초록 ▼

A portable medium containing client process identification information for use with a computer system requiring authentication prior to access thereto includes data identifying the client process and a plurality of data sets, each associated with a password, one of the passwords being designated as

A portable medium containing client process identification information for use with a computer system requiring authentication prior to access thereto includes data identifying the client process and a plurality of data sets, each associated with a password, one of the passwords being designated as current. In one embodiment, the medium contains the passwords while in another embodiment, the medium contains keys at least partially derived from the passwords. The computer system with which the portable medium interfaces determines whether any of the data associated with the passwords matches authentication data previously stored in the computer system and associated with the client process. If a match occurs, the client process is allowed to access the system. If the data upon which access is based is not associated with a current password, the computer system will read the data associated with the current password and update its corresponding authentication data associated with the client process.

대표청구항 ▼

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system having one or more processes which are accessible by a client process that is authenticated by comparing information derived from a password which is changed from time to time to authentication data in the c

[ What is claimed is:] [1.] An apparatus for use with a computer system, the computer system having one or more processes which are accessible by a client process that is authenticated by comparing information derived from a password which is changed from time to time to authentication data in the computer system, the apparatus comprising:a. a portable computer readable medium for storing data thereon;b. a client identifier stored on the medium, the client identifier identifying the client process;c. a plurality of digital keys stored on the medium, one of the digital keys designated as current and associated with a current password that is in use, other of the digital keys associated with non-current previously-used passwords; andd. logic in the computer system responsive to the plurality of digital keys for allowing access by the client process to one of the processes requiring authentication if any one of the plurality of digital keys stored on the medium corresponds to the authentication data.