JPH0799489A - Method and device for controlling password - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To process a received password to activate an applied equipment without locking it only when the received password is a correct password being a predetermined password. CONSTITUTION:An arithmetic section 25 processes password information into processing data only when a correct password is applied to a comparator section 21 of a password processing unit to activate an applied equipment 11. If a password of different nature is fed to the processing section 21 to cause a meaningless operation to the applied equipment, the password of different nature is stored in a memory 17 as stored data, which are processed into processing data. If the password of different nature is fed one after another, the password of different nature is used as the stored data one after another resulting that the processing data become indefinite. Preferably password information is displayed twice or five times as a specific password in the processing data. The applied equipment is typically a reception circuit of a selective calling radio receiver.

Description

Detailed Description of the Invention

[0001]

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 1. Field of the Invention The present invention relates to a password processing method and device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a selective call radio receiving device having a code programmer whose receiving circuit device is activated by a password processing device of this kind.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art Such a password processing device is used to activate a usage device. A typical example of the device used is the receiver circuit device of a portable radio selective call receiver. Another example is a cash machine connected to a bank online system. In this case, the password is usually called the ID number.

In the password processing device, a unique password is stored in advance in the memory unit. Only when the correct password, which correctly and accurately represents the unique password, is supplied, the comparison unit operates the device to be used. The password processing device rejects a foreign password that does not represent a unique password. In other words, if an unauthorized person attempts to use the device, the attempt will result in the device being unable to operate.

A password processing device of this type is disclosed in Japanese Patent Publication No. 1951 of 1985 by Ryoichi Mori.
No. 364 is available. In the device of this publication, if the input password is a foreign password, the operation of the password processing device is stopped for a predetermined period. The predetermined period is, for example, 24 hours.

On the other hand, a password processing device and method which are obviously improved independently of each other are disclosed in Thomas F. It is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 5,073,767 by Holms et al. The device such as Holms is built in the device to be used and does not work when the device is used illegally. Therefore, one must resort to the manufacturer to repair the equipment used. Alternatively, the expensive device must be replaced to render the device inoperable. More specifically, the password handling device is disabled or locked when a random password is supplied and fails a predetermined number of times. For example,
After seven failures, the password processor is locked.

[0006]

However, the device disclosed in the official gazette has a drawback in that a hacker can operate the device to be used by repeating the attempt every time a predetermined period elapses in an attempt to trick the unique password. is there.

[0007] The password processing device of Holmes et al. Is not preferable in some situations because it completely disables the device used.

In view of the above-mentioned drawbacks, the technical problem of the present invention is that the password processing for processing the input password in order to operate the device to be used is performed only when the input password is a correct password that matches the predetermined password information. It is an object of the present invention to provide a method and a device which does not lock the password processing method and device.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a password processing method and apparatus for making the processing data used to recognize a correct password indefinite when a foreign password that does not match the password information is used as an input password more than twice. .

It is another object of the present invention to provide a password processing method and device in which processing data becomes unknown after a predetermined number of times of illegal use of a used device with various foreign passwords as input passwords.

Furthermore, it is another object of the present invention to provide a password processing method and device which makes it extremely difficult for an unauthorized person to start the operation of the used device.

Moreover, it is an object of the present invention to provide a password processing method and apparatus in which it is more difficult for an unauthorized person to start an operation than a conventional password processing method including an operation lockout step.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a selective call wireless receiving device having a code programmer equipped with a password processing device.

[0014]

According to the present invention, there is provided a generating step for generating processing data which initially represents a unique password, and comparing an input password with the processing data, and between the input password and the unique password. If the foreign password is used as the input password, a comparing step for operating the used device based on the matching detection of each of the different passwords is detected in the comparing step. And a setting step for making the processing data indefinite.

Further, according to the present invention, the generation means for generating the processing data which initially represents the unique password and the input password are compared with the processing data to detect the coincidence between the input password and the unique password. If a different password is used as the input password, the comparing means for operating the device to be used based on the above, and the comparing means detects a mismatch between each of the different passwords and the unique password, and A password control device is provided which is provided with setting means for making processing data indefinite.

