Methods and Systems for Management of Image-Based Password Accounts

• US 20100043062A1
• Filed: 09/17/2008
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/17/2007
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Confident Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Confident Technologies, Inc.
• Inventors: Grlicky, Jason Allyn, Osborn, Steven L. II, Lee, Christopher James, Kuert, Adam Paul, Alexander, Samuel Wayne, Blomquist, Scott A., Stover, Benjamin Joel, Bong, Koesmanto Leka, Sontag, James Luke
• Application Number:
  US12/212,635
• Publication Number:
  US 20100043062A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/6
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/83 input devices, e.g. keyboards, mice or controllers thereof
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2117 User registration
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/56 Financial cryptography, e.g. electronic payment or e-cash
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/80 Wireless network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/3226 using a predetermined code, e.g. password, passphrase or PIN network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using passwords in a packet data network H04L63/083

Abstract

The invention provides methods and systems for management of image-based password accounts. A password management account may be accessed by a user undergoing image-based authentication. The invention may allow a user to manage parameters relating to image-based authentication. The invention may also allow a user to manage authentication at one or more web site.

Claims

1. A method for managing a password account within a system for managing image-based password accounts comprising:

providing a user interface to manage user account information within a system for managing image-based password accounts;

providing a user interface to customize image-based authentication parameters;

storing a plurality of passwords associated with one or more web sites within the system for managing image-based password accounts, wherein the one or more passwords are retrieved in response to a given event.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising transmitting the retrieved passwords to the associated web site and authenticating the user at the associated web site in response to the given event.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a user interface to display account activity for the image-based authentication account.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a user interface to manage at least one of:

one or more computers associated with the image-based authentication account;

one or more browsers associated with the image-based authentication account;

or one or more external devices associated with the image-based authentication account.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a user interface to customize alerts provided to a user contact.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising storing user associated information wherein the user associated information is received and transmitted to a target location in response to a given event.

7. A method for authenticating a user on one or more remote web site comprising:

authenticating a user by verifying user recognition of at least one authenticating image category;

receiving a user request to access a remote web site;

retrieving the user'"'"'s authentication information associated with the remote web site from a system for managing image-based password accounts;

directing the user to the remote web site; and

filling in the user'"'"'s authentication information and authenticating the user at the remote web site through the system for managing image-based password accounts.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein verifying user recognition of at least one image category comprises:

generating a graphical arrangement of images having at least one image selected from an authenticating image category and at least one image selected from a non-authenticating category, each image having a corresponding access code;

receiving as input from the user the series of one or more access codes corresponding to images from the authenticating image category; and

comparing the series of one or more access codes to an authenticating reference code to verify user recognition and authenticate the user.

9. The method of claim 7 further comprising displaying one or more identifier for one or more trusted web site.

10. The method of claim 9 further comprising providing a user interface to add or manage the trusted web sites or the user'"'"'s authentication information.

11. An image-based authentication system comprising:

a user interface configured to allow a user to customize one or more authentication parameters that provide access to a plurality of user accounts,

wherein customizing one or more authentication parameters includes at least one of the following;

selecting or modifying an authenticating image category, specifying a graphical authentication display setting, or selecting or modifying an access code background color.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein specifying a graphical authentication display setting includes modifying the number of images displayed or determining whether the order of the access code matters for authentication.

13. A password management system comprising:

an initial user authentication interface configured to authenticate a user by verifying user recognition of at least one authenticating image category

a user interface configured to provide access to one or more listed remote web sites, wherein selecting a listed remote web site directs a user to the remote web site and automatically provides the user'"'"'s authentication information for the remote web site and authenticates the user at the remote web site.

14. The system of claim 13 further comprising a plug-in configured to automatically provide the user'"'"'s authentication information for the remote web site and to authenticate the user at the remote web site.

15. A password management system comprising:

a page configured to display password account activity comprising;

one or more activity categories, wherein at least one of the activity categories is selected; and

an account activity listing, wherein the account activity listing includes activities that are associated with a selected activity category.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein the account activity listing includes a priority indicator for each activity listed.

17. The system of claim 15 further comprising

a page configured allow a user to customize alerts, wherein alerts may include activities sorted by a characteristic.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the characteristic is a priority or a category.

19. A method for image-based password registration comprising:

selecting and storing at least one authenticating image category;

generating a practice display including a graphical arrangement of images having the at least one authenticating image category, wherein the at least one authenticating image has a corresponding access code;

verifying user recognition of the at least one authenticating image category; and

confirming the at least one authenticating image category.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving account information associated with the user; and

confirming the account information associated with the user.

21. The method of claim 19 wherein verifying user recognition comprises:

receiving as input from the user the series of one or more access codes corresponding to images from the authenticating image category; and

comparing the series of one or more access codes to an authenticating reference code to verify user recognition.