System and method for monitoring individuals

• US 7,272,565 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 09/18/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: A2Mk LLC, Jerunazargabr LLC, lo Limited Partnership Lllp, Patents Innovations LLC
• Original Assignee: Technology Patents LLC
• Inventors: Mardirossian, Aris
• Primary Examiner(s): Hudspeth; David
• Assistant Examiner(s): Sked; Matthew J.
• Application Number:
  US10/320,706
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116842A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,736 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 704/273
• CPC Class Codes: G07C 9/37 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voice recognition
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring individuals using voice print matching to match monitored speech with stored voice prints is disclosed. Voice prints of individuals are obtained and stored in a central repository for use by authorized agencies or other entity that monitor voice communications. The digitized voice prints may be used to identify the speakers being monitored. If the conversation being monitored causes the monitor, based on their predetermined alert criteria, to suspect the speakers of illegal activity, such as, for example, terrorism, or otherwise cause the monitor to seek additional information about the speakers, the monitor may access information associated with the voice print and retrieve the information associated with those individuals so that this information may be passed along to the appropriate agency or organization for further action.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

a circuit for obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria, said predetermined criteria being at least one of;

a foreign national having a student visa, a foreign national having a visitors visa, and a foreign national having permanent resident alien status;

a first memory for storing said voice sample;

a second memory for storing information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said first memory;

a monitor for monitoring a voice communication; and

a comparator for comparing a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said first memory and, if the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor is found to match the individual providing the voice sample stored in said first memory, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor;

wherein said system may communicate information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein said comparator further outputs information from said second memory relating to the individual for whom a match is found.

3. A system according to claim 1, wherein said information relating to an individual includes at least one of the following:

name of the individual, aliases of said individual, immigration status of said individual, visa number of said individual, nationality of said individual, last known address of said individual, last known telephone number of said individual, biometric data relating to said individual and criminal record of said individual.

4. A system according to claim 1, wherein said first memory and said second memory are part of a single database.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said voice sample is capable of being stored as a digital phonemic representation.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said comparator is a computer-based processor.

7. A method for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria, said predetermined criteria being at least one of;

a foreign national having a student visa, a foreign national having a visitors visa, and a foreign national having permanent resident alien status;

storing said voice sample in a first memory;

storing information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said first memory in a second memory;

monitoring a voice communication;

comparing a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said first memory to determine whether the individual providing said voice sample obtained based on predetermined criteria matches the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

8. A method according to claim 7, further comprising:

outputting information from said second memory relating to the individual for whom a match is found.

9. A method according to claim 7, wherein said information relating to an individual includes at least one of the following:

name of the individual, aliases of said individual, immigration status of said individual, visa number of said individual, nationality of said individual, last known address of said individual, last known telephone number of said individual, biometric data relating to said individual and criminal record of said individual.

10. A method according to claim 7, wherein the step of obtaining a voice sample includes converting the voice sample into a digital phonemic representation.

11. A method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of determining a location of an individual being monitored.

12. A system for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

a circuit for obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria;

a database for storing said voice sample and information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said database;

a monitor for monitoring a voice communication; and

a processor for comparing a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said database and, if the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor is found to match the individual providing the voice sample stored in said database, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor;

wherein said system may communicate information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

13. A system according to claim 12, wherein said predetermined criteria includes at least one of:

a foreign national having a student visa, a foreign national having a visitors visa, and a foreign national having permanent resident alien status.

14. A system according to claim 12, wherein said voice sample is capable of being stored as a digital phonemic representation.

15. A system according to claim 12, wherein said information relating to an individual includes at least one of the following:

name of the individual, aliases of said individual, immigration status of said individual, visa number of said individual, nationality of said individual, last known address of said individual, last known telephone number of said individual, biometric data relating to said individual and criminal record of said individual.

16. A system according to claim 12, wherein said information relating to an individual is stored as a digital certificate.

17. A system according to claim 12, wherein said processor determines a location of an individual being monitored.

18. A method for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria;

storing said voice sample in a database;

storing in said database information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said database;

monitoring a voice communication;

comparing a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said database and, if the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor is found to match the individual providing the voice sample stored in said database, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

19. A system for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

a circuit for obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria, said predetermined criteria being at least one of;

a foreign national having a student visa, a foreign national having a visitors visa, and a foreign national having permanent resident alien status;

a first memory for storing said voice sample;

a second memory for storing information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said first memory;

a monitor for monitoring a voice communication and for determining, based on the content of said voice communication, whether said voice communication is of interest; and

a comparator for comparing, if said voice communication is of interest, a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said first memory and for, if the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor is found to match the individual providing the voice sample stored in said first memory, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor;

wherein said system may communicate information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

20. A method for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria, said predetermined criteria being at least one of;

a foreign national having a student visa, a foreign national having a visitors visa, and a foreign national having permanent resident alien status;

storing said voice sample in a first memory;

storing information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said first memory in a second memory;

monitoring a voice communication;

determining, based on the content of said voice communication, whether said voice communication is of interest,

comparing, if said voice communication is of interest, a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said first memory to determine whether the individual providing said voice sample obtained based on predetermined criteria matches the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

21. A system for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

a circuit for obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria;

a database for storing said voice sample and information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said database;

a monitor for monitoring a voice communication and for determining, based on the content of said voice communication, whether said voice communication is of interest; and

a processor for comparing, if said voice communication is of interest, a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said database and for, if the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor is found to match the individual providing the voice sample stored in said database, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor;

wherein said system may communicate information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.

22. A method for monitoring individuals using voice samples, comprising:

obtaining a voice sample of an individual based on predetermined criteria;

storing said voice sample in a database;

storing in said database information relating to an individual whose voice sample has been stored in said database;

monitoring a voice communication;

determining, based on the content of said voice communication, whether said voice communication is of interest,

comparing, if said voice communication is of interest, a voice sample obtained by said monitor with a voice sample stored in said database to determine whether the individual providing said voice sample stored in said database matches the individual providing the voice sample obtained by said monitor and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found to an appropriate authority based on content of the monitored communication.