System and method for unlocking a device

• US 9,059,991 B2
• Filed: 06/15/2009
• Issued: 06/16/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Original Assignee: BCE Incorporated
• Inventors: Clark, David, Arsenault, Jonathan, Fortier, Stephane
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu, Michael T
• Application Number:
  US13/142,674
• Publication Number:
  US 20110275348A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,192 Days
• Field of Search: 455410-411, 455/269, 455/563, 455/575, 455/422, 704/255, 704/273, 704/270.1, 704/270, 704/231, 704/275, 704/235, 704/246
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/32 using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/18 Processing of user or subscriber data, e.g. subscribed services, user preferences or user profiles; Transfer of user or subscriber data

Abstract

A system for unlocking a mobile device including: an input module configured to receive voice information; an output module configured to output an unlock signal; a processor connected to the input module and output module and configured to: receive the voice information from the input module; analyze the voice information; determine if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile; and if there is a match, send an unlock signal to the mobile device via an output module. A method for unlocking a mobile device including: receiving voice information from the mobile device; analyzing the voice information; determining if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile; and if there is a match, sending an unlock signal to the mobile device.

Claims

1. A method for unlocking a mobile device comprising:

receiving, at a server, voice information from the mobile device;

analyzing the voice information at the server;

determining if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile, wherein the voice profile is associated with multiple mobile devices; and

if there is a match, sending, via a network, an unlock signal to the mobile device and sending, via the network, user information to the mobile device, the user information revealing information about the user associated with the matched voice profile;

wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the voice information with a plurality of predetermined voice profiles stored in a database; and

determining if there is a match between the voice information and at least one of the plurality of predetermined voice profiles.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising receiving mobile device information and wherein the determining further comprises determining if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile that is associated with the received mobile device information.

3. The method according to claim 2, wherein there are a plurality of predetermined voice profiles associated with the mobile device information.

4. A system for unlocking a mobile device comprising:

an input module, at a server, configured to receive voice information;

an output module, at the server, configured to output an unlock signal via a network;

a processor, at the server, connected to the input module and output module and configured to;

receive the voice information from the input module;

analyze the voice information;

determine if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile, wherein the voice profile is associated with multiple mobile devices; and

if there is a match, having the output module send, via the network, an unlock signal to the mobile device and send, via the network, user information to the mobile device, the user information revealing information about the user associated with the matched voice profile;

wherein the processor is configured to determine if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile by;

comparing the voice information with a plurality of predetermined voice profiles stored in a database; and

determining if there is a match between the voice information and at least one of the plurality of predetermined voice profiles.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein the input module is further configured to receive mobile device information and wherein the processor is further configured to receive the mobile device information and determine if the analyzed voice information matches with a predetermined voice profile that is associated with the received mobile device information.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein there are a plurality of predetermined voice profiles associated with the mobile device information.

7. A method for unlocking a mobile device comprising:

receiving a wake command at the mobile device to activate the mobile device to a listen state for connection to a voice authentication server;

connecting to the voice authentication server through a network;

receiving voice information at the mobile device;

sending the voice information from the mobile device to the voice authentication server;

waiting for an unlock signal from the voice authentication server, wherein the voice information is associable to unlock multiple mobile devices; and

if an unlock signal is received, allowing access to the mobile device,

wherein user information revealing information about the user associated with the matched voice profile is provided with the unlock signal;

wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the voice information with a plurality of predetermined voice profiles stored in a database; and

determining if there is a match between the voice information and at least one of the plurality of predetermined voice profiles.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein the allowing access comprises loading a user profile associated with the user information.

9. The method according to claim 7, further comprising sending mobile device information to the voice authentication server substantially simultaneously with the sending of the voice information.

10. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wake command is a user-issued voice command.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wake command is a physical movement of the mobile device from a not in use position to a second position.

12. The method according to claim 7, wherein the wake command and the voice information are received as a single command.

13. A system for unlocking a mobile device comprising:

an input module configured to receive information from a user of the mobile device;

a communications module configure to send and receive information between the mobile device and a network; and

a processor connected to the input module and the communications module and configured to;

receive a wake up command from the input module to activate the mobile device to a listen state for connection to a voice authentication server;

connect to the voice authentication server through the network;

receive voice information from the input module;

send the voice information from the mobile device to the voice authentication server,

wherein the voice information is associable to unlock multiple mobile devices;

wait for an unlock signal from the voice authentication server; and

if an unlock signal is received, allow access to the mobile device,

wherein user information revealing information about the user associated with the matched voice profile is provided with the unlock signal;

wherein the determining comprises;

comparing the voice information with a plurality of predetermined voice profiles stored in a database; and

determining if there is a match between the voice information and at least one of the plurality of predetermined voice profiles.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the allowing access comprises the processor loading a user profile associated with the user information.

15. The system according to claim 13, wherein the processor is further configured to send mobile device information to the voice authentication server substantially simultaneously with the sending of the voice information.