Patent ID: 7379921

Claim:
A system for providing authentication, the system comprising: a server presenting a visual image to a user via a display device and receiving an output from the user via an input device, the visual image having information embedded therein, wherein the visual image includes a barcode and is generated based on predetermined information; and a portable device performing the steps of: capturing the visual image using a camera integrated with the portable device; storing the predetermined information, wherein the predetermined information includes information specific to the portable device; capturing input information from the user, the input information including one of a personal identification and biometric information; ensuring that the user is authorized to use the portable device based on the input information; extracting the embedded information and generating the output using the embedded information and the predetermined information; and displaying the output to the user; wherein the server authenticates the user based on the output; and upon authenticating the user, authorizes the user to conduct a transaction at the server with respect to an account associated with the user.