Authenticating An Individual Using An Utterance Representation and Ambiguity Resolution Information

• US 20090147939A1
• Filed: 01/12/2009
• Published: 06/11/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/1996
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Zarbana Digital Fund LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Morganstein, Sanford J., Zaks, Sergey
• Granted Patent: US 9,008,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/207.130
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/41 using speaker recognition
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/229 Wire identification arrangements; Number assignment determination
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/387 using subscriber identification cards
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13003 Constructional details of switching devices
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1305 Software aspects
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13093 Personal computer, PC
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 : Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 : Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13175 : Graphical user interface [GUI], WWW interface, visual indication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13204 : Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13271 : Forced release
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13282 : Call forward, follow-me, call diversion
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13353 : Routing table, map memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 : Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for authenticating an individual. A representation of an utterance is received. A candidate record is identified from among a plurality of candidate records by comparing the representation of the utterance with stored utterance data according to a match parameter. An identity of the individual is verified by comparing received ambiguity information with stored ambiguity resolution criteria. If a candidate record is not found, a new record associated with the individual may be created. The individual may be allowed access to a secured resource.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

receiving a representation of an utterance;

identifying a candidate record from among a plurality of records, comprising comparing the representation of the utterance with stored utterance data according to a match parameter;

receiving ambiguity resolution information; and

verifying an identity of an individual associated with the utterance, comprising comparing the ambiguity resolution information with stored ambiguity resolution criteria associated with the candidate record.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the utterance.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the utterance via a voice input device.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the voice input device comprises a telephone.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising generating the representation of the utterance from an utterance.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the stored utterance data comprises an utterance identifier.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the individual to access a secured resource after the verifying.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the verifying further comprises:

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution information with the stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a single ambiguity resolution item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a plurality of ambiguity resolution items.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the verifying further comprises:

comparing an ambiguity resolution item of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with a respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution item with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein the verifying further comprises:

comparing selected ambiguity resolution items of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the selected ambiguity resolution items with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information are received as a single input.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information are received in a plurality of inputs.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying further comprises identifying a plurality of candidate records from among the plurality of records.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

if the verifying results in no verified identity for the individual, creating a new record associated with the individual.

17. A system, comprising:

means for receiving a representation of an utterance;

means for identifying a candidate record from among a plurality of records, comprising comparing the representation of the utterance with stored utterance data according to a match parameter;

means for receiving ambiguity resolution information; and

means for verifying an identity of an individual associated with the utterance, comprising comparing the ambiguity resolution information with stored ambiguity resolution criteria associated with the candidate record.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the means for verifying further comprises:

means for determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution information with the stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a plurality of ambiguity resolution items.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information are received as a single input.

21. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

means for creating a new record associated with the individual if the verifying results in no verified identity for the individual.

22. A computer readable storage medium having computer executable instructions recorded thereon, that when executed by a processor, cause the processor to authenticate a caller, by a method comprising:

receiving a representation of an utterance;

identifying a candidate record from among a plurality of records, comprising comparing the representation of the utterance with stored utterance data according to a match parameter;

receiving ambiguity resolution information; and

verifying an identity of an individual associated with the utterance, comprising comparing the ambiguity resolution information with stored ambiguity resolution criteria associated with the candidate record.

23. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises receiving the utterance.

24. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises receiving the utterance via a voice input device.

25. The computer readable storage medium of claim 24, wherein the voice input device comprises a telephone.

26. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises generating the representation of the utterance from an utterance.

28. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises allowing the individual to access a secured resource after the verifying.

29. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the verifying further comprises:

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution information with the stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

30. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a single ambiguity resolution item.

31. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a plurality of ambiguity resolution items.

32. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the verifying further comprises:

comparing an ambiguity resolution item of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with a respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution item with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion.

33. The computer readable storage medium of claim 31, wherein the verifying further comprises:

comparing selected ambiguity resolution items of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determining that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the selected ambiguity resolution items with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

34. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information are received as a single input.

35. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information are received in a plurality of inputs.

36. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the identifying further comprises identifying a plurality of candidate records from among the plurality of records.

37. The computer readable storage medium of claim 22, wherein the method further comprises:

if the verifying results in no verified identity for the individual, creating a new record associated with the individual.

27. The computer readable storage medium of 22, wherein the stored utterance data comprises an utterance identifier.

38. A system, comprising:

a processing system configured to;

receive a representation of an utterance;

identify a candidate record from among a plurality of records, comprising comparing the representation of the utterance with stored utterance data according to a match parameter;

receive ambiguity resolution information; and

verify an identity of an individual associated with the utterance, comprising comparing the ambiguity resolution information with stored ambiguity resolution criteria associated with the candidate record.

39. The system of claim 38, further comprising storage coupled to the processing system and configured to:

store the stored ambiguity resolution criteria, and store the stored utterance identifiers.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the storage is a database.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the database includes a database management system.

42. The system of claim 39, wherein the processing system comprises a database server coupled to the storage.

43. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive the utterance.

44. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to receive the utterance via a voice input device.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein the voice input device comprises a telephone.

46. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to generate the representation of the utterance from an utterance.

47. The system of claim 38, wherein the stored utterance data comprises an utterance identifier.

48. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to allow the individual access to a secured resource after verifying the identity of the individual is verified.

49. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to determine that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution information with the stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

50. The system of claim 38, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a single ambiguity resolution item.

51. The system of claim 38, wherein the ambiguity resolution information includes a plurality of ambiguity resolution items.

52. The system of claim 51, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

compare an ambiguity resolution item of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with a respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determine that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the ambiguity resolution item with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criterion.

53. The system of claim 51, wherein the processing system is further configured to:

compare selected ambiguity resolution items of the plurality of ambiguity resolution items with respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria of the stored ambiguity resolution criteria; and

determine that the identity of the individual corresponds to the candidate record based on a consistency of the selected ambiguity resolution items with the respective stored ambiguity resolution criteria.

54. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is configured to receive the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information as a single input.

55. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is configured to receive the utterance and the ambiguity resolution information in a plurality of inputs.

56. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to identify a plurality of candidate records from among the plurality of records.

57. The system of claim 38, wherein the processing system is further configured to create a new record associated with the individual if the verifying results in no verified identity for the individual.