Password protection using pattern

• US 9,117,068 B1
• Filed: 09/25/2013
• Issued: 08/25/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Trend Micro Inc.
• Original Assignee: Trend Micro Inc.
• Inventors: Zhang, Lei, Zhu, Zhiwei
• Primary Examiner(s): Cervetti, David Garcia
• Application Number:
  US14/037,314
• Time in Patent Office: 699 Days
• Field of Search: 726/18, 713/184
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

A user creates a pattern in a two-dimensional grid by entering a password and enters a user name. This user name, password and pattern are stored locally on a computing device or are transmitted to a remote computer server for later authentication. Upon authentication, a choice of input grids is displayed. The user chooses a grid, enters the password into the grid in the form of the pattern, and also enters the user name. The computer retrieves the previously stored pattern and password with the user name. A match with the stored password indicates authentication. Each cell of the input grid may contain more than one symbol of the password. The input grid may also be filled with random characters to improve security. A grid may be a rectangular matrix, a circular region, an asymmetrical region, or other.

Claims

1. A method of establishing a user identity, said method comprising:

creating, by a computer user, a two-dimensional pattern on a display of a computing device, said pattern including a plurality of cells;

receiving, on said computing device, a series of alphanumeric characters forming a password from said computer user entered into said cells of said two-dimensional pattern manually by said computer user, wherein at least one of said cells includes a plurality of said characters of said password, and wherein said characters forming said password do not appear in said cells before entry by said computer user and are found on a keyboard or input screen;

determining a set of coordinates that define said pattern;

receiving, on said computing device, a unique identifier from said computer user; and

storing said set of coordinates, said unique identifier and said password in association with one another in persistent storage, whereby said identity of said computer user may be later authenticated.

2. The method as recited in claim 1 further comprising:

presenting to said computer user on said computing device a plurality of grids;

receiving a selection from a user indicating a chosen one of said grids; and

receiving said password entered into said two-dimensional pattern into said chosen grid.

3. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said password is entered on said display in order to generate said pattern.

4. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said password is composed of symbols.

5. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said password is composed of alphanumeric characters.

6. The method as recited in claim 1 wherein said two-dimensional pattern is generated within a grid on said display of said computing device, and wherein said set of coordinates defines locations of said cells of said matrix.

7. A method of authenticating a user, said method comprising

displaying, on a computing device, a two-dimensional grid having individual cells;

receiving input from a user of said computing device that defines a pattern within said grid including a pattern set of said cells;

receiving a series of alphanumeric characters forming a password input from said user on said computing device, said password being input into said pattern set of cells manually by said user, wherein at least one of said cells of said pattern set includes a plurality of said characters of said password, and wherein said characters forming said password do not appear in said cells before entry by said user and are found on a keyboard or input screen;

receiving a unique identifier from said user on said computing device; and

authenticating said user using said pattern, said password and said unique identifier.

8. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

presenting to said computer user on said computing device a plurality of grids;

receiving a selection from a user indicating a chosen one of said grids; and

receiving said password entered into said pattern in said chosen grid.

9. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

receiving said password as being input into said grid, said password defining said pattern on said grid.

10. The method as recited in claim 9 further comprising:

filling individual cells of said grid with symbols of a password space of said password, except for those individual elements holding said input password.

11. The method as recited in claim 10 further comprising:

transmitting, over a network connection, said grid including said symbols and said password, and said user identifier, to a computer server where said authenticating is performed.

12. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

authenticating said user by comparing said password to a stored password and by comparing said pattern to a stored pattern.

13. The method as recited in claim 7 further comprising:

encoding said password, said pattern and said unique identifier into an encoded string; and

authenticating by said user by comparing said encoded string to a similarly encoded stored encoded string.

14. A method of authenticating a user, said method comprising:

receiving a two-dimensional grid having individual cells from a computing device, wherein a plurality of said cells include alphanumeric characters, wherein at least one of said cells includes a plurality of characters, wherein said characters having been entered manually into said computing device by a computer user, and wherein said characters do not appear in said cells before entry by said computer user and are found on a keyboard or input screen;

receiving a unique identifier that is associated with said grid from said computing device;

retrieving a previously stored pattern from persistent storage using said unique identifier as a key;

retrieving a previously stored password from persistent storage using said unique identifier as a key;

using said stored pattern, selecting symbols from said grid that correspond to said stored pattern, said selected symbols forming an input password;

comparing said input password to said previously stored password; and

authenticating said user when said input password matches said previously stored password.

15. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said received grid includes elements having symbols other than elements of said grid that correspond to said previously stored pattern.

16. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

selecting symbols from said grid by superimposing an image of said previously stored pattern onto said grid.

17. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

retrieving, from said persistent storage, a set of coordinates defining said previously stored pattern;

selecting symbols from said grid by using said set of coordinates.

18. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

receiving said two-dimensional grid from said user, wherein said user has input at least a portion of said symbols of said grid in order to authenticate said user.

19. The method as recited in claim 14 further comprising:

displaying on said computing device an indication that said user has been authenticated.

20. The method as recited in claim 14 wherein said symbols are alphanumeric characters.