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.
