Patent ID: 8296570

Claim:
A method of authorizing a user to selectively access stored files, the method comprising: authorizing a user to access a system having files stored thereon, wherein authorizing the user comprises— determining two or more available user information entry devices from a plurality of different user information entry devices in communication with the system, wherein each of the different user information entry devices is associated with a corresponding distinct security level; determining an authorization method from a plurality of different authorization methods, wherein the plurality of different authorization methods require data from the two or more corresponding available user information entry devices; receiving user authorization information from the two or more available user information entry devices and combining the corresponding distinct security levels into an authorization level for the authorization method; selecting stored data corresponding to the level of authorization; and registering the received user authorization information against the selected stored data to perform at least one of identifying and authorizing the user at the authorization level; upon authorization of the user, retrieving a plurality of password identifiers, individual password identifiers being associated with a password, and individual passwords providing access to a file; receiving an indication of a selected password identifier; and providing a password associated with the selected password identifier to an application to access the file.