Patent ID: 7278024

Claim:
A method of using a portable computing device to authenticate a user to use an un-trusted computing system to access user data on the portable computing device, the method comprising: randomly generating, on the portable computing device, a temporary password for controlling access to the user data on the portable computing device; setting a time limit of less than one minute for the temporary password to remain valid; sending the temporary password from the portable computing device to a peripheral device coupled to the portable computing device; rendering the temporary password by the peripheral device for perception by the user; receiving a user-inputted password at the un-trusted computing system; after receiving the user-inputted password at the un-trusted computing system, sending the user-inputted password from the un-trusted computing system to the portable computing device; determining, at the portable computing device, whether the user-inputted password matches the temporary password; determining, at the portable computing device, whether the time limit has been exceeded; and allowing the user to access the user data on the portable computing device via the un-trusted computing system in response to determinations that the temporary password matches the user-inputted password and the time limit has not been exceeded.