Information processing apparatus and information processing method

An information processing method comprising:

• a recording control step of controlling the recording of information concerning an activity pattern of a registered user;
• a first obtaining control step of controlling the obtaining of information concerning a location at which a shopping user undergoes an authentication process;
• a second obtaining control step of controlling the obtaining of the current time;
• and
• an authentication-level determining step of determining an authentication level for the authentication process to be executed for the shopping user, based on the information concerning the registered user's activity pattern that is recorded under the control of the recording control step, the information concerning the location that is obtained under the control of the first obtaining control step, and the current time that is obtained under the control of the second obtaining control step.

An information processing apparatus that uses a plurality of authentication process methods, the information processing apparatus comprising:

• first transmitting means for transmitting, to an authentication center, predetermined information necessary for determining an authentication level for an authentication process to be executed for a shopping user;
• first receiving means for receiving authentication level information from the authentication center;
• and
• determining means for determining a combination of the plurality of authentication process methods, based on the authentication level information received by the first receiving means.

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that uses a plurality of authentication process methods, the information processing method comprising:

• a first transmitting step of transmitting, to an authentication center, predetermined information necessary for determining an authentication level for an authentication process to be executed for a shopping user;
• a step of receiving authentication level information from the authentication center;
• and
• a step of using a combination of the plurality of authentication process methods, based on the authentication level information received by the receiving step.