Method and device for entering a computer database password

• US 7,536,556 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2001
• Issued: 05/19/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/27/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Martyn Sergeevich Nunuparov, Thomas Robert Ruddy, Yulia Vladimirovna Fedorova
• Original Assignee: Martyn Sergeevich Nunuparov, Thomas Robert Ruddy, Yulia Vladimirovna Fedorova
• Inventors: Ruddy, Thomas Robert, Fedorova, Yulia Vladimirovna, Nunuparov, Martyn Sergeevich
• Primary Examiner(s): Parthasarathy, Pramila
• Application Number:
  US10/484,711
• Publication Number:
  US 20040172564A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,853 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 713/183
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/36 by graphic or iconic representation

Abstract

The invention relates to computers, more particularly to a method and apparatus for entering a password to gain access to computer databases. The object of the invention is to provide efficient protection of the user'"'"'s password from reproduction by an unauthorized person, to substantially increase the number of possible combinations and to create passwords that are maximum easy for the users to memorize. An embodiment of the invention comprises entering parameters of a password entry dynamic image to a computer; displaying to the user the dynamic image with the selected parameters; pointing at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time. Another embodiment comprises setting a predetermined access code in the form of a rhythmic pattern; preliminary entering said rhythmic pattern via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer to store and use the rhythmic pattern in subsequent password entries; when entering the password, entering said rhythmic pattern via a set of contact means of the user'"'"'s entry device.

Claims

1. A method of entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising:

determining parameters of a password entry dynamic image, entering said parameters via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer and storing said parameters;

displaying to the user on a display said dynamic image with the user-determined parameters;

pointing, via time pointing means, at least one predetermined object of said dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time;

comparing said stored parameters of the password entry dynamic image with parameters of said pointed objects of the dynamic image and, responsive to correspondence between said parameters, identifying the passwords,

wherein said dynamic image is an animated image including animated objects that vary position space and/or state in time appearance of a predetermined object in at least one position and/or state is pointed via the user'"'"'s time pointing device, and said parameters of the dynamic image are selected from the group including a number of animated objects, an animation rate of the objects, an indication in which order the animated objects are to be selected, and an indication which of the animated objects are significant for entering the password.

2. The method of claim 1 characterized in that said dynamic image is a set of several screens, each having a time-variable state, wherein appearance of said predetermined object on at least one predetermined screen is pointed via the user'"'"'s time pointing device.

3. The method of claim 2 characterized in that the state of the screen is periodically varied.

4. The method of claim 2 or 3 characterized in that said parameters of the dynamic image are selected from the group including a number of screens, a number of objects displayed on each of the screens, a state modification mode of each of the screens, a state modification rate of each of the screens, an indication of the order and screen on which the objects of the dynamic image are to be selected, an indication which of the screens are significant for entering a password, and combination of said parameters.

5. An apparatus for entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising

a user'"'"'s entry device for entering parameters of a password entry dynamic image to a computer;

a display for displaying to the user the dynamic image with the user-selected parameters;

time pointing means for pointing at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time;

means for storing the entered parameters of the password entry dynamic image, comparing said stored parameters with parameters of the pointed objects of the dynamic image and, responsive to correspondence between the parameters, identifying the password; and

means for implementing a state modification mode of each of the screens, a state modification rate of each of the screens, an animation rate of objects of the dynamic image, an order of section of objects of the dynamic image on respective screens responsive to a user-entered indication which of the actuated contact means are significant for entering the password.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 characterized in that said time pointing means comprises at least one contact means to point the time when actuated by the user.

7. The apparatus of claim 5 or 6 characterized in that said time pointing means is based on at least one entry device selected from the group including a mouse, a keyboard and a graphic tablet.

8. A method of entering a password to gain access to a computer database, comprising:

setting a predetermined access code in the form of a rhythmic pattern at a corresponding time;

preliminary entering said rhythmic pattern via a user'"'"'s entry device to a computer to store and use said rhythmic pattern in a subsequent password entry;

when entering the password, entering said rhythmic pattern at the corresponding time via said user'"'"'s entry device;

comparing said stored rhythmic pattern with the entered rhythmic pattern and, responsive to correspondence between said rhythmic patterns with respect to the corresponding time, identifying the password.

