Login Method Detecting Password Input in Username Field

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often accidentally enter password characters into the username field during login, exposing their password as plain text and compromising security, as existing methods fail to effectively prevent this issue.

Innovation Solution

The system verifies input characters in the username field against stored usernames and passwords, generating an output to detect and prevent accidental password exposure by ensuring the user selects the correct field before inputting password characters, thereby enhancing security and providing an intuitive username learning service.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the password field characters are hidden during user input to prevent password revealing, then security is improved, but if the user accidentally enters password characters in the username field, the password protection technique is compromised and password characters are revealed as plain text

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassword protectionVSAvoidpassword exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary verification by checking if the input in the username field matches any stored password before the user completes the login process. This preliminary detection prevents the harmful effect of password exposure by identifying accidental password entry in the username field before the user can be compromised.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides immediate feedback to the user when the input in the username field matches a stored password, displaying a warning message and preventing further login attempts. This feedback mechanism ensures that users are aware of their input error and prevents password exposure without compromising the password protection mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If the system verifies each input character in the username field against stored usernames and passwords, then security is enhanced by detecting accidental password input, but the complexity of the login mechanism increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelogin securityVSAvoidlogin mechanism complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs verification only when necessary - specifically when the user inputs characters in the username field. The verification checks if the input matches stored passwords, and only triggers a warning when there is a match. This partial verification approach enhances security without requiring continuous complex checks for all user actions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses the existing stored password data to automatically detect potential password exposure without requiring additional external verification systems. The login mechanism leverages its own stored credentials to perform the verification, eliminating the need for separate complex verification infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Reliability

If the system provides immediate feedback and prevents further input when password exposure is detected, then security is improved by preventing password exposure, but the ease of operation is reduced due to additional user interactions

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepassword securityVSAvoidlogin process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system takes preliminary anti-action by preventing further input in the username field when a password match is detected. This preemptive measure stops the potential password exposure before it can be completed, ensuring security while minimizing the impact on ease of operation by only triggering when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides clear feedback to the user explaining that their input appears to be a password and guiding them to the correct field. This feedback is designed to be user-friendly and informative rather than punitive, maintaining ease of operation by helping users correct their mistake quickly while still ensuring security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2921983B1Login method with verification of password inadvertently inputted in username field
Publication Date: 2018.08.29 UNIFY GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2921983B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2921983B1 patent drawingFigure 2

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for initiating a login of a user into a system, the login being passed by inputting a username into a username, inputting a password into a password field , verifying that the inputted username is stored by the system and that the inputted password is a stored password corresponding to the inputted username, the method comprising the system verifying if the user might have inadvertently inputted into the username field a password stored by the system and generating an output to the user if such is the case.