Abstract: An apparatus, method and program product for enabling biometric authentication that includes receiving a biometric submission (82) at a biometric device (60), and in response to an authentication of the submission (92), providing a cryptographic credential (68) from a computer (15, 30) to the biometric device (60) for use in a subsequent cryptographic purpose (100). In this manner, the biometric device (60) may subsequently mimic properties of a smart card.

Abstract: A rule based biometric user authentication method and system in a computer network environment is provided. Multiple authentication rules can exist in the computer network. For example, there may be a default system-wide rule, and a rule associated with a particular user trying to log in. There may be other rules such as one associated with a remote computer from which the user is logging in, one associated with a group to which the user belongs, or one associated with a system resource to which the user requires access such as an application program or a database of confidential information. An order of precedence among the rules is then established which is used to authenticate the user.

Abstract: An apparatus, method and program product receive remote identification data from an identification device (12) associated with a user account in response to initiation of an electronic transaction at a terminal (22). The identifying device communicates the remote identification data to a processing system (16), where it is compared against stored authentication data associated with the user account. The processing system (16) communicates verification to the terminal (22) if a match is determined, allowing the electronic transaction to proceed.