Further, according to the present invention, in a selective call wireless receiving device having a receiving circuit device and a password processing device for operating the receiving circuit device and having a code programmer, the password processing device is a unique password. First, the generation means for generating the processed data and the input password are compared with the processed data,
The comparing means for operating the receiving circuit device based on the detection of the match between the input password and the unique password, and if a foreign password is used as the input password, the comparing means uses these foreign passwords. A selective call wireless receiving device having a code programmer is provided, which is provided with setting means for detecting a mismatch between each and the unique password and setting the processed data indefinite.

[0017]

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Referring to FIG. 1, a password processing device according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention is for operating a use device 11. As mentioned above, the use device 11 is typically the receiver circuitry of a selective call handheld radio receiver.

The password processing device is for processing the password supplied as the input password. Only when the input password is the correct password representing the unique password for the using device 11, the password processing device starts the operation of the using device 11. In general,
It is possible to supply such an input password to a conventional password processing device until one of the input passwords and the unique password match. An accidental match may cause the use device 11 to erroneously cause undesired behavior when the input password can be supplied until a match.

In order to counter such a mismatch, the password processing device of FIG. 1 operates under the control of the control unit 13 as will become clear as the description proceeds. Briefly, the control unit 13 monitors and controls various other parts of the password processing device. A program is stored in the control unit 13 for this purpose.

The memory, that is, the first memory 15 stores in advance password data representing password information. The stored data is later stored in the memory which will be immediately described, ie the second memory 17. The first memory 15 and the second memory 17 can use separate memory areas of a single memory unit 19. Hereinafter, the unique password will be referred to as password 0.

The comparison unit 21 has a password input unit 23 for supplying the input password one after another.
Each input password may be a correct password. Depending on the situation, the foreign password is supplied to the comparison unit 21 via the input unit 23. The foreign password does not match the unique password and is carelessly supplied to the comparison unit 21. Alternatively, such a foreign password may be supplied to the comparison unit 21 by a person who falsifies the password processing device. In such a case, the foreign password happens to rarely match the unique password.

The arithmetic unit 25 has a single memory unit 19
Connected to the data input unit of the comparison unit 21 and processes the contents of the first and second memories 15 and 17 into processed data to be sent to the comparison unit 21 via the data input unit. The comparison unit 21 compares each input password with the processed data and generates a comparison result indicating whether the input password and the unique password match or do not match. Until a mismatch is detected, the control unit 13 keeps the arithmetic unit 2
Let 5 process the password data. When a mismatch is detected between the processed data and one of the input passwords which is a foreign password, the control unit 13 uses this one of the input passwords as stored data in the second memory 1.
7 and the arithmetic unit 25 starts to process the stored data.

The comparison section 21 has a coincidence output section 27 and a non-coincidence output section 29 which are respectively connected to the use device 11 and the second memory 17. The comparison result is sent to the coincidence output unit 27 as an operation start signal when coincidence display is performed. The use device 11 supplied with the operation start signal operates.

Turning to FIG. 2 and continuing reference to FIG. When the input password is switched from the correct password to the foreign password, the password processing device operates as follows. Each time one of the input passwords is supplied to the comparison unit 21, that is, the password processing device, the current time t is advanced by one. The operation of the password processing device starts in the initial state, that is, when the time is zero.

As shown in the first step S1, the password 0 is the first data X (1) and the second data X (2).
Are stored in the first memory 15. The processed data represents the password 0 twice. At time t, the processed data is the current value X as displayed in the second step S2.
It is given by (t). The password processing device is kept in the password waiting state shown in the third step S3 after the times t and (t + 1).

When one of the input passwords is supplied to the password processing device as the first input password, the comparison unit 21 compares the input password with the processed data in the fourth step S4. If the first input password is a correct password, the first input password and the first input password
The result of comparison with the data X (1) is displayed as YES (YES). The comparison unit 21 sends an operation start signal to the using apparatus 11. In the fifth step S5, the operation of the used device 11 is started.

