Credential device pairing

• US 8,776,215 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2009
• Issued: 07/08/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Little, Zachary W., Michaud, Alain Luc
• Primary Examiner(s): Pwu, Jeffrey
• Assistant Examiner(s): JHAVERI, JAYESH M
• Application Number:
  US12/614,138
• Publication Number:
  US 20110113485A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,705 Days
• Field of Search: 726 16- 19, 726 27- 28, 455 411- 413
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2129 Authenticate client device independently of the user

Abstract

In one or more implementations, a computing device receives an indication that a device is attempting to pair with the computing device. If a user is not currently authenticated with respect to the computing device, inputs received by the device are restricted from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user.

Claims

1. A method implemented by a computing device comprising:

initiating a boot-up process of the computing device;

receiving an indication wirelessly by the computing device from a wireless input device during the boot-up process, the indication indicating that the wireless input device is attempting to pair with the computing device;

restricting inputs received from the wireless input device from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating a user;

utilizing the inputs to authenticate the user based at least in part on information associated with the user; and

responsive to authentication of the user using the inputs;

pairing the wireless input device with the computing device;

completing the boot-up process of the computing device; and

permitting the computing device to use subsequent inputs received from the wireless input device for uses other than authenticating the user.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user does not involve a user name and password.

3. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user includes verification of a user name and password stored locally at the computing device.

4. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the authentication of the user involves a user name and password that are communicated via a network connection for verification by an authentication service.

5. A method as described in claim 4, wherein the authentication by the authentication service permits access to a plurality of websites without reentering the user name and the password.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein pairing the wireless input device with the computing device forms a relationship between the computing device and the wireless input device that involves a communication channel to enable said permitting subsequent inputs received from the wireless input device to be used for uses other than authenticating the user.

7. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the wireless input device is a human interactive device.

8. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the wireless input device is configured to employ biometrics to be used to authenticate the user.

9. A method as described in claim 8, wherein the biometrics include a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or collection of voice data.

16. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the inputs include a personal identification number (PIN).

10. One or more computer-readable media other than a signal per se, the one or more computer-readable media comprising instructions stored thereon that, responsive to execution by a computing device, cause the computing device to:

initiate a boot-up process of the computing device;

receive an attempt by a wireless input device to pair with the computing device during the boot-up process;

restrict inputs received from the wireless input device from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating a user;

utilize the inputs to authenticate the user based at least in part on information associated with the user; and

responsive to a determination that the user has been authenticated by the computing device using the inputs to;

pair the wireless input device with the computing device;

complete the boot-up process of the computing device; and

permit use of inputs received from the wireless input device by the computing device for uses other than authenticating the user.

11. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the authentication of the user does not involve a user name and password.

12. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein:

the authentication of the user involves a user name and password that are communicated via a network connection for verification by an authentication service; and

the authentication by the authentication service permits access to a plurality of websites without reentering the user name and the password.

13. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10,

wherein pairing the wireless input device with the computing device forms a relationship between the computing device and the wireless input device that involves a communication channel to enable said permitting subsequent inputs received from the wireless input device to be used for uses other than authenticating the user.

17. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the inputs include a PIN.

18. One or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the inputs include one or more biometric inputs that are usable to uniquely identify the user, including a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or collection of voice data.

14. A computing device comprising one or more modules to:

initiate a boot-up process of the computing device;

receive an indication wirelessly by the computing device from a wireless input device during the boot-up process, the indication indicating that the wireless input device is attempting to pair with the computing device;

restrict inputs received from the wireless input device from being used by the computing device for uses other than authenticating a user;

utilize the inputs to authenticate the user based at least in part on information associated with the user; and

responsive to authentication of the user using inputs received from the wireless input device;

pair the wireless input device with the computing device;

complete the boot-up process of the computing device; and

permit the computing device to use subsequent inputs received from the wireless input device for uses other than authenticating the user.

15. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the inputs include one or more biometric inputs that are usable to uniquely identify the user using one or more intrinsic physical or behavioral traits.

19. A computing device as described in claim 14, wherein the inputs include a PIN.

20. A computing device as described in claim 15, wherein the biometric inputs include a fingerprint scan, a retinal scan, or collection of voice data.