Patent ID: 8595804

Claim:
An authentication system comprising: an authentication data storage storing reference data for authentication, the reference data comprising a correct user-selected image, a user-selected personal identification number, a user-selected voice passphrase, a user-selected photograph, and a user-selected biometric; and an authentication processor in communication with the authentication data storage, the authentication processor performing operations comprising receiving a user identification, identifying a user based upon the user identification, randomly selecting at least two authentication modes from a group of available authentication modes for presentation to the user in solicitation of input for use in authenticating the user to utilize an electronic device, wherein the group of available authentication modes is associated with the user identification and consists of: a first authentication mode in which multiple thumbnail images, including the correct user-selected image and a plurality of false images, and an instruction to select a number on a keypad of the electronic device corresponding to the correct user-selected image are presented, a second authentication mode in which the user is prompted to enter a personal identification number for comparison to the user-selected personal identification number, a third authentication mode in which the user is prompted to speak a voice passphrase for comparison to the user-selected voice passphrase, a fourth authentication mode in which the user is prompted to take a photograph of the user for comparison to the user-selected photograph, and a fifth authentication mode in which the user is prompted to provide a biometric input for comparison to the user-selected biometric, receiving a response to each of the at least two authentication modes, determining whether a match exists between the response received for each of the at least two authentication modes and a portion of the reference data corresponding to each of the at least two authentication modes by comparing the response received for each of the at least two authentication modes with the portion of the reference data corresponding to each of the at least two authentication modes, and allowing the user to utilize the electronic device if the authentication processor determines that a match exists between the response received for each of the at least two authentication modes and the portion of the reference data corresponding to each of the at least two authentication modes.