Security method and apparatus

• US 8,171,300 B2
• Filed: 04/30/2002
• Issued: 05/01/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/30/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Inventors: Krulce, Darrell
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Minh
• Application Number:
  US10/137,042
• Publication Number:
  US 20030204733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,654 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing password security to an electronic device. Access rights to an electronic device are determined by decrypting and decoding an encrypted password given to one or more individuals. When an individual enters a given encrypted password into the electronic device, a decrypting function decrypts the password to generate a decrypted password. The decrypted password contains information as to whether access should be granted to the individual, and if so, to what extent. For example, the decrypted password may comprise a numerical value and access is granted if the numerical value is less than or greater than a predetermined value, or if the numerical value is within a predetermined range.

Claims

1. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

an input device configured to input entry of an encrypted password into the electronic device;

a memory configured to store a decryption function and a decoding function; and

a processor configured to receive the encrypted password, to apply the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and to apply said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is less than a predetermined value.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

3. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

an input device configured to input entry of an encrypted password into the electronic device;

a memory configured to store a decryption function and a decoding function; and

a processor configured to receive the encrypted password, to apply the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and to apply said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is greater than a predetermined value.

4. The apparatus of claim 3, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

5. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

an input device configured to input entry of an encrypted password into the electronic device;

a memory configured to store a decryption function and a decoding function; and

a processor configured to receive the encrypted password, to apply the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and to apply said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is within a predetermined range.

6. The apparatus of claim 5, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

7. A method for providing password security to an electronic device, comprising:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is less than a predetermined value.

8. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

means for inputting, to the electronic device, an encrypted password;

means for storing a decryption function and a decoding function; and

means for receiving the encrypted password and for applying the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and for applying said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device and wherein a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is less than a predetermined value.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

10. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

means for inputting, to the electronic device, an encrypted password;

means for storing a decryption function and a decoding function; and

means for receiving the encrypted password and for applying the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and for applying said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device and wherein a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is greater than a predetermined value.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

12. An electronic device having password security, comprising:

means for inputting, to the electronic device, an encrypted password;

a numerical value;

means for storing a decryption function and a decoding function; and

means for receiving the encrypted password and for applying the decryption function to the encrypted password to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value, and for applying said decoding function to said decrypted password to determine access rights to the electronic device and wherein a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is within a predetermined range.

13. The apparatus of claim 12, wherein said decrypted password comprises information for allowing access to a predetermined portion of information accessed through said electronic device.

14. A method for providing password security to an electronic device, comprising:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is greater than a predetermined value.

15. A method for providing password security to an electronic device, comprising:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is within a predetermined range.

16. A non-transitory storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement providing password security to an electronic device, and which when executed perform the steps of:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is less than a predetermined value.

17. A non-transitory storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement providing password security to an electronic device, and which when executed perform the steps of:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is greater than a predetermined value.

18. A non-transitory storage media comprising program instructions which are computer-executable to implement providing password security to an electronic device, and which when executed perform the steps of:

storing a decryption function;

storing a decoding function;

receiving an encrypted password;

decrypting said encrypted password using said decryption function to produce a decrypted password comprising a numerical value; and

decoding said decrypted password to determine access rights to said electronic device, wherein the decoding function comprises a series of executable computer instructions for performing mathematical operations and wherein the decoding function determines a user is permitted access to said electronic device if said numerical value is within a predetermined range.