IP Library Granted Patent US 9,563,758
Granted Patent B2
US 9,563,758 · App. 14/275,729 · Granted Feb 7, 2017

Increasing security of a device and/or system via questioning about a characteristic of the device and/or system

Inventors: Stefan Lehmann (Tucson, AZ); Khanh V. Ngo (Tucson, AZ)
Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
G06F21/31G06F2221/2111G06F2221/2133
View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,563,758
App. No.
14/275,729
Granted
Feb 7, 2017
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method for preventing unauthorized access to and/or modification of a page of a device and/or system according to one embodiment includes presenting a question via a graphical user interface; receiving a response to the question; allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer; and not allowing access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer. An answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system.

Claims (33)

1. A computer-implemented method for preventing unauthorized access to and/or modification of a page of a device and/or system, the method comprising:

receiving a request to access and/or modify the page, the page including a collection of data about the device and/or system;

in response to the request, presenting a question for output via a graphical user interface, wherein an answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system;

receiving a response to the question;

allowing modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer, wherein modification of a field on the page is permitted while the page is being output, wherein application of the modification is only permitted when the response to the question includes the answer; and

not allowing modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the device and/or system is a physical characteristic.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the characteristic of the device and/or system is obtainable to a user of the device and/or system by inspection of the device and/or system.

4. The method of claim 1 , comprising generating the question in response to an access and/or modification request for the page.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the system is a data storage system.

6. The method of claim 1 , comprising providing a different question when the response to the question does not include the answer, wherein an answer to the different question includes a different characteristic of the device and/or system.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the method is performed during a security audit.

8. A computer program product for preventing unauthorized access to and/or modification of a page of a device and/or system, the computer program product comprising a computer readable storage medium having program code embodied therewith, the program code readable and/or executable by a device to cause the device to:

present a question via a graphical user interface, wherein an answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system;

receive a response to the question;

allow access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer;

not allow access to and/or modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer; and

provide a different question when the response to the question does not include the answer, wherein an answer to the different question includes a different physical characteristic of the device and/or system, the characteristic being ascertainable by visually inspecting the device and/or system, the page including a collection of data about the device and/or system.

9. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the characteristic of the device and/or system is a physical characteristic, the page including a collection of data about the device and/or system.

10. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the characteristic of the device and/or system is obtainable to a user of the device and/or system by inspection of a physical configuration of the device and/or system having the page, the page including a collection of data about the device and/or system.

11. The computer program product of claim 10 , wherein a physical configuration of the device and/or system includes a number of media drives in the device and/or system.

12. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the system is a data storage system.

13. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein modification of a field on the page is permitted while the page is being output, wherein application of the modification is only permitted when the response to the question includes the answer.

14. The computer program product of claim 8 , wherein the program code is executed during a security audit.

15. A system, comprising:

a processor and logic integrated with and/or executable by the processor, the logic being configured to:

receive a request to access and/or modify a page, the page including a collection of data about a device and/or system;

in response to the request, present a question for output via a graphical user interface, wherein an answer to the question includes a characteristic of the device and/or system;

receive a response to the question;

allow modification of the page when the response to the question includes the answer, wherein modification of a field on the page is permitted while the page is being output, wherein application of the modification is only permitted when the response to the question includes the answer; and

not allow modification of the page when the response to the question does not include the answer.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the characteristic of the device and/or system is a physical characteristic.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the logic is further configured to: provide a different question when the response to the question does not include the answer, wherein an answer to the different question includes a different characteristic of the device and/or system.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 12, 2014
From: LEHMANN, STEFAN; NGO, KHANH V.
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 032873/0025 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20150324561A1 · Nov 12, 2015