Multimodal authentication

A method of authenticating an entity, the method comprising:

• employing a processor executing computer executable instructions to perform the following acts:
• creating a plurality of user profiles, wherein at least two user profiles are associated with a user, each of the at least two user profiles are associated with one of a plurality of user authentication contexts, each of the at least two user profiles has one or more user selected inputs for authentication based on the authentication context associated with the user profile;
• selecting inputs associated with a user profile using a classifier that employs at least one of probabilistic or statistical-based inference analysis of the authentication context;
• receiving sensed input data from the automatically selected inputs based on user interaction with the automatically selected inputs;
• processing the sensed input data to output data for authentication processing;
• comparing the output data with predetermined user authentication data;
• granting user access to data when the output data agrees with the predetermined user authentication data to a predetermined percentage and
• adjusting a level of authentication processing to a higher level based on detection of one or more suspect transactions from the user, and automatically selecting one or more additional inputs for authentication based on the higher level.

A system that facilitates authentication of an entity, comprising:

• a processor;
• memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the memory having stored therein computer-executable instructions performing acts comprising:
• sensing a plurality of authentication input subsystems for user authentication;
• identifying a current context associated with the authentication, the current context including a type of stored data protected by the authentication;
• determining a plurality of distinct biometric inputs required for authentication in the current context;
• identifying at least two authentication input subsystems from the plurality of authentication input subsystems that in combination have capability to receive the plurality of the distinct biometric inputs, the at least two authentication input subsystems being identified by a pattern matching classifier that performs at least one of probabilistic or statistical-based inference analysis of the current context associated with the authentication;
• receiving the plurality of distinctive biometric inputs via the at least two authentication input subsystems;
• processing the sensed multiple distinct biometric inputs concurrently and outputting authentication data;
• comparing the authentication data with predetermined authentication data and generating authentication results;
• controlling access based on the authentication results;
• and
• requesting one or more additional requested biometric inputs on a periodic basis when the plurality of distinctive biometric inputs results in excessive transactions during permitted access.