Methods and Systems for Management of Image-Based Password Accounts
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.
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.