Patent ID: 7506174

Claim:
A method of gaining access to a secure system, comprising the steps of: storing a password entered by a user; capturing and storing a biometric of the password entry; determining whether the password is new; if it is determined that the password is new, requiring only the password for access to the secure system; if it is determined that the password is not new, determining whether the password is biometrically enabled; if it is determined that the password is biometrically enabled, requiring both the password and the captured biometric for access to the secure system; if it is determined that the password is not biometrically enabled, comparing the captured biometric with at least one previously captured biometric and determining whether the captured biometric is stable; if it is determined that the captured biometric is stable, establishing the password as biometrically enabled and requiring both the password and the captured biometric for access to the secure system; and if it is determined that, the captured biometric is not stable, requiring only the password for access to the secure system.