Suppose still another input password is provided to the password processing device at time (t + 1) as the second input password. Comparison unit 21
Compares the second input password with the password 0 of the second data X (2) in the fourth step S4. Disagreement (N
If O) is detected for the first time, the second input password is
It is one of the foreign passwords. Each foreign password has different data X (h). Here, h represents an integer greater than 2. When the mismatch is detected, the control unit 13 causes the second memory 17 to supply the storage data to the calculation unit 25, but the processing data includes the third data X (3).
Display the above-mentioned one of the foreign passwords.

On the other hand, another input password is
The password is supplied to the password processing device as the third input password. In response to the supply of the third password to the comparison unit 21, the control unit 13 causes the calculation unit 25 to first refer to the first memory 15 and display the password 0, that is, the unique password in the processing data. If the third input password is a correct password, the fourth step S4 is
Results in an indication of a match. The device 11 is again in the fifth stage S
Works with 5.

If the third input password is one of the foreign passwords, a mismatch indication is generated in the fourth step S4. In response to this display, the comparison unit 21 causes the calculation unit 2
5 to refer to the second memory 17. The stored data is processed into the processed data displaying the third data X (3). This foreign password does not match the third data. The fourth step S4 proceeds to the sixth step S6. In the sixth stage, this one of the foreign passwords is stored in the second memory 1
7 and substitute the foreign password used in the stored data, and as a result, represent the data X (t + 2) substituted as the stored data. In the sixth step S6, 1 is added to the current time t and the process returns to the second step S2. Similar operation continues.

In the example described here, if two foreign passwords are used in succession between these two foreign passwords without a correct input password, these foreign passwords will in turn contain the contents of the stored data. Is substituted for. These two foreign passwords may or may not follow at least one correct password. Once the content is changed to a different password in the stored data, the password processing device detects a mismatch even if the correct password is supplied.

In this way, in this password processing device, the correct password is supplied one after another, but two or more different passwords among them are supplied with the correct password between the two following the correct password among the different passwords. When it is supplied without being pinched, the processed data becomes indefinite. However, even if these two or more different passwords are supplied to the password processing device in the initial state, it is the same. Moreover, it is very difficult for the person having the authority to use the password processing device and the use device 11 to know when the processed data becomes indefinite.

More specifically, let us say that the times at which different passwords are supplied to the password processing device one after another are from the first time to the fourth time t = 1, 2, 3, 4, etc. When supplied at these times, the input password is referred to as the first to fourth etc. input passwords. Assuming the first input password is the correct password indicated by A, the second and third input passwords are assumed to be the first and second foreign passwords indicated by B and C.
The second and later times represent the number of wasted attempts that have failed in attempting to operate the use device 11.

In Table 1 below, the total number of times the input password is supplied to the password processing device is represented by k in the leftmost column, and the next column represents the number of attempts t.
The processed data is represented by PD. The input data is represented by each input password and is shown by ID. The operation start signal is O
A circle is displayed in the rightmost column indicated by S. The fact that the operation start signal is not generated is displayed in the column OS with a short horizontal line.

[0034]

[Table 1] kt PD ID OS K- 21 AB-K- 12 AC-K 3BA-K + 1 4CCo At the first time in Table 1, the password data represents the unique password 0. And The processed data initially represents this unique password and displays the correct password A. At this time, if the input password is the first password B, the comparison unit 21 detects a mismatch. The operation start signal is not generated. Since the foreign password is supplied to the password processing device for the first time, it is stored in the second memory 17 as stored data.

At the second time, the processed data still displays the correct password A. If the input password is the second foreign password C, no operation start command is issued. The foreign password B is used in place of the first foreign password of the stored data, since the foreign password is supplied to the password processing device twice in succession, that is, the attempt is wastefully performed twice. It should be noted that the first foreign password B is used in this case rather than the second foreign password C currently supplied to the password processing device.

