Patent ID: 8732795

Claim:
A computer-implemented authentication method, comprising: (a) receiving an authentication request at an authentication computing system, the request including a resource identifier; (b) identifying one or more authentication pools associated with the resource identifier, each authentication pool including at least one authentication method selected from the group including a password, passphrase, personal identification number, challenge response, identification card, wristband, security token, software token, cell phone, biometric information, fingerprint, retinal pattern, signature, face, and voice; (c) executing a pool authentication process for the one or more identified authentication pools, the pool authentication process including a two stage authentication process, including at least one first stage that includes performing an authentication method implementation included in the authentication pool and a second stage dependent on the first stage; and (d) transmitting a response to the identification authentication request based on the execution of the pool authentication process for the one or more identified authentication pools.