METHOD AND SYSTEM TO IMPROVE SPEAKER VERIFICATION ACCURACY BY DETECTING REPEAT IMPOSTERS

• US 20080270132A1
• Filed: 06/03/2008
• Published: 10/30/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/09/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Ganesh N. Ramaswamy, Jari Navratil, Ran D. Zilca
• Original Assignee: Ganesh N. Ramaswamy, Jari Navratil, Ran D. Zilca
• Inventors: Ramaswamy, Ganesh N., Zilca, Ran D., Navratil, Jari
• Application Number:
  US12/132,013
• Publication Number:
  US 20080270132A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 704/250
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/06 Decision making techniques; Pattern matching strategies
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/20 Pattern transformations or operations aimed at increasing system robustness, e.g. against channel noise or different working conditions

Abstract

A system and method for identifying an individual includes collecting biometric information for an individual attempting to gain access to a system. The biometric information for the individual is scored against pre-trained imposter models. If a score is greater than a threshold, the individual as an imposter is identified as an imposter. Other systems and methods are also disclosed.

Claims

1. A method for identifying an individual, comprising the steps of:

collecting biometric information for an individual attempting to gain access to a system;

scoring the biometric information for the individual against pre-trained imposter models; and

if a score is greater than a threshold, identifying the individual as an imposter.

2. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the step of scoring includes comparing the biometric information to each of the pre-trained imposter models to obtain a similarity score, and comparing each similarity score to the threshold.

3. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

determining if an imposter model exists; and

if no imposter model exists, training an imposter model based upon the biometric information.

4. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

enhancing a pre-trained imposter model with the biometric information.

5. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of recording information about access attempts by the imposter.

6. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of collecting additional information about the imposter to determine an identity of the imposter.

7. The method as recited in claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether an individual is an imposter based upon information from an external system.

8. The method as recited in claim 7, wherein the external system is triggered by a customer notification.

9. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric information includes a test utterance.

10. The method as recited in claim 1, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of a physical feature and/or gesture.

11. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps in accordance with claim 1.

12. A method for verifying an identity of an individual, comprising the steps of:

collecting biometric information for an individual attempting to gain access to a system;

scoring the biometric information for the individual against models for individuals;

if a score is less than a threshold, denying access to the system for the individual;

determining if an imposter model exists for the individual; and

if an imposter model does not exist for that individual training an imposter model.

13. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the step of determining if an imposter model exists includes comparing the biometric information to each of a plurality of pre-trained imposter models to obtain a similarity score, and comparing each similarity score to a threshold.

14. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the steps of:

enhancing a pre-trained imposter model with the biometric information.

15. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of recording information about access attempts by the imposter.

16. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of collecting additional information about the imposter to determine an identity of the imposter.

17. The method as recited in claim 12, further comprising the step of determining whether an individual is an imposter based upon information from an external system.

18. The method as recited in claim 17, wherein the external system is triggered by a customer notification.

19. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the biometric information includes a test utterance.

20. The method as recited in claim 12, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of a physical feature and/or gesture.

21. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps in accordance with claim 12.

22. A method for verifying an identity of an individual, comprising the steps of:

receiving a test utterance from an individual attempting to gain access to a system;

computing a first score for the individual against a model that the individual claims to be;

based on the first score, comparing the test utterance to pre-trained imposter models to determine a second score to determine whether the individual is an imposter; and

if the second score is above a threshold, identifying the individual as an imposter.

23. The method as recited in claim 22, wherein the step of comparing the test utterance to pre-trained imposter models includes comparing the test utterance to each of the pre-trained imposter models to obtain a similarity score, and comparing each similarity score to a threshold.

24. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

determining if an imposter model exists; and

if no imposter model exists, training an imposter model based upon the biometric information.

25. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

enhancing a pre-trained imposter model with the test utterance.

26. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of recording information about access attempts by the imposter.

27. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of collecting additional information about the imposter to determine an identity of the imposter.

28. The method as recited in claim 22, further comprising the step of determining whether an individual is an imposter based upon information from an external system.

29. The method as recited in claim 28, wherein the external system is triggered by a customer notification.

30. A computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having a computer readable program, wherein the computer readable program when executed on a computer causes the computer to perform the steps in accordance with claim 22.

31. A system for verifying an identity of an individual, comprising:

a verification system interfacing with an individual to determine the individuals identity by collecting biometric data for that individual and to limit access to a secure system or object; and

pre-trained imposter models which store information related to imposters that may or have attempted access to the secure system or object to determine whether the individual is an imposter.

32. The system as recited in claim 31, further comprising a training module which receives that biometric data to create a new imposter model if the individual is determined to be an imposter but no imposter model yet exists for the individual.

33. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the biometric information includes an utterance.

34. The system as recited in claim 31, wherein the biometric information includes at least one of a physical characteristic of the individual or a gesture.

35. The system as recited in claim 31, further comprising an external detection source which notifies the system of imposters.

36. The system as recited in claim 35, wherein the external detection source includes one of a customer fraud complaint, an offline fraud detection system, or a forensic investigation result.