Password management system and method for electronic device

A computerized method manages passwords to unlock an electronic device from a standby mode by taking changed GPS coordinates of a location of the electronic device and utilizing the changed coordinates in preset formulas to establish and require a new password in substitution for a current password, to allow unlocking of the electronic device.

BACKGROUND

1. Technical Field

Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to data security, and particularly to a management system and method for unlocking an electronic device using a password.

2. Description of Related Art

For data security, many people lock an electronic device into a standby mode. When a user wants to use the electronic device again, a valid password is inputted to unlock the electronic device. However, the password may become known to others. For example, the password may be learned by other people during the unlocking process of the electronic device. Thus, personal data stored in the electronic device may be accessed by unauthorized individuals, and the user may experience unexpected difficulties. Therefore, there is room for improvement in the art.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a schematic block diagram illustrating one embodiment of an electronic device1including a password management system10. The electronic device1further includes a storage unit11, at least one processor12, a positioning device13, and a display14. In one embodiment, the electronic device1may be, for example, a tablet computer, a smartphone, a personal digital assistant, or similar device.FIG. 1shows only one example of the electronic device1, and the electronic device1can include more or fewer components than those shown in the embodiment, or have a different configuration of the components.

The positioning device13may be a global positioning system (GPS) device, for example. The positioning device13is capable of locating a position of the electronic device1, and obtaining coordinates of the position. In the embodiment, the positional coordinates include, for example, a longitude data and a latitude data of the position of the electronic device1. The positional coordinates may be established as two dimensional coordinates within a predetermined two dimensional coordinate system, such as a Cartesian coordinate system. In an alternative embodiment, the positional coordinates may be established as three dimensional coordinates within a predetermined three dimensional coordinate system, such as a spherical coordinate system or a geodetic coordinate system.

The password management system10may include a plurality of programs in the form of one or more computerized instructions stored in the storage unit11and executed by the processor12to perform operations of the electronic device1. In the embodiment, the password management system10includes a setting module101, an obtaining module103, a management module105, and a verification module107. In general, the word “module”, as used herein, refers to logic embodied in hardware or firmware, or to a collection of software instructions, written in a programming language, such as, Java, C, or assembly. One or more software instructions in the modules may be embedded in firmware, such as in an erasable programmable read only memory (EPROM). The modules described herein may be implemented as either software and/or hardware modules and may be stored in any type of non-transitory computer-readable medium or other storage device. Some non-limiting examples of non-transitory computer-readable medium include CDs, DVDs, BLU-RAY, flash memory, and hard disk drives.

The setting module101sets one or more formulas for generating dynamic passwords to unlock the electronic device1, and writes the one or more formulas into a configuration file prestored in the storage unit11. In the embodiment, the positional coordinates of the electronic device1are used as reference variables by the one or more formulas for generating different passwords. A correct password unlocks the electronic device1when the electronic device1is in a standby mode. In the embodiment, the standby mode refers to a low power mode for the electronic device1when the display14is locked.

In the embodiment, the one or more formulas are preset by a user of the electronic device1. In an example, one formula may be, for example, f(x)=(y+2)(x+6), f(x)=xy, f(x)=mnx59, or f(x)=8(x+5)7y, where x and y are reference variables of the formula. The x and y variables respectively represent the longitude data and the latitude data of the positional coordinates of the electronic device1, and f(x) represents a password for unlocking the electronic device1. Accordingly, the password is determined according to the positional coordinates of the electronic device1.

The obtaining module103obtains current positional coordinates of the electronic device1from the positioning device13and displays the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1on the display14.

The management module105determines whether a position of the electronic device1changes, and generates a new password using the one or more formulas according to the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1when the position of the electronic device1changes, so replacing a previous password of the electronic device1. In the embodiment, the management module105stores the new password in the storage unit11, and deletes the previous password from the storage unit11as a replacement for the previous password.

