METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR ACCESSING AUTHENTICATION CREDENTIALS WITHIN A CREDENTIAL VAULT

1 . A method at a computing device for managing a credential vault, the method comprising:

detecting that authentication is pending for an application or service, wherein the application or service is distinct from the credential vault;

determining, by an operating system of the computing device, a state of a credential vault;

when the credential vault is in a locked state,

activating an authentication mechanism for the credential vault without changing focus on the user interface for the application or service;

receiving authentication credentials for the credential vault;

verifying the authentication credentials for the credential vault;

upon verification of the authentication credentials for the credential vault, providing from the credential vault, authentication credentials for the application or service to the application or service.

2 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the credential vault stores a password for the application or service.

3 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the credential vault stores a key to enable or launch the application or service.

4 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that authentication is pending comprises detecting input focus on the user interface into a password entry area.

5 . The method of claim 1 , wherein detecting that authentication is pending comprises detecting a start of an authentication process for the application or service.

6 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a biometric sensor.

7 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a wireless tag proximity sensor.

8 . The method of claim 1 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a camera.

9 . The method of claim 1 , wherein verification of input from the authentication mechanism is done within the credential vault.

10 . A computing device comprising:

a processor; and

a memory for storing instruction code,

wherein the instruction code causes the computing device to:

detect that authentication is pending for an application or service,

wherein the application or service is distinct from the credential vault;

determine, by an operating system of the computing device, a state of a credential vault;

when the credential vault is in a locked state,

activate an authentication mechanism for the credential vault without changing focus on the user interface for the application or service;

receive authentication credentials for the credential vault;

verify the authentication credentials for the credential vault;

upon verification of the authentication credentials for the credential vault, provide from the credential vault, authentication credentials for the application or service to the application or service.

11 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the credential vault stores a password for the application or service.

12 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the credential vault stores a key to enable or launch the application or service.

13 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein detecting that authentication is pending comprises detecting input focus on the user interface into a password entry area.

14 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein detecting that authentication is pending comprises detecting a start of an authentication process for the application or service.

15 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a biometric sensor.

16 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a wireless tag proximity sensor.

17 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein the authentication mechanism comprises a camera.

18 . The computing device of claim 10 , wherein verification of input from the authentication mechanism is done within the credential vault.

19 . A non-transitory computer readable medium for storing program code for execution on a processor of a computing device, the program code comprising instructions for:

detecting that authentication is pending for an application or service,

wherein the application or service is distinct from the credential vault;

determining, by an operating system of the computing device, a state of a credential vault;

when the credential vault is in a locked state,

activating an authentication mechanism for the credential vault without changing focus on the user interface for the application or service;

receiving authentication credentials for the credential vault;

verifying the authentication credentials for the credential vault;

upon verification of the authentication credentials for the credential vault, providing from the credential vault, authentication credentials for the application or service to the application or service.