Patents by Inventor Thomas A. Covalla

Thomas A. Covalla has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Methods and apparatus for restricting access of a user using a cellular telephone
    Patent number: 7715823
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing unauthorized access to a restricted item using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with a user, for example, during a registration process. The user is initially identified, for example, by entering a password, and a one-time pseudo-random token is provided to the user using a first communication channel. The user is requested to dial a telephone number associated with an access control service using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with the user and enter the assigned token. The user obtains access to the restricted item if the assigned token is entered from a cellular telephone having a serial number that has been previously associated with the particular user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Date of Patent: May 11, 2010
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jose F. Bravo, Thomas A. Covalla
  • Methods and apparatus for restricting access of a user using a cellular telephnoe
    Publication number: 20070015492
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing unauthorized access to a restricted item using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with a user, for example, during a registration process. The user is initially identified, for example, by entering a password, and a one-time pseudo-random token is provided to the user using a first communication channel. The user is requested to dial a telephone number associated with an access control service using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with the user and enter the assigned token. The user obtains access to the restricted item if the assigned token is entered from a cellular telephone having a serial number that has been previously associated with the particular user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 20, 2006
    Publication date: January 18, 2007
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jose Bravo, Thomas Covalla
  • Methods and apparatus for restricting access of a user using a cellular telephone
    Patent number: 7133662
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing unauthorized access to a restricted item using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with a user, for example, during a registration process. The user is initially identified, for example, by entering a password, and a one-time pseudo-random token is provided to the user using a first communication channel. The user is requested to dial a telephone number associated with an access control service using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with the user and enter the assigned token. The user obtains access to the restricted item if the assigned token is entered from a cellular telephone having a serial number that has been previously associated with the particular user.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: November 7, 2006
    Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jose F. Bravo, Thomas A. Covalla
  • Methods and apparatus for restricting access of a user using a cellular telephone
    Publication number: 20020177433
    Abstract: A method and apparatus are disclosed for preventing unauthorized access to a restricted item using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with a user, for example, during a registration process. The user is initially identified, for example, by entering a password, and a one-time pseudo-random token is provided to the user using a first communication channel. The user is requested to dial a telephone number associated with an access control service using a cellular telephone that has been previously associated with the user and enter the assigned token. The user obtains access to the restricted item if the assigned token is entered from a cellular telephone having a serial number that has been previously associated with the particular user.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2001
    Publication date: November 28, 2002
    Applicant: International Business Machines Corporation
    Inventors: Jose F. Bravo, Thomas A. Covalla