IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,411,951
Granted Patent B2
US 9,411,951 · App. 14/487,041 · Granted Aug 9, 2016

Non-numeric personal identification

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,411,951
App. No.
14/487,041
Granted
Aug 9, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for allowing a user to select a non-numeric PIN or password and use that to access content instead of a conventional numerical PIN. A series of visual, textual, and/or audio “digits” form the PIN, where each succeeding digit may be related to and/or further limit one or more of the preceding digits.

Claims (39)

1. A system comprising:

a memory storing user account authentication information, wherein the authentication information comprises a first non-numeric digit and a second non-numeric digit;

a processor communicating, through a network interface, to a user a first set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of categories for a first non-numeric digit on a user device, a second set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of sub-categories within one of the plurality of categories for a second non-numeric digit on the user device, wherein content of the second set of non-numeric options for the second non-numeric digit is dependent on content of a user-selected first non-numeric digit and is different than the content of the first set of non-numeric options, a third set of non-numeric options for a third non-numeric digit, and determining whether received user-selected non-numeric digits match a stored non-numeric authentication for the user; and

a transceiver receiving, from the user device, the user-selected first non-numeric digit comprising a word descriptor representing one of the plurality of categories, receiving, from the user device, a user-selected second non-numeric digit representing one of the plurality of sub-categories, and receiving a user-selected third non-numeric digit, wherein content of the third set of non-numeric options for the third non-numeric digit dependents on the content of the user-selected second non-numeric digit.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the content of the third non-numeric digit is further dependent on the content of the first non-numeric digit.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the transceiver receives at least a fourth non-numeric digit from the user.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of non-numeric options is displayed as words.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of non-numeric options is displayed as images.

6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the first set of non-numeric options is presented as sounds.

7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit is displayed with the second set of non-numeric options.

8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit and the user-selected second non-numeric digit are displayed with the third set of non-numeric options.

9. A method of authenticating a user, comprising:

presenting the user, electronically by a hardware processor of a service provider, with a first set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of categories for a first non-numeric digit on a user device;

receiving, from the user device, a user-selected first non-numeric digit representing one of the plurality of categories;

presenting the user, electronically by the hardware processor, with a second set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of sub-categories within the one of the plurality of categories for a second non-numeric digit on the user device, wherein content of the second set of non-numeric options for the second non-numeric digit is dependent on content of the user-selected first non-numeric digit and is different than the content of the first set of non-numeric options;

receiving, from the user device, a user-selected second non-numeric digit representing one of the plurality of sub-categories;

presenting the user with a third set of non-numeric options for a third non-numeric digit;

receiving a user-selected third non-numeric digit, wherein content of the third set of non-numeric options for the third non-numeric digit dependents on the content of the user-selected second non-numeric digit; and

determining, by the hardware processor, whether the received user-selected non-numeric digits match a stored non-numeric authentication for the user.

10. The method of claim 9 , wherein the content of the third non-numeric digit is further dependent on the content of the first non-numeric digit.

11. The method of claim 9 , wherein the transceiver receives at least a fourth non-numeric digit from the user.

12. The method of claim 9 , wherein the first set of non-numeric options is presented as words, images, sounds, videos, or animations.

13. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit is displayed with the second set of non-numeric options.

14. The method of claim 9 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit and the user-selected second non-numeric digit are displayed with the third set of non-numeric options.

15. A non-transitory machine-readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more processors of a server are adapted to cause the server to perform a method comprising:

presenting the user with a first set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of categories for a first non-numeric digit on a user device;

receiving, from the user device, a user-selected first non-numeric digit representing one of the plurality of categories;

presenting the with a second set of non-numeric options representing a plurality of sub-categories within the one of the plurality of categories for a second non-numeric digit on the user device, wherein content of the second set of non-numeric options for the second non-numeric digit is dependent on content of the user-selected first non-numeric digit and is different than the content of the first set of non-numeric options;

receiving, from the user device, a user-selected second non-numeric digit representing one of the plurality of sub-categories;

presenting the user with a third set of non-numeric options for a third non-numeric digit;

receiving a user-selected third non-numeric digit, wherein content of the third set of non-numeric options for the third non-numeric digit dependents on the content of the user-selected second non-numeric digit; and

determining, by the hardware processor, whether the received user-selected non-numeric digits match a stored non-numeric authentication for the user.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:

presenting the user with a fourth set of non-numeric options for at least a fourth non-numeric digit; and

receiving at least a user-selected fourth non-numeric digit.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein content of the second non-numeric digit further limits content of the first non-numeric digit.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the first set of non-numeric options is presented as words, images, sounds, videos, or animations.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit is displayed with the second set of non-numeric options.

20. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 15 , wherein the user-selected first non-numeric digit and the user-selected second non-numeric digit are displayed with the third set of non-numeric options.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 23, 2015
From: EBAY INC.
To: PAYPAL, INC.
Reel/Frame 036171/0221 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 18, 2015
From: STONE, CARL
To: EBAY INC.
Reel/Frame 035021/0851 →