Voice phone-based method and system to authenticate users

• US 8,976,943 B2
• Filed: 09/25/2012
• Issued: 03/10/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: eBay Inc.
• Inventors: Tonini, Will
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US13/626,802
• Publication Number:
  US 20130022180A1
• Time in Patent Office: 896 Days
• Field of Search: 235/382, 379/88.02, 379/88.03, 379/201.01, 455/410, 455/411, 455/563, 455/567, 704/9, 704/246, 704/247, 704/273, 704/270.1, 705/39, 705/44, 705/2, 709/225, 709/204, 709/206, 713/187, 726/4, 348/333.01, 446/404, 715/746
• US Class Current: 379/88.02
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/10 specially adapted for electronic funds transfer [EFT] systems; specially adapted for home banking systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/305 using wired telephone networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/325 using wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40 Authorisation, e.g. identification of payer or payee, verification of customer or shop credentials; Review and approval of payers, e.g. check credit lines or negative lists
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/40145 Biometric identity checks
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/02 Banking, e.g. interest calculation or account maintenance credit or loans G06Q40/03
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/24 the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase

Abstract

Provided is a method and a telephone-based system with voice-verification capabilities that enable a user to safely and securely conduct transactions with his or her online financial transaction program account over the phone in a convenient and user-friendly fashion, without having to depend on an internet connection.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

outputting a non-verbal sound from a user device when a user calls a phone number, wherein the non-verbal sound is based on the user;

receiving a vocal response from the user through the user device in response to the non-verbal sound;

outputting an error message from the user device when the vocal response from the user does not match a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

outputting a message from the user device indicating user authentication when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-verbal sound is randomly selected from a plurality of non-verbal sounds associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-verbal sound is based on a phone number which the user calls from and a numerical code.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the message comprises access to a user account.

5. The method of claim 3, wherein the phone number which the user calls from is provided by the user in response to a query.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

7. The method of claim 3, wherein the non-verbal sound is outputted only if the phone number and numerical code correspond to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the message the user a menu to select from a plurality of service options.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the plurality of service options comprises:

enabling a user to perform a balance inquiry;

enabling a user to pay for purchases;

enabling a user to conduct a money transfer;

enabling a user to receive money;

or

enabling a user to exit and disconnect the call.

10. A non-transitory computer readable medium comprising a plurality of machine-readable instructions which when executed by one or more processors are adapted to perform a method comprising:

outputting a non-verbal sound from a user device when a user calls a phone number, wherein the non-verbal sound is based on the user;

receiving a vocal response from the user through the user device in response to the non-verbal sound;

outputting an error message from the user device when the vocal response from the user does not match a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

outputting a message from the user device indicating user authentication when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the non-verbal sound is randomly selected from a plurality of non-verbal sounds associated with the user.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the non-verbal sound is based on a phone number which the user calls from and a numerical code.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the message comprises access to a user account.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the phone number which the user calls from is provided by the user in response to a query.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 12, wherein the non-verbal sound is outputted only if the phone number and numerical code correspond to the user.

17. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 10, wherein the message the user a menu to select from a plurality of service options.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the plurality of service options comprises:

enabling a user to perform a balance inquiry;

enabling a user to pay for purchases;

enabling a user to conduct a money transfer;

enabling a user to receive money;

or

enabling a user to exit and disconnect the call.

19. A system comprising:

a memory storing information about a user account, wherein the information comprises a non-verbal sound associated with a user of the user account; and

one or more hardware processors in communication with the memory and configured to perform;

receiving a call from a user through a user device, wherein the call includes information about the user;

determining a non-verbal sound based on the information;

causing the non-verbal sound to be output from the user device;

receiving a vocal response from the user through the user device in response to the non-verbal sound;

causing an error message to be output from the user device when the vocal response from the user does not match a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

causing a message to be output from the user device indicating user authentication when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

20. The system of claim 19, wherein the information comprises a phone number associated with an account of the user.