Information processing apparatus and information processing method

An information processing method comprising:

• recording information in a first recording unit, the information concerning an activity pattern of a registered user;
• obtaining information by a first obtaining unit, the information concerning a location at which a user begins an authentication process;
• obtaining a current time by a second obtaining unit at which a user begins the authentication process;
• calculating a determination criterion by weighing the information concerning the activity pattern of the registered user recorded in the first recording unit against the information concerning the location obtained by the first obtaining unit and the current time obtained by the second obtaining unit;
• and
• determining, from a plurality of authentication levels, an authentication level to be used in the authentication process based on the determination criterion, each authentication level corresponding to different authentication requirements.

An information processing apparatus connected to a plurality of authentication devices each configured to execute an authentication of a user's personal information comprising:

• a first transmitting unit configured to transmit, to an authentication center, information to calculate a determination criterion to determine an authentication level to execute an authentication process for a user;
• a first receiving unit configured to receive authentication level information from the authentication center;
• and
• a determining unit configured to determine a combination of the plurality of the authentication devices to execute the authentication process, based on the authentication level information received by the first receiving unit.

An information processing method for an information processing apparatus that uses a plurality of authentication devices each configured to execute an authentication of a user's personal information, the information processing method comprising:

• transmitting, to an authentication center, information to calculate a determination criterion to determine an authentication level to execute an authentication process for a user;
• receiving authentication level information from the authentication center;
• and
• using a combination of the plurality of the authentication devices to execute the authentication process, based on the received authentication level information, each authentication level corresponding to different authentication requirements.