Method of authentication based on intersection of password sets

United States Patent [w]

Felt

US006128742A [ii] Patent Number: [45] Date of Patent:

6,128,742 Oct. 3,2000

[54] METHOD OF AUTHENTICATION BASED ON INTERSECTION OF PASSWORD SETS

[75] Inventor: Edward Porter Felt, Matawan, N.J.

[73] Assignee: BEA Systems, Inc., Liberty Corner, N.J.

[21] Appl. No.: 09/025,116 [22] Filed: Feb. 17, 1998

[51] Int. CI.7 G06F 11/00

[52] U.S. CI 713/202

[58] Field of Search 713/202, 200,

713/201; 380/4, 23, 25, 9, 29; 340/825.31, 825.34; 235/382.5, 380; 709/224, 225

[56] References Cited

U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS

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There is disclosed a method of authenticating the identity of a first party involved in communicating over a computer network system. The method comprises the steps of: providing the first party with a first password set; providing a second party with a second password set; transmitting an authentication message based on the first password set from the first party to the second party; and authenticating the identity of the first party by the second party for further communications over the computer network if it is demonstrated, based on an analysis of the authentication message, that the first and second password sets contain at least one common password.

26 Claims, 5 Drawing Sheets