Patents by Inventor James B. Pritchard

James B. Pritchard 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).

  • Patent number: 8020199
    Abstract: A system, method, and access device enabling a user to securely access a plurality of password-protected servers with a single entry of the user's User ID and associated password. When the access device receives the User ID and password from the user, it sends only the User ID to each of the password-protected servers. The servers each return a unique index value to the access device. The access device uses each index value to retrieve different password modification information from a database or lookup table. The access device then creates a plurality of modified passwords based at least in part on the password modification information. The access device then transmits each of the modified passwords to the corresponding password-protected server.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: 5th Fleet, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard, Sidney L. Weatherford
  • Patent number: 7769889
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure access to a computer system. An access device divides the password into multiple segments and places them in data packets. In one embodiment, an authentication server has multiple addresses, and each packet is sent to a different address. The server then reassembles the password. In another embodiment, when the server receives a password, the server sends an index value back to the access device, which then accesses the server on another address indicated by the index value. Alternatively, the password is sent to multiple addresses for the server, and the server determines whether any of the received packets have been altered. The multiple password packets may be forced to follow different paths to the server, thereby denying hackers the ability to intercept all of the password characters or determine the inter-packet timing factor. The system is effective against passive and active hackers, Trojans, and phishing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 3, 2010
    Assignee: 5th Fleet, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sidney L Weatherford, Steven W. Smith, James B Pritchard
  • Patent number: 7600128
    Abstract: A client device, system, and method for constructing a two-factor password utilized by an authentication device to authenticate an accessing computer. The client device connects to the accessing computer through an input/output (I/O) port such as a USB connection. When a user desires to access a network, he enters a user ID, which is sent from the accessing computer to the client device. The client device includes a client application, which retrieves a second factor from an internal database, and combines the user ID and the retrieved second factor to form the two-factor password. The two-factor password is sent to the accessing computer, which transmits it to the authentication device. The accessing computer is authenticated only if both the user ID and the second factor match a user ID and second factor stored in the authentication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2005
    Date of Patent: October 6, 2009
    Assignee: 5th Fleet, LLC
    Inventors: James B. Pritchard, Sidney L. Weatherford, Steven W. Smith
  • Patent number: 7581113
    Abstract: A system and method for generating and authenticating a password to protect a computer system from unauthorized access. The characters of the password are placed in data packets by an access device. Prior to sending the packets, the device inserts predefined time intervals between each of the data packets. The value of the time intervals is retrieved from a sequence of time intervals that is shared between the access device and an authentication device. The authentication device determines whether the received set of password characters matches a stored set of password characters, measures the time intervals between the packets, and determines whether the measured time intervals match the predefined time intervals. The authentication device positively authenticates the access device only if both the characters and the time intervals match. Periodically, different time intervals from the sequence are inserted to change the password.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 18, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 25, 2009
    Assignee: 5th Fleet, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 7555655
    Abstract: An apparatus, system, and method for constructing, transmitting, and authenticating a password utilized by an authentication device to authenticate an access device. The authentication device receives the password from the access device, authenticates the access device if the password matches stored information, and returns an acknowledgment message that includes an index value associated with a stored character set. The access device constructs and transmits the password. The access device receives from a user, a plurality of predefined characters forming a User ID. The access device also receives the acknowledgment message and index value from the authentication device. The index value is used to identify a character set from a plurality of character sets stored in a lookup table. The access device integrates the User ID and the identified character set to generate a password, and transmits the password to the authentication device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 10, 2005
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2009
    Assignee: 5th Fleet, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard, Sidney L Westharford
  • Publication number: 20090089450
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure access to a computer system. An access device divides the password into multiple segments and places them in data packets. In one embodiment, an authentication server has multiple addresses, and each packet is sent to a different address. The server then reassembles the password. In another embodiment, when the server receives a password, the server sends an index value back to the access device, which then accesses the server on another address indicated by the index value. Alternatively, the password is sent to multiple addresses for the server, and the server determines whether any of the received packets have been altered. The multiple password packets may be forced to follow different paths to the server, thereby denying hackers the ability to intercept all of the password characters or determine the inter-packet timing factor. The system is effective against passive and active hackers, Trojans, and phishing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Sidney L. Weatherford, Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard
  • Publication number: 20090089867
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure access to a computer system. An access device divides the password into multiple segments and places them in data packets. In one embodiment, an authentication server has multiple addresses, and each packet is sent to a different address. The server then reassembles the password. In another embodiment, when the server receives a password, the server sends an index value back to the access device, which then accesses the server on another address indicated by the index value. Alternatively, the password is sent to multiple addresses for the server, and the server determines whether any of the received packets have been altered. The multiple password packets may be forced to follow different paths to the server, thereby denying hackers the ability to intercept all of the password characters or determine the inter-packet timing factor. The system is effective against passive and active hackers, Trojans, and phishing techniques.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 2, 2008
    Publication date: April 2, 2009
    Inventors: Sidney L. Weatherford, Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard
  • Patent number: 7502936
    Abstract: A system and method for providing secure access to a computer system. An access device divides the password into multiple segments and places them in data packets. In one embodiment, an authentication server has multiple addresses, and each packet is sent to a different address. The server then reassembles the password. In another embodiment, when the server receives a password, the server sends an index value back to the access device, which then accesses the server on another address indicated by the index value. Alternatively, the password is sent to multiple addresses for the server, and the server determines whether any of the received packets have been altered. The multiple password packets may be forced to follow different paths to the server, thereby denying hackers the ability to intercept all of the password characters or determine the inter-packet timing factor. The system is effective against passive and active hackers, Trojans, and phishing techniques.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2009
    Assignee: JSM Technologies, L.L.C.
