IP Library Granted Patent US 12,603,879
Granted Patent B2
US 12,603,879 · App. 18/129,309 · Granted Apr 14, 2026

Progressively increasing a login information length

Inventors: Amer Aref Hassan (Kirkland, WA); Roy D. Kuntz (Kirkland, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H04L63/083H04L63/107H04L63/20
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,603,879
App. No.
18/129,309
Granted
Apr 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system and method for preventing login lockout to a restricted space is provided. The system identifies first login information and prespecified login information that are used to access the restricted space. The prespecified login information has the first login information and an additional character. The system determines an event of failed login attempts based on failing to enter the first login information meeting a threshold condition of a preset amount of times. In response to failing to enter the first login information, the system requires a user to enter the prespecified login information in order to access the restricted space. The system can also determine that the correct prespecified login information was provided and then grant access to the restricted space.

Claims (54)

1 . A method for preventing login lockout to a restricted space, the method comprising:

identifying first login information for accessing the restricted space;

determining that a number of failed login attempts exceeds a threshold;

responsive to determining that the number of failed login attempts exceeds the threshold, requiring, to access the restricted space entry by a user of the first login information along with prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space, wherein the first login information and prespecified login information are provided by the user prior to the failed login attempts;

determining that the user has entered both the first login information and the prespecified additional characters as a password; and

in response, granting access to the restricted space.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the prespecified additional characters comprises one of a symbol, an underscore, or a number.

3 . The method of claim 1 , the method further comprising:

identifying second prespecified additional characters associated with the user accessing the restricted space;

determining that the user has failed additional login attempts a threshold number of times based on failing to enter the first login information and the prespecified additional characters; and

responsive to determining that the user has failed the additional login attempts a threshold number of times, requiring, to access the restricted space, the first login information, the prespecified additional characters and the second prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space.

4 . The method of claim 3 , the method further comprising:

determining a location associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the location associated with the failed login attempts is a prespecified location, requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

5 . The method of claim 3 , the method further comprising:

determining a time associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the time associated with the failed login attempts corresponds to a prespecified time range, requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

6 . A computing device for preventing login lockout to a restricted space, the computing device comprising:

a processor;

a memory, storing instructions, which when executed by the processor cause the computing device to perform operations comprising:

identifying first login information for accessing the restricted space;

determining that a number of failed login attempts exceeds a threshold;

responsive to determining that the number of failed login attempts exceeds the threshold, requiring, to access the restricted space entry by a user of the first login information along with prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space, wherein the first login information and prespecified login information are provided by the user prior to the failed login attempts;

determining that the user has entered both the first login information and the prespecified additional characters as a password; and

in response, granting access to the restricted space.

7 . The computing device of claim 6 , wherein:

the prespecified additional characters comprise one of a symbol, an underscore, or a number.

8 . The computing device of claim 6 , wherein the operations further comprise:

identifying second prespecified additional characters associated with the user accessing the restricted space;

determining that the user has failed additional login attempts a threshold number of times based on failing to enter the first login information and the prespecified additional characters; and

responsive to determining that the user has failed the additional login attempts a threshold number of times, requiring, to access the restricted space, the first login information, the prespecified additional characters and the second prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space.

9 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a location associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the location associated with the failed login attempts is a prespecified location, requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

10 . The computing device of claim 8 , wherein the operations further comprise:

determining a time associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the time associated with the failed login attempts corresponds to a prespecified time range, requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

11 . A device for preventing login lockout to a restricted space, the device comprising:

means for identifying first login information for accessing the restricted space;

means for determining that a number of failed login attempts exceeds a threshold;

responsive to determining that the number of failed login attempts exceeds the threshold, means for requiring, to access the restricted space entry by a user of the first login information along with prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space, wherein the first login information and the prespecified additional characters are provided by the user prior to the failed login attempts;

means for determining that the user has entered both the first login information and the prespecified additional characters as a password; and

in response, means for granting access to the restricted space.

12 . The device of claim 11 , wherein the prespecified additional characters comprises one of: a symbol, an underscore, or a number.

13 . The device of claim 11 , the device further comprising:

means for identifying second prespecified additional characters associated with the user accessing the restricted space;

means for determining that the user has failed additional login attempts a threshold number of times based on failing to enter the first login information and the prespecified additional characters; and

responsive to determining that the user has failed the additional login attempts a threshold number of times, means for requiring, to access the restricted space, the first login information, the prespecified additional characters and the second prespecified additional characters instead of locking out the user from the restricted space.

14 . The device of claim 13 , the device further comprising:

means for determining a location associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the location associated with the failed login attempts is a prespecified location, means for requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

15 . The device of claim 13 , the device further comprising:

means for determining a time associated with the failed login attempts; and

responsive to determining that the user has login attempts that have failed the threshold number of times and the time associated with the failed login attempts corresponds to a prespecified time range, means for requiring, to access the restricted space, entry by the user of the first login information, prespecified additional characters, and a second set of prespecified additional characters.

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 6, 2023
From: HASSAN, AMER AREF; KUNTZ, ROY D.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 064817/0155 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 31, 2023
From: HASSAN, AMER AREF; KUNTZ, ROY D.
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 063187/0294 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20240333709A1 · Oct 3, 2024
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