Advanced audio CAPTCHA

• US 8,590,058 B2
• Filed: 07/31/2011
• Issued: 11/19/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arkose Labs Holdings Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Fisk, Frank Clay, Ramanathan, Sri, Terry, Matthew Adam, Trevathan, Matthew Bunkley
• Primary Examiner(s): PYZOCHA, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/194,974
• Publication Number:
  US 20130031641A1
• Time in Patent Office: 842 Days
• Field of Search: 726/28, 726/4, 726/22
• US Class Current: 726/28
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/31 User authentication
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2133 Verifying human interaction, e.g., Captcha

Abstract

A CAPTCHA challenge tool for determining if a user of a computer is a human or an automated program. The tool presents to the user a set of audio clips. At least a portion of the set of audio clips suggests a chronological sequence when organized correctly. The tool receives a suggested order from the user of the computer. If the suggested order matches the correct order, the tool assumes that the user is a human, if the suggested order does not match the correct order, the tool assumes the user is an automated program.

Claims

1. A method for determining if a user of a computer system is a human or an automated program, the method comprising the steps of:

a computer system receiving a request for a Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), and in response, the computer system selecting a plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related and defines a chronological order and the computer system selecting one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

the computer system presenting the plurality of audio clips and the one or more audio clips to the user in a random order;

the computer system receiving, from the user, a suggested order for the plurality of audio clips with zero or more audio clips of the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

the computer system determining whether the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips matches the defined chronological order, and in response, performing one of;

in response to determining that the suggested order matches the defined chronological order and that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are not included in the suggested order, determining that the user is a human; and

in response to a determining that the suggested order does not match the defined chronological order or that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are included in the suggested order, determining that the user is an automated program.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the computer system receiving the suggested order comprises:

for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related;

the computer system presenting the audio clip to the user a second time; and

the computer system receiving a suggested placement for the audio clip in the suggested order.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the computer system receiving the suggested order comprises:

the computer system receiving one or more words entered in text for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein the one or more words correspond to an object represented by the audio clip, and wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of the computer system receiving the suggested order comprises:

the computer system receiving one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising the computer system determining whether the one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related matches one or more words corresponding to an object represented by the audio clip.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

the computer system determining a level of complexity for the automated test; and

wherein the step of the computer system selecting the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related comprises the computer system selecting the plurality of audio clips based on the level of complexity.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the step of the computer system determining the level of complexity comprises the computer system determining the level of complexity based on one or more of:

an amount of previous determinations by the computer system that the user is an automated program, and an amount of times the user attempts, successfully or unsuccessfully, the automated test in a given period of time.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related is one or more sounds made by an object that suggests the identity of the object.

9. A computer program product for determining if a user of a computer system is a human or an automated program, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a request for a Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), and in response, select a plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related and defines a chronological order and select one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

program instructions to present the plurality of audio clips and the one or more audio clips to the user in a random order;

program instructions to receive, from the user, a suggested order for the plurality of audio clips with zero or more audio clips of the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

program instructions to determine whether the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips matches the defined chronological order;

in response to a determination that the suggested order matches the defined chronological order and that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are not included in the suggested order, program instructions to determine that the user is a human; and

in response to a determination that the suggested order does not match the defined chronological order or that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are included in the suggested order, program instructions to determine that the user is an automated program.

10. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related;

present the audio clip a second time to the user; and

receive a suggested placement for the audio clip in the suggested order.

11. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

receive one or more words entered in text for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein the one or more words correspond to an object represented by the audio clip, and wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

12. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

receive one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine whether the one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related matches one or more words corresponding to an object represented by the audio clip.

14. The computer program product of claim 9, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices, to determine a level of complexity for the automated test;

and

wherein the program instructions to select the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, select the plurality of audio clips based on the level of complexity.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the program instructions to determine the level of complexity, determine the level of complexity based on one or more of:

an amount of previous determinations that the user is an automated program, and an amount of times the user attempts, successfully or unsuccessfully, the automated test in a given period of time.

16. The computer program product of claim 9, wherein each audio clip of the plurality of the audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related is one or more sounds made by an object that suggests the identity of the object.

17. A computer system for determining if a user of a computer is a human or an automated program, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices and program instructions which are stored on the one or more storage devices for execution by the one or more processors via the one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to receive a request for a Completely Automated Public Turing Test to Tell Computers and Humans Apart (CAPTCHA), and in response, select a plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related and defines a chronological order and select one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

program instructions to present the plurality of audio clips and the one or more audio clips to the user in a random order;

program instructions to receive, from the user, a suggested order for the plurality of audio clips with zero or more audio clips of the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips;

program instructions to determine whether the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips matches the defined chronological order;

in response to a determination that the suggested order matches the defined chronological order and that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are not included in the suggested order, program instructions to determine that the user is a human; and

in response to a determination that the suggested order does not match the defined chronological order or that the one or more audio clips having subject matter that is not chronologically related to the plurality of audio clips are included in the suggested order, program instructions to determine that the user is an automated program.

18. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related;

present the audio clip a second time; and

receive a suggested placement for the audio clip in the suggested order.

19. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

receive one or more words entered in text for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein the one or more words correspond to an object represented by the audio clip, and wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

20. The computer system of claim 17, wherein the program instructions to receive the suggested order:

receive one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, wherein an order in which the one or more words for each audio clip are received is the suggested order for the plurality of audio clips.

21. The computer system of claim 20, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine whether the one or more words of recorded audio for each audio clip of the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related matches one or more words corresponding to an object represented by the audio clip.

22. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising program instructions, stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, to determine a level of complexity for the automated test;

and

wherein the program instructions to select the plurality of audio clips having subject matter that is chronologically related, select the plurality of audio clips based on the level of complexity.