function validatePassword(password)
{
	var result = true;

	// make sure that the password is valid
	if( password.length < 4 )
	{
		alert( "The password must be at least 4 characters long!" );
		result = false;
	}
	else // password.length >= 4
	{
		var digitPattern = new RegExp( "\\d" );
		var letterPattern = new RegExp( "[a-zA-Z]" );

		if( !digitPattern.test( password ) || !letterPattern.test( password ) )
		{
			alert( "The password must consist of letter(s) and number(s)!" );
			result = false;
		} // endif
	} // endif

	return result;
} // function validatePassword(password)