In detail, the management module105compares the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1with previous positional coordinates of the electronic device1, and determines whether the position of the electronic device1changes according to the comparison. The previous password of the electronic device1is kept and not deleted if the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1are identical with the previous positional coordinates of the electronic device1. The management module105may be activated at regular intervals, or in real-time, or when the user activates the electronic device1out of the standby mode.

The verification module107verifies whether a password input by a user matches a current password stored in the storage unit11of the electronic device1, and unlocks the electronic device1when the password input by the user matches the current password. Otherwise, the electronic device1is kept locked (e.g., kept in the standby mode) when the password input by the user does not match the current password. When the new password is generated, the new password becomes the current password of the electronic device1. Until a next new and different password is generated, the current password of the electronic device1remains valid.

In addition, when the password input by the user does not match the current password of the electronic device1, the verification module107counts a number of times that the user inputs an incorrect password within a first predetermined time period, and then prevents the electronic device1from being unlocked within a second predetermined time period when the counted number of times exceeds a predetermined number of attempts, such as three or five attempts.

When the user wants to unlock the electronic device1in the standby mode, the user inputs the correct password according to the positional coordinates displayed on the display14in real-time or at intervals and the one or more formulas preset by the user. After the electronic device1has been unlocked, the user can modify the one or more formulas.

Since the password management system10is capable of dynamically changing the password of the electronic device1according to different locations of the electronic device1, even though the previous password might have been noticed by other people, the electronic device1cannot be unlocked using an old password when the device is in a different location and the password is thus changed. Accordingly, data security of the electronic device1is improved.

FIG. 2is a flowchart of one embodiment showing a management method for a new and different password of the electronic device1ofFIG. 1. Depending on the embodiment, additional steps may be added, others removed, and the ordering of the steps may be changed.

In step S1, the setting module101sets one or more formulas for generating dynamic passwords to unlock the electronic device1, and writes the one or more formulas into a configuration file prestored in the storage unit11. In the embodiment, the positional coordinates of the electronic device1are used as reference variables for the one or more formulas for generating different passwords. A correct password unlocks the electronic device1when the electronic device1is in a standby mode. In the embodiment, the standby mode refers to a low power mode for the electronic device1when the display14is locked.

In the embodiment, the one or more formulas are preset by a user of the electronic device1. In an example, one formula may be, for example, f(x)=(y+2)(x+6), f(x)=xy, f(x)=mnx59, or f(x)=8(x+5)7y, where x and y are reference variables for the formula. The x and y variables respectively represent the longitude data and the latitude data of the positional coordinates of the electronic device1, and f(x) represents a password for unlocking the electronic device1. Accordingly, the password is created according to the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1.

In step S2, the obtaining module103obtains current positional coordinates of the electronic device1from the positioning device13and displays the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1on the display14in real-time or at intervals.

In step S3, the management module105determines whether the position of the electronic device1changes, and generates a new password using the one or more formulas according to the current positional coordinates of the electronic device1when the position of the electronic device1changes, thus replacing a previous password of the electronic device1. Step S3may be executed at regular intervals, or in real-time, or when the user activates the electronic device1out of the standby mode.

In step S4, the verification module107verifies whether or not a password input by a user matches a current password stored in the storage unit11of the electronic device1, and unlocks the electronic device1when the password input by the user does match.

When the password input by the user does not match the current password of the electronic device1, the verification module107counts a number of times that the user inputs an incorrect password within a first predetermined time period, and then prevents the electronic device1from being unlocked within a second predetermined time period when the counted number of enter-password attempts exceeds a predetermined number, such as three or five attempts.

To further protect the data of the electronic device1, the positioning device13and the electronic device1may be physically separated from each other. When the user needs to unlock the electronic device1, the positioning device13is activated and communicates with the electronic device1. The positioning device13detects and displays its own positional coordinates via a display (not shown) of the positioning device13, and transmits its own positional coordinates to the electronic device1. Thereupon, the password management system10may change the password of the electronic device1according to the received positional coordinates. The user must input the correct password according to the displayed positional coordinates on the positioning device13to unlock the electronic device1.