Patent ID: 7240339

Claim:
A computer system, said computer system comprising: a bus; a central processing unit; memory, said memory being connected to said central processing unit via said bus; and a password validation mechanism for verifying a single common password string for accessing a plurality of password-protected resources, each said password-protected resource having a single corresponding set of validity requirements of a plurality of sets of validity requirements, each said set of validity requirements independently defining requirements of a valid password string for accessing the corresponding password-protected resource, said password protection mechanism verifying simultaneous compliance of a single common password string with each said set of validity requirements of said plurality of sets of validity requirements, said plurality of sets of validity requirements including a first set of validity requirements for a password string for accessing a first password-protected resource and a second set of validity requirements for a password string for accessing a second password-protected resource different from said first password-protected resource, said first set of validity requirements being different from said second set of validity requirements, said password validation mechanism providing simultaneous feedback to a user regarding validity of a said single common password string against each said set of said plurality of sets of validity requirements.