Password Authentication Device Hint Mechanism

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing password authentication systems fail to assist users in selecting the correct password when they inadvertently input a different password from their registered one, especially when multiple passwords are used for different purposes, leading to input errors.

Innovation Solution

A password authentication device and method that includes an authentication processing unit for verifying input passwords and an output processing unit, which outputs a hint for the correct password when the similarity ratio between the input password and a stored password exceeds a predetermined threshold, helping users correct their input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the system provides support information when similarity ratio exceeds threshold, then authentication assistance is improved, but the system cannot assist users when they select a different password by mistake

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassword input assistanceVSAvoidauthentication accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback to users by displaying hints about their intended password when a mismatch is detected. The authentication processing unit compares input passwords with registered passwords, and when they don't match, the output processing unit generates feedback in the form of password hints based on the similarity calculation, guiding users to correct their input.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter for determining assistance provision from only similarity ratio threshold to a combination of similarity ratio and password matching status. By calculating the ratio of matching characters and comparing it against a threshold, the system can distinguish between intentional similar passwords and accidental typos, providing assistance only when appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Measurement precision

If the system calculates similarity ratio for all password inputs, then authentication accuracy is improved, but processing time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepassword matching precisionVSAvoidauthentication processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs partial similarity calculation only when necessary - specifically when the input password does not exactly match any registered password. The authentication processing unit first checks for exact matches, and only when those fail does it calculate the similarity ratio against multiple registered passwords, reducing unnecessary processing.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary exact matching before conducting the more computationally intensive similarity ratio calculation. By first checking if the input password exactly matches any registered password, the system eliminates many cases that would otherwise require full similarity analysis, saving processing time.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11457122B2Password authentication device, image processing apparatus, and password authentication method

Publication Date: 2022.09.27 KYOCERA DOCUMENT SOLUTIONS INC

AI summary

A password authentication device includes an authentication processing unit and an output processing unit. The authentication processing unit authenticates a user when an input password that is input matches a predetermined first password. The output processing unit outputs a hint of the first password when a matching rate between a predetermined second password different from the first password and the input password is equal to or greater than a predetermined first threshold value.