Systems and methods for altering the state of a computing device via a contacting sequence

• US 8,788,834 B1
• Filed: 05/25/2010
• Issued: 07/22/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CA, Inc. (d/b/a CA Technologies) (Broadcom, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Symantec Corporation (NortonLifeLock Inc.)
• Inventors: Sang, Xiaolu
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Luu
• Assistant Examiner(s): TURCHEN, JAMES R
• Application Number:
  US12/787,246
• Time in Patent Office: 1,519 Days
• Field of Search: 713/183, 726/4, 726/17
• US Class Current: 713/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method for altering the state of a computing device via a contacting sequence is described. A contacting sequence is detected on a display of the computing device in a first state. The contacting sequence is compared to at least one contacting sequence stored in a database. A determination is made whether the detected contacting sequence matches at least one contacting sequence stored in the database. If the detected sequence matches at least one contacting sequence stored in the database, the first state of the computing device is altered to a second state.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for altering the state of a computing device via a contacting sequence, comprising:

displaying a portion of a website with a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on a touch screen of the computing device, wherein the website comprises a request for a password in order to permit access to a restricted portion of the website;

detecting, independent of a location on the touch screen of the computing device, the contacting sequence of an input to the touch screen of the computing device in a first state, the contacting sequence comprising a rhythmic tapping sequence of one or more taps on the touch screen, the one or more taps comprising a predetermined length, a delay between the one or more taps comprising a predetermined duration;

comparing the contacting sequence to at least one contacting sequence stored in a database;

determining whether the detected contacting sequence matches a first sequence stored in the database;

upon determining that the detected sequence matches the first sequence stored in the database, determining whether the first sequence maps to a first password stored in the database and whether the first password maps to the first URL; and

upon determining the first sequence maps to the first password and that the first password maps to the first URL, permitting access to the restricted portion of the website.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising denying access to the restricted portion of the website if the detected sequence does not match at least one contacting sequence stored in the database.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing feedback data as the contacting sequence is detected on the touch screen, wherein the feedback data indicates if the contacting sequence is being entered correctly.

4. A computing device configured to alter the state of the computing device via a contacting sequence, comprising:

a processor;

memory in electronic communication with the processor;

instructions stored in the memory, the instructions being executable by the processor to;

display a portion of a website with a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on a touch screen of the computing device, wherein the website comprises a request for a password in order to permit access to a restricted portion of the website;

detect, independent of a location on the touch screen of the computing device, the contacting sequence of an input to the touch screen of the computing device in a first state, the contacting sequence comprising a rhythmic tapping sequence of one or more taps on the touch screen, the one or more taps comprising a predetermined length, a delay between the one or more taps comprising a predetermined duration;

compare the contacting sequence to at least one contacting sequence stored in a database;

determine whether the detected contacting sequence matches a first sequence stored in the database;

upon determining that the detected sequence matches the first sequence stored in the database, determine whether the first sequence maps to a first password stored in the database and whether the first password maps to the first URL; and

upon determining the first sequence maps to the first password and that the first password maps to the first URL, permit access to the restricted portion of the website.

5. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to deny access to the restricted portion of the website if the detected sequence does not match at least one contacting sequence stored in the database.

6. The computing device of claim 4, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to provide feedback data as the contacting sequence is detected on the touch screen, wherein the feedback data indicates if the contacting sequence is being entered correctly.

7. A computer-program product for altering the state of a computing device via a contacting sequence, the computer-program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing instructions thereon, the instructions being executable by a processor to;

display a portion of a website with a first Uniform Resource Locator (URL) on a touch screen of the computing device, wherein the website comprises a request for a password in order to permit access to a restricted portion of the website;

detect, independent of a location on the touch screen of the computing device, the contacting sequence of an input to the touch screen of the computing device in a first state, the contacting sequence comprising a rhythmic tapping sequence of one or more taps on the touch screen, the one or more taps comprising a predetermined length, a delay between the one or more taps comprising a predetermined duration;

compare the contacting sequence to at least one contacting sequence stored in a database;

determine whether the detected contacting sequence matches a first sequence stored in the database;

upon determining that the detected sequence matches the first sequence stored in the database, determine whether the first sequence maps to a first password stored in the database and whether the first password maps to the first URL; and

upon determining the first sequence maps to the first password and that the first password maps to the first URL, permit access to the restricted portion of the website.

8. The computer-program of claim 7, wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to deny access to the restricted portion of the website if the detected sequence does not match at least one contacting sequence stored in the database.