AUTHENTICATION OF A USER TO A TELEPHONIC COMMUNICATION DEVICE

• US 20100091953A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Moon J., Yee, Eric T.C., Lee, Jang-Soo
• Granted Patent: US 8,345,829 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/42 Graphical user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/385 using speech signals

Abstract

The invention provides a method, system, and program product for authenticating a user to a telephonic communication device. In one embodiment, the invention includes obtaining a reference sample of an authorized user'"'"'s voice, storing the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice, collecting a sample of the voice of a user of the telephonic communication device, comparing the sample of the voice of the user to the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice, determining whether the user is the authorized user, and in the case that the user is determined not to be the authorized user, prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

Claims

1. A method of authenticating a user to a telephonic communication device, the method comprising:

obtaining a reference sample of an authorized user'"'"'s voice;

storing the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

collecting a sample of the voice of a user of the telephonic communication device;

comparing the sample of the voice of the user to the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

determining whether the user is the authorized user; and

in the case that the user is determined not to be the authorized user, prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

in the case that the user is determined to be the authorized user, permitting use of the telephonic communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining additional reference samples of the authorized user'"'"'s voice; and

storing the additional reference samples.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein storing the additional reference samples includes revising the reference sample to include the additional reference samples.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein obtaining includes recording an input of the telephonic communication device.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the reference sample includes the authorized user'"'"'s reading of a pre-determined script.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein prohibiting includes terminating a communication using the telephonic communication device.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

permitting an authorized user to override the prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein overriding includes:

providing a sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein overriding further includes:

entering an override code using the telephonic communication device.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephonic communication device is selected from a group consisting of:

a cellular telephone and a satellite telephone.

12. A system for authenticating a user to a telephonic communication device, the system comprising:

a system for obtaining a reference sample of an authorized user'"'"'s voice;

a system for storing the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

a system for collecting a sample of the voice of a user of the telephonic communication device;

a system for comparing the sample of the voice of the user to the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

a system for determining whether the user is the authorized user; and

a system for prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a system for obtaining additional reference samples of the authorized user'"'"'s voice; and

a system for storing the additional reference samples.

14. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a system for terminating a communication using the telephonic communication device.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising:

a system for overriding the system for prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

16. A program product stored on a computer-readable medium, which when executed, authenticates a user to a telephonic communication device, the program product comprising:

program code for obtaining a reference sample of an authorized user'"'"'s voice;

program code for storing the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

program code for collecting a sample of the voice of a user of the telephonic communication device;

program code for comparing the sample of the voice of the user to the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

program code for determining whether the user is the authorized user; and

program code for prohibiting use of the telephonic communication device.

17. The program product of claim 16, further comprising:

program code for obtaining additional reference samples of the authorized user'"'"'s voice; and

program code for storing the additional reference samples.

18. The program product of claim 16, further comprising:

program code for overriding the prohibiting of use of the telephonic communication device.

19. A method for deploying an application for authenticating a user to a telephonic communication device, comprising:

providing a computer infrastructure being operable to;

obtain a reference sample of an authorized user'"'"'s voice;

store the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

collect a sample of the voice of a user of the telephonic communication device;

compare the sample of the voice of the user to the reference sample of the authorized user'"'"'s voice;

determine whether the user is the authorized user; and

prohibit use of the telephonic communication device.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to:

obtain additional reference samples of the authorized user'"'"'s voice; and

store the additional reference samples.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the computer infrastructure is further operable to:

override the prohibiting of use of the telephonic communication device.