Voice authentication system and method

• US 20070255564A1
• Filed: 05/01/2006
• Published: 11/01/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/01/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Yee, Dawson, Pall, Gurdeep
• Granted Patent: US 8,396,711 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/246
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/24 the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase

Abstract

A user'"'"'s voice is authenticated by prompting a user to say a challenge phrase from a list of predetermined phrases and comparing the user'"'"'s response with a prerecorded version of the same response. The user'"'"'s stored recordings are associated with an electronic identification or serial number for a specific device, so that when communication is established using the device, only the specific user may authenticate the session. When several phrases and recordings are used, one may be selected at random for authentication so that fraudulent authentication using a recording of the user'"'"'s voice may be thwarted. The system and method may be used for authenticating a device when it is first activated, such as a telephony device, or may be used when authenticating a specific communications session.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

recording a plurality of voice samples from a user, each of said voice samples being from a set of predetermined phrases;

storing said plurality of voice samples in a database, said database being accessible from an authentication server;

providing a device to said user, said device having a microphone and being adapted to receive the voice of said user, said device having an electronic identifier;

associating said electronic identifier with said user in said database;

establishing communications between said device and said authentication server, said device being operated in a restricted mode;

transmitting said electronic identifier to said authentication server;

selecting one of said set of predetermined phrases;

prompting said user to speak said one of said set of predetermined phrases into said microphone;

recording a test voice sample from said microphone;

comparing said test voice sample against the one of said plurality of voice samples stored in said database corresponding with said one of said set of predetermined phrases to determine a comparison result; and

authenticating said user on said device based on said comparison result.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said device is a telephony device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said restricted mode comprises a mode wherein said device has restricted functionality.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said restricted mode comprises a mode wherein the services provided for said device is restricted.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said voice samples comprise phrases that are recorded at a plurality of cadences.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of predetermined phrases comprises tongue twisters.

7. A server comprising:

a database of prerecorded voice samples of a user, said voice samples being made from a set of predetermined phrases;

a relationship in said database between said user and an electronic identifier from a device, said device having a microphone;

a connection to a network;

a controller adapted to;

receive a request for authentication from said device;

receive said electronic identifier from said device;

select one of said set of predetermined phrases;

prompt said user to speak said one of said set of predetermined phrases into said microphone;

record a test voice sample from said microphone;

compare said test voice sample against the one of said plurality of voice samples stored in said database corresponding with said one of said set of predetermined phrases to determine a comparison result; and

authenticate said user on said device based on said comparison result.

8. The server of claim 7 wherein said device is a telephony device.

9. The server of claim 8 wherein said device is a voice over internet protocol telephone.

10. The server of claim 8 wherein said device is a cellular telephone.

11. The server of claim 7 wherein said device is initially operable in a restricted mode that comprises a mode wherein said device has restricted functionality.

12. The server of claim 7 wherein said device is initially operable in a restricted mode that comprises a mode wherein the services provided for said device is restricted.

13. The server of claim 7 wherein said voice samples comprise phrases that are recorded at a plurality of cadences.

14. The server of claim 7 wherein said set of predetermined phrases comprises tongue twisters.

19. The system of claim 13 wherein said voice samples comprise phrases that are recorded at a plurality of cadences.

20. The system of claim 13 wherein said set of predetermined phrases comprises tongue twisters.

15. A system comprising:

a device having a microphone and being adapted to receive the voice of a user, said device having an electronic identifier;

a server having a database of prerecorded voice samples of said user, said voice samples being made from a set of predetermined phrases, said electronic identifier being associated with said user;

a communications medium between said device and said server;

said server being further adapted to;

receive a request for authentication from said device having a microphone and being adapted to receive the voice of said user;

receive said electronic identifier from said device;

select one of said set of predetermined phrases;

prompt said user to speak said one of said set of predetermined phrases into said microphone;

record a test voice sample from said microphone;

compare said test voice sample against the one of said plurality of voice samples stored in said database corresponding with said one of said set of predetermined phrases to determine a comparison result; and

authenticate said user on said device based on said comparison result.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said device is a telephony device.

17. The system of claim 15 wherein said device is initially operable in a restricted mode that comprises a mode wherein said device has restricted functionality.

18. The system of claim 15 wherein said device is initially operable in a restricted mode that comprises a mode wherein the services provided for said device is restricted.