Patent 7131139 was granted and assigned to Swatch on October, 2006 by the United States Patent and Trademark Office.
The method for authorizing access to computer applications is implemented using a computer installation which includes a computer station (1) connected to an inter-computer communication network (9), a read unit (10) connected by an electric cable (2) to the station (1), and at least one personalized portable object (7) in communication with the read unit (10) for the transfer of data. The portable object (7), in particular a wristwatch, includes a memory, several positions of which for access words are kept secret by a read and/or write barrier and at least one position of which for a word is readable.