1

A method for authenticating an entity to a device, wherein the method comprises:comparing an observed usage of the device by the entity to an expected pattern of usage of the device; and

requiring a credential for continued usage of the device when a difference between the observed usage of the device and the expected pattern of usage of the device exceeds a threshold.

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2

The method of Claim 1 wherein the credential is at least one of a password and an item of trivia.

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3

The method of Claim 1 wherein the task of comparing further comprises monitoring actions of an authorized user with respect to the device to develop the expected pattern of usage of the device.

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4

The method of Claim 1 wherein the task of comparing further comprises receiving the expected pattern of usage of the device as a user-defined input.

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5

The method of Claim 1 wherein the task of comparing further comprises monitoring actions of the entity with respect to the device, thereby defining the observed usage.

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6

The method of Claim 3 wherein the expected pattern of usage correlates at least one of the monitored actions with time.

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7

The method of Claim 3 wherein the expected pattern of usage correlates at least one of the monitored actions with geographic location.

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8

The method of Claim 1 wherein the expected pattern of usage relates to at least some telephone numbers that are called from the device.

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9

The method of Claim 3 wherein the expected pattern of usage relates to an order in which at least some of the monitored actions are performed.

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10

The method of Claim 1 wherein the device is selected from the group consisting of a wireless terminal and a portable computing device.

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