System and method for monitoring individuals

• US 7,634,063 B2
• Filed: 01/02/2003
• Issued: 12/15/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 01/02/2003
• 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): Woo; Stella L
• Application Number:
  US10/335,155
• Publication Number:
  US 20040131160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,539 Days
• Field of Search: 379/38, 379/35, 379/32.01, 379/32.04, 379/88.02, 705/18, 704/273, 340/573.1
• US Class Current: 379/38
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/04 for providing a confidential data exchange among entities communicating through data packet networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0861 using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles

Abstract

A system and method for monitoring individuals using voice print matching to match previously stored unidentified speech samples with known voice prints is disclosed. Voice prints of unidentified individuals are obtained and stored in a central repository for use by authorized agencies or other entities that monitor voice communications, such as, for example, 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. Voice prints of known individuals are taken by authorized agencies based on predetermined criteria. When these known voice prints are being obtained, they are compared to the unidentified voice prints in the database, and if a match is found, the monitor is notified, and put in communication with the agency taking the voice print for further action as appropriate.

Claims

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

a monitor for covertly monitoring a voice communication without requiring receipt of personal identification information of an individual being monitored;

circuitry for extracting a voice sample from said covertly monitored voice communication;

a memory for storing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication;

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

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

a comparator for comparing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and stored in said memory with said known voice sample and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

wherein said system is capable of communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found, said information including the identity of the individual for whom a match is found, to an appropriate authority based on the identity of the individual and content of the covertly monitored communication spoken by the identified individual.

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

3. A system according to claim 2, 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 comparator is a computer-based processor.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and said known voice sample is capable of being stored as digital phonemic representations.

6. A system according to claim 1, wherein said circuitry for extracting a voice sample from said covertly monitored voice communication includes at least one software component.

12. A system according to claim 1, wherein said circuit for obtaining a known voice sample of an individual includes at least one software component.

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

covertly monitoring a voice communication without requiring receipt of personal identification information of an individual being monitored;

extracting a voice sample from said covertly monitored voice communication;

storing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication in a memory;

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

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

comparing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and stored in said memory with said know voice sample, 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, said information including the identity of the individual for whom a match is found, to an appropriate authority based on the identity of the individual and content of the covertly monitored communication spoken by the identified individual.

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

outputting information from said 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 know 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, wherein said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and said known voice sample are stored as digital phonemic representations.

13. A system for monitoring individuals using digital voice prints, comprising:

a monitor for covertly monitoring a voice communication without requiring receipt of personal identification information of an individual being monitored;

a database for storing a voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication;

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

a processor for comparing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and stored by said monitor with said known voice sample and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

wherein said system is capable of communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found, said information including the identity of the individual for whom a match is found, to an appropriate authority based on the identity of the individual and content of the covertly monitored communication spoken by the identified individual.

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

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

15. A system according to claim 13, wherein said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and said known voice sample are capable of being stored as digital phonemic representations.

16. A system for monitoring individuals using digital voice prints, comprising:

a monitor for covertly monitoring a voice communication without requiring receipt of personal identification information of an individual being monitored;

circuitry for extracting a voice sample from said covertly monitored voice communication;

a memory for storing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication;

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

a comparator for comparing said voice sample extracted from said covertly monitored voice communication and stored in said memory with said known voice sample and, if a match is found, outputting an indication that a match has been found to said monitor; and

wherein said system is capable of communicating information regarding an individual for whom a match is found, said information including the identity of the individual for whom a match is found, to an appropriate authority based on the identity of the individual and content of the covertly monitored communication spoken by the identified individual.