Bio-phonetic multi-phrase speaker identity verification

• US 9,236,051 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2009
• Issued: 01/12/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 02/13/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Chang, Hisao M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Opsasnick, Michael N
• Application Number:
  US12/490,836
• Publication Number:
  US 20090259470A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,393 Days
• Field of Search: 704/246, 704/247, 704/250, 704/273, 379/88.01, 379/88.02
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/04 Training, enrolment or model building
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/14 Use of phonemic categorisation or speech recognition prior to speaker recognition or verification
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/22 Interactive procedures; Man-machine interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/24 the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase
• CPC Class Codes: G10L 17/26 Recognition of special voice characteristics, e.g. for use in lie detectors; Recognition of animal voices

Abstract

Systems and methods for bio-phonetic multi-phrase speaker identity verification are disclosed. Generally, a speaker identity verification engine generates a dynamic phrase including at least one dynamically-generated word. The speaker identity verification engine prompts a user to speak the dynamic phrase and receives a dynamic phrase utterance. The speaker identity verification engine extracts at least one voice characteristic from the dynamic phrase utterance and compares the at least one voice characteristic with a voice profile the generate a score. The speaker identity verification engine then determines whether to accept a speaker identity claim based on the score.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving private data, the private data (1) comprising private time-sensitive data associated with activities of a user, and (2) being stored in a computer system;

generating an alphanumeric word using the private data;

prompting the user to speak the alpha-numeric word;

extracting a voice feature from a received phrase in response to the prompting;

comparing, via a processor, the voice feature with a voice profile, to yield a comparison; and

determining whether to accept a speaker identity based on the comparison.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the received phrase.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises biographical data associated with the user, wherein the biographical data comprises a place of birth of the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises geographical data associated with the user, wherein the geographical data comprises a home address of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises email data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the user to speak the first dynamic phrase comprises:

transmitting a query to the user, wherein an answer to the query comprises the alpha-numeric phrase.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to accept the speaker identity comprises:

rejecting the speaker identity when a score based on the comparison of the voice feature with the voice profile indicates a low confidence level.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising tagging the alpha-numeric phrase as being attempted by an imposter.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether to accept the speaker identity comprises:

accepting the speaker identity when a score based on the comparison indicates a high confidence level.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the data associated with the user is inaccessible to the user.

10. A computer-readable storage device having instructions stored which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

receiving private data, the private data (1) comprising private time-sensitive data associated with activities of a user, and (2) being stored in a computer system;

generating an alphanumeric word using the private data;

prompting the user to speak the alpha-numeric word;

extracting a voice feature from a received phrase in response to the prompting;

comparing the voice feature with a voice profile, to yield a comparison; and

determining whether to accept a speaker identity based on the comparison.

11. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises biographical data associated with the user, wherein the biographical data comprises a place of birth of the user.

12. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises geographical data associated with the user, wherein the geographical data comprises a home address of the user.

13. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein the private data associated with the user comprises email data.

14. The computer-readable storage device of claim 10, wherein prompting the user to speak the alpha-numeric phrase comprises:

transmitting a query to the user, wherein an answer to the query comprises the alpha-numeric phrase.

15. A system comprising:

a processor; and

a computer-readable storage medium having instructions stored which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving private data, the private data (1) comprising private time-sensitive data associated with activities of a user, and (2) being stored in a computer system;

generating an alphanumeric word using the private data;

prompting the user to speak the alpha-numeric word;

extracting a voice feature from a received phrase in response to the prompting;

comparing the voice feature with a voice profile, to yield a comparison; and

determining whether to accept a speaker identity based on the comparison of the voice feature with the voice profile.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises biographical data associated with the user, wherein the biographical data comprises a place of birth of the user.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the private data associated with the user further comprises geographical data associated with the user, wherein the geographical data comprises a home address of the user.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the private data associated with the user comprises calendar data.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein prompting the user to speak the alpha-numeric phrase comprises transmitting a query to a user, wherein an answer to the query comprises the alpha-numeric phrase.