9. The method of claim 8 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device comprises a set of contact means, wherein a predetermined number of contact means and an order of actuations of the contact means by the user are selected for entering the rhythmic pattern.

10. The method of claim 8 or 9 characterized in that said rhythmic pattern is a fragment of a music composition, wherein said contact means in said set of contact means are assigned functions of keys of a musical instrument.

11. The method of claim 8 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device comprises at least one contact means, wherein a duration of each actuation of said contact means in the sequence of actuations thereof is determined for entering the rhythmic pattern.

12. The method of claim 8 or 11 characterized in that said rhythmic pattern is a combination of long and short actuations of said contact means.

13. An apparatus for entering a password in a computer database, comprising:

a user'"'"'s entry device for entering a pre-selected rhythmic pattern at a corresponding time to the computer;

means for storing the pre-elected preliminary entered via an entry device;

means for comparing said stored pre-elected rhythmic pattern with a rhythmic pattern entered at the corresponding time by the user at subsequent password entries and, responsive to correspondence between the rythmic patterns, identifying the passsword.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 characterized in that said user'"'"'s entry device is selected from the group including a mouse, a keyboard and combination thereof, wherein a set of contact means for entering the rhythmic pattern is selected from said keyboard and mouse.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 characterized in that each element of said rhythmic pattern corresponds to actuation of one of the contact means.

16. The apparatus of claim 14 characterized in that aid set of contact means includes groups of contact means having the same function so that each element of said rhythmic pattern corresponds to actuation of any one of contact means in said group of contact means.

17. An apparatus to enter a password in a computer, comprising:

an entry device to enter parameters of a password entry dynamic image to the computer;

a display to display the dynamic image;

a time pointing unit to point at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time; and

a storing unit to store the entered parameters of the password entry dynamic image, to compare the stored parameters with parameters of the pointed objects of the dynamic image and, response to correspondence between the parameters, to identify the password,

wherein the apparatus further comprises means for implementing a state modification mode of each of the screens a state modification rate of each of the screen, an animation rate of objects of the dynamic image, an order of selection of objects of the dynamic image on respective screens responsive to a user-entered indication which of the actuated contact means are significant for entering the password.

18. A method of entering a password in a computer, the method comprising:

determining parameters of a password entry dynamic image to enter the parameters via a user entry device to the computer to store the parameters;

displaying on a display the dynamic image with the user-determined parameters;

pointing, via a time pointing unit, at least one predetermined object of the dynamic image that has taken a user-predetermined position in space and/or state in time; and

comparing the stored parameters of the password entry dynamic image with parameters of the pointed objects of the dynamic image and, responsive to correspondence between the parameters, identifying the password,

wherein the method further comprises implementing a state modification mode of each of the screens, a state modification rate of each of the screens, an animation rate of object of the dynamic image, an order of selection of objects of the dynamic image on respective screens responsive to a user-entered indication which of the actuated contact means are significant for entering the password.

19. An apparatus to enter a password in a computer, comprising:

an entry device to enter a rhythmic pattern with respect to a corresponding time to the computer;

a storing unit to store the pre-selected rhythmic pattern entered via the entry device; and

a comparing unit to compare the stored rhythmic pattern with a rhythmic pattern entered with respect to the corresponding time by a user at subsequent password entries and, response to correspondence between the rhythmic patterns, identifying the password.

20. A method of entering a password in a computer, the method comprising:

setting a predetermined access code in the form of a rhythmic pattern with respect to a time-axis;

preliminary entering the rhythmic pattern via an entry device to the computer to store and use the rhythmic pattern in a subsequent password entry;

entering the rhythmic pattern with respect to the time-axis via the entry device, when the password is entered; and

comparing the stored rhythmic pattern with the entered rhythmic pattern and, responsive to correspondence between the rhythmic patterns, identifying the password.