At the third time, the processed data represents the first foreign password B. Even if the correct password A is supplied to the password processing device, the comparison unit 21 detects a mismatch. The third input password is correct, but is considered as one of the foreign passwords. The second foreign password C is now the first in the stored data.
The foreign password B is substituted.

At the fourth time, the processed data represents the second foreign password C. If accidentally supplied as the fourth input password to the password processing device at the fourth time, the second foreign password C coincides with the second foreign password C displayed by the processed data. . The use device 11 operates by chance. In the stored data, the second foreign password C does not change.

As mentioned above, the processed data initially represents the unique password 0 in the illustrated example. If a mismatch between the input password and the unique password 0 represented by the processed data is subsequently detected, this input password is stored in the second memory 17 as stored data. The calculation unit 25 processes the stored data into processed data. In this way, the processed data becomes undefined.

Paying attention to the total number k of input passwords supplied to the password processing device, the process data shows that at a later time K, the foreign password (eg
Display B). Assuming that k ′ represents a predetermined integer equal to 2 or more, the stored data has a later time K.
In, the password changes one after another to the foreign password used as the input password at the previous time (K−k ′).

This predetermined integer is easily selected by the program in the control unit 13. In addition, it is possible to arbitrarily select a preselected number (for example, two times) when the operation of the using device 11 fails using the foreign password as the input password. Moreover, after a small number (for example, one) of the foreign passwords is inadvertently used next to the initial state, the calculation unit 25 can start to refer to the stored data. The program may be stored in the calculation unit 25 or another component. It should be noted in the above example that the unique password itself may be used as password information.

Turning to FIG. 3 and continuing reference to FIGS. The password processing device can also perform the following operations. After the operation is started and after the first and second correction steps SM1 and SM2 have been executed, the password processing device performs the operations in the above-mentioned third step S3 to fifth step S5. Disagreement (NO) is the fourth step S4
The sixth correction step SM6 is
And go back to the correction step SM2.

For use in the first modification stage SM1,
A plurality of pairs of first and second password values X (u) and X (u + 1) are used as password information in the first memory 1
5 is stored in advance. In the example shown, there are 5 pairs. As illustrated in the first modification stage SM1, the successive pairs of password values are X (1) and X (2), ... And X (9) and X (10). Each of the first password values is equal to 22. Each second password value is
Is equal to 44.

Let us consider the times t and (t + 1) together as the current time. The calculation unit 25 uses two password values X
(T) and X (t + 1) are processed into the data of the processed data by Expression 1.

[0044]

## EQU00001 ## Processed data = (X (t) + X (t + 1)) / 2 While the input password is a correct password, the password values of the first and second pairs are collectively passwords as described above. Used as data. Therefore, the processing data represents 33 as the unique password 0.

In such a situation, the predetermined number of times is f times. Therefore, the data substituted in the sixth correction stage SM6 is X (f + 10).

Referring again to FIGS. It is possible to cause the arithmetic unit 25 to process various password data and stored data according to a program. The password processing device is suitable for use in a selective call radio receiver having a code programmer.

Although the invention has been described above with respect to a single embodiment and two modes of operation, one skilled in the art can implement the invention in various ways. For example, when used to operate an automatic teller machine, the password processing device is used as the password information for the first memory 15 as described above.
It is also possible to store an ID number for each user in and use a memory such as the second memory 17.

[0048]

As described above, according to the password processing method and apparatus of the present invention, a predetermined upper limit is set for the number of times an input password is tried, and if the upper limit is exceeded, processing data will be processed when a foreign password is supplied. To make indefinite,
Only when the input password is a predetermined correct password, it is possible to operate the device to be used without locking and process the input password.

[Brief description of drawings]

FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a password processing device according to an embodiment of the present invention together with a used device.

FIG. 2 is a flow chart used to explain the operation of the password processing apparatus shown in FIG.

FIG. 3 is another flow chart for use in explaining different operations of the password processing device shown in FIG.

