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IBM Applies for Password Manager Patent

Posted by CmdrTaco on from the isn't-that-special dept.

An anonymous reader writes "As of August 21, IBM has applied for a patent on "A convenient and secure system and method for access to any number of password-protected computer applications, web sites and forms without adding to the user cognitive load and without circumventing the inherent security of such password-protection schemes. An existing password field on a device display is overlaid with password wallet pop-up field which allows a wallet "master" key to unlock the wallet. An application-specific and/or user-specific password is automatically retrieved from the wallet and entered into the password field with no other user action required." This isn't much different from Mozilla's "Master Password"."

10 of 247 comments (clear)

  1. KeyChain by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Sounds alot like Apples' KeyChain to me.

    1. Re:KeyChain by Rosyna · · Score: 1, Redundant

      It sounds EXACTLY like the Keychain which was created for PowerTalk and has been available since System 7.

  2. ah crap... by Lord_Slepnir · · Score: 1, Redundant

    Is IBM evil now, or still good. I need someone to root for in the whole SCO thing, but now that they're pulling patent BS like amazon, I don't know what I should do.

  3. Among others... by useosx · · Score: -1, Redundant

    This isn't much different from Mozilla's "Master Password".

    ...and, oh, I don't know, Apple's Keychain, which has been around forever.

  4. Prior Art by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    This isn't much different from Mozilla's "Master Password".

    Or from Apple's "Keychain." Or even from Gator, for that matter...

  5. I don't need no stinkin' password manager! by Anonymous Coward · · Score: -1, Redundant

    My mare remembers all passwords for me!

  6. Gator is Spyware. n/t by dolo666 · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Gator is Spyware. n/t

  7. How about Mac OS keychain? Quicken Vault? by jordandeamattson · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Well, I can think of a couple of other pieces of prior art:

    1. Mac OS keychain
    This one goes back to Mac OS 7.5 (circa 1994-95). It has all of the functionality described in this high-level description.

    2. Quicken Vault
    Don't know how long it has been around, but it sure sounds like it provides this functionality to me.

    Yours,

    Jordan Dea-Mattson

  8. Apple's KeyChain anyone? by pstreck · · Score: 0, Redundant

    With the introduction of OS X Apple introduced KeyChain which does this as well. When will the patent everything someone else already implemented mess end?

    --

    Later,
    Phil
  9. I'm gonna patent the art of 'reading&writing' by gNU+Kid · · Score: 0, Redundant

    Boy., I get an idea. I think I'll patent the art of reading& writing. No one patented it before (though 80% of the world knows how to do it). OK everybody listen to this., "any body who plan to read or write any text gotto send me $10 and get written permission to write". Aint I a genuis??? (following the path of IBM) :|