Apparatus and method for verifying transactions using voice print

• US 8,095,369 B1
• Filed: 03/23/2010
• Issued: 01/10/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/09/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Red Hat, Inc. (International Business Machines Corporation)
• Original Assignee: West Corporation
• Inventors: McIntosh, Jonathan P, Currey, Terrance
• Primary Examiner(s): MCFADDEN, SUSAN IRIS
• Application Number:
  US12/730,006
• Time in Patent Office: 658 Days
• Field of Search: 704/273, 379/88.02
• US Class Current: 704/273
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/04 Payment circuits
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/00 Speaker identification or verification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/06 Decision making techniques; Pattern matching strategies
• 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 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42136 Administration or customisation of services
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

A system, apparatus, and method for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant is authorized to use an associated account. An exemplary embodiment of the apparatus may include a voice response unit, a storage medium, and a voice print comparator The voice response unit may be configured to obtain a test voice print during a transaction between the consumer and the merchant. The storage medium may be configured to store an account number associated with the consumer, and a control voice print associated with the account number. Also, the voice print comparator may be configured to receive the control voice print associated with the account number, compare the test voice print to the control voice print, and to return a match level signal indicating a degree of match therebetween. From the match, the merchant may decide whether the consumer is authorized to use the account.

Claims

1. An apparatus for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant using an account is authorized to use the account, the apparatus comprising:

a voice response unit configured to obtain a test voice print during a transaction between the consumer and the merchant;

a storage medium configured to store an account number associated with the consumer, and a control voice print associated with the account number; and

a voice print comparator configured to receive the control voice print associated with the account number, compare the test voice print to the control voice print, and to return a match level signal indicating a degree of match therebetween;

wherein the voice response unit is further configured to notify the merchant whether the consumer is authorized to use the account, the verification signal being responsive to the match level signal.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the transaction is a telephone-based transaction.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the consumer is seeking to conduct a credit card transaction, and wherein the voice response unit is configured to obtain the test voice print associated with a holder of a credit card account.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the voice response unit is configured to obtain the account number from a holder of the account or the merchant.

5. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the account number is a credit card account number.

6. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the voice response unit is configured to forward the account number and the voice sample to the storage medium.

7. The apparatus of claim 4, wherein the voice print comparator is further configured to obtain the control voice print associated with the account number and the test voice from the storage medium.

8. A computer-implemented method of verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant using an account is authorized to use the account, the method comprising:

obtaining a test voice print from the consumer during a transaction between the consumer and the merchant;

obtaining an account number for the account;

obtaining a control voice print associated with the account number;

comparing the control voice print to the test voice print;

identifying a level of match between the control voice print and the test voice print; and

dispositioning at least one transaction in response to the level of match.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the transaction is a telephone-based transaction.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the consumer is seeking to conduct a credit card transaction, and wherein the test voice print is associated with a holder of a credit card account.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the account number is obtained from a holder of the account or the merchant.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the account number is a credit card account number.

13. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining the voice print and obtaining the account number are performed substantially during an account activation procedure.

14. The method of claim 8, wherein obtaining the account number includes obtaining a credit card account number.

15. The method of claim 8, wherein storing the voice print and the account number includes storing the voice print and the account number in a data structure so that the account number serves as a key field to facilitate search for and retrieval of the voice print.

16. A system for verifying that a consumer seeking to conduct a transaction with a merchant using an account is authorized to use the account, the system comprising:

a server having a non-transitory storage medium, the storage medium operable to store computer readable instructions which, when executed by the system;

obtain a test voice print from the consumer during a transaction between the consumer and the merchant;

obtain an account number for the account;

obtain a control voice print associated with the account number;

compare the control voice print to the test voice print;

identify a level of match between the control voice print and the test voice print; and

disposition at least one transaction in response to the level of match.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the transaction is a telephone-based transaction.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the consumer is seeking to conduct a credit card transaction, and wherein the test voice print is associated with a holder of a credit card account.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the account number is obtained from a holder of the account or the merchant.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein obtaining the test voice print and obtaining the account number are performed substantially during an account activation procedure.