    Inventors: Sidney L Weatherford, Steven W. Smith, James B Pritchard
  • Publication number: 20080301791
    Abstract: A system, method, and access device enabling a user to securely access a plurality of password-protected servers with a single entry of the user's User ID and associated password. When the access device receives the User ID and password from the user, it sends only the User ID to each of the password-protected servers. The servers each return a unique index value to the access device. The access device uses each index value to retrieve different password modification information from a database or lookup table. The access device then creates a plurality of modified passwords based at least in part on the password modification information. The access device then transmits each of the modified passwords to the corresponding password-protected server.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 10, 2008
    Publication date: December 4, 2008
    Inventors: Steven W. Smith, James B. Pritchard, Sidney L. Weatherford
  • Patent number: 7043640
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for protecting a computer system by providing an improved password to prevent unauthorized access to the computer system. The apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a password controller capable of comparing a received password attempt with a stored password. The stored password of the present invention comprises a time envelope that comprises at least one password segment comprising: 1) an entry event; 2) a predetermined time interval following the entry event; and 3) a terminating signal to mark the end of the password segment. Access to the computer system is authorized when password segments of a password attempt match the corresponding password segments of the stored password. The stored password of the present invention generally comprises groups of computer readable characters separated by time intervals of variable length.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Inventors: James B. Pritchard, Clyde R. Calcote
  • Patent number: 6931552
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for protecting a first computer system against an intrusion such as a computer virus or an unauthorized access. The apparatus comprises a second computer system that is coupled to the first computer system in a manner that permits the second computer system to receive all computer communications that are directed to the first computer system. The second computer system detects an intrusion before the intrusion reaches the first computer system. The second computer system deletes the intrusion by deleting the operating system and all other data on the second computer system. After the compromised operating system and data have been erased, a clean version of the operating system and data is supplied to the second computer system from a restoration controller within the second computer system, or from the first computer system, or from a backup copy of the clean version of the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2005
    Inventors: James B. Pritchard, Clyde R. Calcote
  • Publication number: 20020166067
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for protecting a first computer system against an intrusion such as a computer virus or an unauthorized access. The apparatus comprises a second computer system that is coupled to the first computer system in a manner that permits the second computer system to receive all computer communications that are directed to the first computer system. The second computer system detects an intrusion before the intrusion reaches the first computer system. The second computer system deletes the intrusion by deleting the operating system and all other data on the second computer system. After the compromised operating system and data have been erased, a clean version of the operating system and data is supplied to the second computer system from a restoration controller within the second computer system, or from the first computer system, or from a backup copy of the clean version of the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2001
    Publication date: November 7, 2002
    Inventors: James B. Pritchard, Clyde R. Calcote
  • Publication number: 20020147930
    Abstract: There is disclosed an apparatus and method for protecting a computer system by providing an improved password to prevent unauthorized access to the computer system. The apparatus of the present invention generally comprises a password controller capable of comparing a received password attempt with a stored password. The stored password of the present invention comprises a time envelope that comprises at least one password segment comprising: 1) an entry event; 2) a predetermined time interval following the entry event; and 3) a terminating signal to mark the end of the password segment. Access to the computer system is authorized when password segments of a password attempt match the corresponding password segments of the stored password. The stored password of the present invention generally comprises groups of computer readable characters separated by time intervals of variable length.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 14, 2001
    Publication date: October 10, 2002
    Inventors: James B. Pritchard, Clyde R. Calcote