said Sign-On functionality is operative to allow said mobile user to interact with at least one of:

an operating system, a network, the Internet, an Internet Service Provider, a protected Web page, a group ware, a communication application, a sensitive password application, a protected file, a protected Microsoft Office file and a protected Bios.

16. An FCCS plug device according to claim 14, wherein the elements of said authentication are selected from the group consisting of:

something said user knows, something said user has, something said user is, a password, a Sign-On-Key, biometric data of said user.

17. An FCCS plug device according to claim 12, wherein said memory is secured.

18. An FCCS plug device according to claim 12, wherein said memory is selected from the group consisting of:

RAM, ROM, EPROM, EEPROM, FLASH, I²C, IX²C, 2/3 wire bus, SIM memory and smart card memory.

19. An FCCS plug device according to claim 12, further comprising a smart card chip.

20. An FCCS plug device according to claim 19, wherein said smart card chip is operative to perform at least one operation selected from the group consisting of:

securing memory, cryptography, one-time password and secure PIN entry.

21. An FCCS plug device according to claim 19, wherein said smart card chip supports an ISO 7816-3 protocol.

22. An FCCS plug device according to claim 19, wherein said smart card chip is a SIM.