US Patent 10979430 Service-initiated user authentication via delegated methods

A computer-facilitated service receives a request from a user to access resources provided by the computer-facilitated service. In response to the request, the computer-facilitated service selects an authentication method that can be performed by a remote authentication provider. The computer-facilitated service causes the remote authentication provider to perform the authentication method. In response to an authentication decision provided by the remote authentication provider, the computer-facilitated service determines whether the user has been authenticated by the remote authentication provider. If so, the computer-facilitated service fulfills the request from the user to access the resources.