Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support – Multiple computer communication using cryptography – Protection at a particular protocol layer
Reexamination Certificate
1999-03-24
2001-08-28
Lee, Thomas (Department: 2182)
Electrical computers and digital processing systems: support
Multiple computer communication using cryptography
Protection at a particular protocol layer
C710S073000, C341S106000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06282659
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a method and apparatus for handling a passcode for a numeric passcode controlled device.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Automatic systems which provide information to users have become very common. For years, many systems have allowed users to access information from a telephone and its keypad or from a banking machine and more recently, with the growth of home computers, modems, and the internet, from a computer and its keyboard as well. In many cases, these systems require that the user identify themselves with some passcode or access code.
Typical examples of such systems are: voice messaging systems—which allow a user to retrieve the messages that others have left them—and automated banking or account information systems—which allow a user to retrieve information about their personal accounts and perhaps to make payments from or transfers between those accounts.
NORSTAR VOICE MESSAGING™ version 3, MERIDIAN MAIL™ and VISIT MESSENGER™, all manufactured by Northern Telecom Limited, are voice messaging systems which allow the user to retrieve their messages from either a telephone or a computer connected via network or modem. MERIDIAN IVR™, also manufactured by Northern Telecom Limited, is an interactive voice response system which allows third parties to customize systems for information retrieval. In many cases such a system is used to integrate with banking or other systems and build the aforementioned information retrieval systems, allowing a customer of a bank to access information from a telephone, a banking machine, or a computer.
As these systems provide access to confidential information, they require that the user identify and authenticate themselves. The identification is typically an account number, with authentication by way of a confidential passcode. As users may access the system at any time from either the telephone or computer, the passcode must be numeric in nature.
Recognising that many users have difficulty in remembering these numeric passcodes (of which they may have a multiplicity for different services, machines, and environments), the keypads of telephones and banking machines provide standard mappings of letters to numbers. This allows users to make use of a mnemonic aid, that is, to select an easily remembered word which utilises the letters to which the numbers of the passcode map.
The user can then simply “type” their mnemonic word by pressing the corresponding numeric keys. A problem occurs, however, when the user must enter their passcode on a computer. Existing systems require that the user enter the number on their computer. And unfortunately, computer numeric keys do not have the associated alphabetic lettering on them.
This problem is typically solved by users referring to a telephone to determine which numeric key each letter of their mnemonic word maps to, and then entering these numeric keys on their computer. This is awkward for the user, and where no telephone is proximate to the computer, may result in the attempt being abandoned until the user can find a phone and write down the appropriate number. It is also potentially confusing for the user since the layout of the numeric keys on the telephone differs from that on computer keyboards, that is, some computer keyboards have only a row of numbers, and those that have a numeric keypad as well have it in a different layout from that on a telephone.
Where a user resorts to writing down the numeric equivalent of the mnemonic word to prevent future trouble, the security and confidentiality of the passcode, and therefore the information which is protected by the passcode, is reduced.
It should be noted that a similar problem occurs when a user is creating a new passcode while using the computer. Without the ability to conveniently enter a mnemonic word, the user generally resorts to a numeric passcode, which in most cases is written down, again compromising the security and confidentiality of the protected information.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates generally to systems or devices which provide users the ability to access information via a telephone and its keypad and/or via a banking machine and its keypad and via a computer and its keyboard, and which require users to enter passcodes to authenticate themselves. An object of the present invention is to allow a user to enter their mnemonic word directly on a computer terminal.
According to the present invention, there is provided a method for handling a passcode for a numeric passcode controlled device, comprising the steps of: receiving an alphabetic passcode; mapping each letter of said alphabetic passcode to a number based on a pre-defined mapping to obtain a mapped passcode; and utilising said mapped passcode to attempt access of said numeric passcode controlled device.
According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided apparatus for accessing a numeric passcode controlled device, comprising: entry means to enter an alphabetic passcode; processing means to map each letter of said alphabetic passcode to a number; and means to utilize said mapped passcode to attempt access of said numeric passcode controlled device.
REFERENCES:
patent: 3938091 (1976-02-01), Atalla et al.
patent: 4283599 (1981-08-01), Atalla
patent: 4825464 (1989-04-01), Wen
patent: 4918721 (1990-04-01), Hashimoto
patent: 5388154 (1995-02-01), Solomon
patent: 5479494 (1995-12-01), Clitherow
patent: 5507021 (1996-04-01), Siegle
patent: 5528235 (1996-06-01), Lin et al.
patent: 5649223 (1997-07-01), Freeman
patent: 5682475 (1997-10-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 5793952 (1998-08-01), Limsico
patent: 5797128 (1998-08-01), Birnbaum
patent: 5812657 (1998-09-01), Reding et al.
patent: 5847697 (1998-12-01), Sugimoto
patent: 6028538 (2000-02-01), Ramesh et al.
Lee Thomas
Nortel Networks Limited
Park Ilwoo
LandOfFree
Feature to facilitate numeric passcode entry does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Feature to facilitate numeric passcode entry, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Feature to facilitate numeric passcode entry will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2444760