Importance

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Abstract

A method for reducing the number of times that a user must type his own login ID or password into various systems that require authentication is disclosed. The method comprises the steps of: 1. A user signs into his workstation, using a standard login ID and current network password. 2. A plugin program, inserted into the workstation operating system's login subsystem, captures the user's login ID and password. 3. In environments where this is either not technically possible or where insertion of such a plugin program is infeasible, once the user has completed the initial workstation login, a secondary login prompt is displayed, asking the user to re-enter his current network password. 4. A second operating system plugin program is launched, which monitors all user interface activity--keystrokes and pointer events representing user input, processes that are executed, and windows and data fields activated on the workstation's display(s). 5. The monitor plugin compares the values entered by the user into data fields to the login ID and password captured in step 2 or 3. Where a new match is found, identifying characteristics of the data field, such as window ID, window title, field ID, field name, field position within the window and process ID, are stored in a data file, an operating system configuration database, or some other database. 6. The monitor plugin compares the data fields displayed on the workstation to a list of already known data fields in storage. If a data field is displayed that matches one whose characteristics have already been captured in storage, the login ID or password that were intercepted in step 2 or step 3 are automatically inserted into that data field, as appropriate. The present invention provides a method for reduced signon, whereby the number of separate instances where a user must provide his own login credentials is reduced, possibly to a single set of ID/password per workstation login session. This method improves the level of service offered by an IT organization to its users, as it saves time and effort for those users.

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First Claim