In {TAIL ~ a preferred embodiment}, {HEAD ~ the invention} comprises an authentication engine, an authentication host, a plurality of providers coupled to the host which implement selected authentication schemes, and a machine independent communication mechanism which enables the various components to communicate with each other irregardless of the machine each component resides on 
In
In { TAIL ~ a preferred embodiment } , { HEAD ~ the invention } comprises an authentication engine , an authentication host , a plurality of providers coupled to the host which implement selected authentication schemes , and a machine independent communication mechanism which enables the various components to communicate with each other irregardless of the machine each component resides on
REL TAIL TAIL TAIL TAIL TAIL TAIL TAIL OTH HEAD HEAD HEAD HEAD HEAD HEAD OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH OTH