[Explanation of symbols]

 11 Used Device 13 Control Unit 15 Memory (First Memory) 17 Memory (Second Memory) 19 Single Memory Unit 21 Comparison Unit 25 Calculation Unit 27 Matching Output Unit 29 Mismatch Outputting Unit

─────────────────────────────────────────────────── ─── Continuation of the front page (51) Int.Cl. ⁶ Identification code Office reference number FI technical display location H04Q 7/12 7/38

Claims (12)

[Claims] 1. A generating step for generating processing data which initially represents a unique password, and compares an input password with the processing data, and operates a use device based on detection of a match between the input password and the unique password. And a setting step for making the processing data indefinite by detecting a mismatch between each of the different passwords and the unique password in the comparing step if the different password is used as the input password. A password control method for a use device, comprising: 2. The password control method according to claim 1, wherein the generating step stores the password data representing password information, and the input password is based on the first display indicating the mismatch in the comparing step. Is stored as stored data, an initial processing step of processing the password information of the password data into the unique password and displaying the unique password in the processed data before the first display, After the display, a post-processing step of processing the stored data into the processed data is provided, and the setting step is such that after the first display, each of the foreign passwords is successively used as the input password in the comparing step. If used, store the foreign password in the stored data. A password control method characterized by substituting one input password after another. 3. The password control method according to claim 2, wherein the password information displays the unique password a predetermined number of times in the processing data. 4. The password control method according to claim 3, wherein the predetermined number of times is two. 5. The password control method according to claim 3, wherein the step of storing the password data comprises:
A password control method, wherein five pairs of password values are stored as the password information, and the first processing step processes each pair of password values into the unique password and sets the predetermined number of times to five times. . 6. A generating means for generating processed data which initially represents a unique password, and a device to be used based on the detection of a match between the input password and the unique password by comparing the input password with the processed data. If the comparing means for operating and the foreign password are used as the input password, the comparing means detects inconsistency between each of the foreign passwords and the unique password and makes the processing data indefinite. A password control device comprising: setting means. 7. The password control device according to claim 6, wherein the generation means displays a first storage means for storing password data representing password information and a first display indicating the inconsistency by the comparison means. Second storage means for storing the input password as stored data based on the
Before the first display, initial processing means for processing the password information of the password data and displaying the unique password on the processed data; and after the first display, processing the stored data into the processed data. The post-processing means, the setting means, if each of the foreign passwords are used as the input password in the comparing means after the first display, the foreign password is stored in the stored data. The password control device is characterized in that it is used as the input password in step 1). 8. The password processing device according to claim 7, wherein the password information is stored as the password data in the first storage means so that the unique password is displayed a predetermined number of times. Password processing device. 9. The password processing device according to claim 8, wherein the predetermined number of times is two times. 10. The password processing device according to claim 8, wherein password information indicating five pairs of password values is stored as said password data in said first storage means, and said first processing means stores each pair of passwords. A password processing device, wherein a value is processed into the fixed password and the predetermined number of times is set to five times. 11. A selective call radio receiving device comprising a receiving circuit device and a password processing device for operating the receiving circuit device, and having a code programmer,
The password processing device compares the input password with the processing data to generate processing data that initially represents a unique password, and compares the input password with the processing data to detect the coincidence between the input password and the unique password. If a foreign means password is used as the input password and a comparing means for operating the receiving circuit device, the comparing means detects a mismatch between each of the foreign passwords and the unique password, and outputs the processed data. A selective call radio receiving apparatus having a code programmer, comprising: setting means for making the value indefinite. 12. The selective call wireless receiving device having the code programmer according to claim 11, wherein the generation unit stores the password data representing password information in a first storage unit and the comparison unit detects the mismatch. Second storage means for storing the input password as stored data based on the first display shown, and processing the password information of the password data before the first display and displaying the unique password on the processed data. And a post-processing unit for processing the stored data together with the processed data after the first display, wherein the setting unit includes the input password in the comparison unit after the first display. If each of the foreign passwords is used one after another as A selective call radio receiving apparatus having a code programmer, characterized in that it is used as an input password in a computer.