Patent ID: 6195698
Filing Date: 2001-02-27
Classification: G06F,H04L

Abstract:
A computerized method for selectively accepting access requests from a client computer connected to a server computer by a network, comprising:receiving an access request in the server computer from the client computer via the network;generating a predetermined number of random characters to form a string in the server computer in response to the access request;modifying at least one perceptual attribute of the string of random characters to form a riddle configured to be easily answered by a human being with no advance knowledge of the riddle while being substantially difficult to answer by an automated agent unaided by human being, the string being a correct answer to the riddle;rendering the riddle on an output device of the client computer;receiving an answer to the riddle from the client computer;determining if the answer to the riddle is correct; andaccepting the access request if the answer is correct and received within a predetermined time interval and otherwise denying the access request, wherein the access request is denied when the access request is received from the automated agent.