LANGUAGE INDEPENDENT LOGIN METHOD AND SYSTEM

• US 20090178135A1
• Filed: 05/25/2008
• Published: 07/09/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/08/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Williamson, Grant D., Dubovsky, Oded, Levy, Ido, Goldberg, Itzhack, Shimony, Ilan
• Granted Patent: US 8,752,164 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/18
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

The present invention prevents illegitimate access to a user computing machine. A method in accordance with an embodiment includes: setting an authentication routine in the user computing machine; generating a virtual keyboard on the user computing machine; entering a user identification through the virtual keyboard, the user identification being entered according to a virtual keyboard form factor; comparing the entered user identification with a secure user identification previously stored in the user computing machine; and validating the user access to the user computing machine if a match occurs, otherwise denying access.

Claims

1. A method for preventing illegitimate access to a user computing machine comprising:

setting an authentication routine in the user computing machine;

generating a virtual keyboard on the user computing machine;

entering a user identification through the virtual keyboard, the user identification being entered according to a virtual keyboard form factor;

comparing the entered user identification with a secure user identification previously stored in the user computing machine; and

validating the user access to the user computing machine if a match occurs, otherwise denying access.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard is randomly generated.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the virtual keyboard is displayed on a screen of the user computing machine.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the user secure identification is produced using a computation of a mathematical formula combined with a predefined sequence, the mathematical formula allowing a selection of rows on the virtual keyboard, and the predefined sequence allowing a selection of columns on the virtual keyboard.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification is entered on the virtual keyboard using a mouse.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the user identification is entered on the virtual keyboard using scroll keys.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising an initial phase of configuring the authentication routine for at least one user on the computing machine, the configuration phase comprising:

customizing a layout of a virtual keyboard to determine a user arrangement of rows and columns;

generating a mathematical formula reflecting a row arrangement of the customized virtual keyboard layout;

defining a user sequence reflecting key assignments on columns of the customized virtual keyboard layout;

combining the mathematical formula with the user sequence to generate a user secure information in a symbolic representation; and

storing the symbolic representation of the user secure information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user computing machine is coupled to a server of a computer system network, and wherein the secure user identification is stored in the server.

9. A computer system for preventing illegitimate access to a user computing machine, comprising:

a system for setting an authentication routine in the user computing machine;

a system for generating a virtual keyboard on the user computing machine;

a system for entering a user identification through the virtual keyboard, the user identification being entered according to a virtual keyboard form factor;

a system for comparing the entered user identification with a secure user identification previously stored in the user computing machine; and

a system for validating the user access to the user computing machine if a match occurs, otherwise denying access.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the virtual keyboard is randomly generated.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the virtual keyboard is displayed on a screen of the user computing machine.

12. The system of claim 9, wherein the user secure identification is produced using a computation of a mathematical formula combined with a predefined sequence, the mathematical formula allowing a selection of rows on the virtual keyboard, and the predefined sequence allowing a selection of columns on the virtual keyboard.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the user identification is entered on the virtual keyboard using a mouse.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the user identification is entered on the virtual keyboard using scroll keys.

15. The system of claim 9, further comprising a system for initially configuring the authentication routine for at least one user on the computing machine, the system for configuring comprising:

a system for customizing a layout of a virtual keyboard to determine a user arrangement of rows and columns;

a system for generating a mathematical formula reflecting a row arrangement of the customized virtual keyboard layout;

a system for defining a user sequence reflecting key assignments on columns of the customized virtual keyboard layout;

a system for combining the mathematical formula with the user sequence to generate a user secure information in a symbolic representation; and

a system for storing the symbolic representation of the user secure information.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the user computing machine is coupled to a server of a computer system network, and wherein the secure user identification is stored in the server.

17. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, which when executed, prevents illegitimate access to a user computing machine, comprising program code for:

setting an authentication routine in the user computing machine;

generating a virtual keyboard on the user computing machine;

entering a user identification through the virtual keyboard, the user identification being entered according to a virtual keyboard form factor;

comparing the entered user identification with a secure user identification previously stored in the user computing machine; and

validating the user access to the user computing machine if a match occurs, otherwise denying access.