Patent ID: 10212154

Abstract:
Method for authenticating a user, comprising the steps of a) providing a central server (101), in communication with at least two authentication service providers (110,120,130) and at least one user service provider (150); b) associating each authentication service provider with at least one respective available level of authentication; c) receiving a request from the user service provider to authenticate a particular user accessing the user service provider via an electronic device (170,180); d) identifying a minimum level of authentication; e) the central server identifying a selected one (110) of said authentication service providers; f) either providing user credential data directly to the selected authentication service provider, without said user credential data being supplied to the central server, or determining that the selected authentication service provider has an active authentication session for the particular user; and g) causing the selected authentication service provider to authenticate the particular user and to provide an authentication response. The invention also relates to a system.