Voice phone-based method and system to authenticate users

• US 9,818,115 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2015
• Issued: 11/14/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/28/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: PayPal, Inc. (PayPal Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tonini, Will
• Primary Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US14/621,226
• Publication Number:
  US 20150213453A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,006 Days
• Field of Search: 235382, 379 8802, 379 8822, 379 87, 379 9102, 4554122, 704246, 704273, 704275, 705 2608, 705 44, 709229, 726 7
• 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:

playing, through an audio output device of a communication device, a non-verbal sound during a call by a user from the communication device, wherein the non-verbal sound is selected based on information about the user;

comparing, using a voice recognition process of an interactive voice response system, a vocal response, received from the user using the communication device in response to the non-verbal sound, to a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound;

authenticating the user when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response;

in response to authenticating the user, receiving an identifier associated with a transaction from the user that is input through the communication device during the call; and

processing the transaction based on the identifier.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier corresponds to a purchase from a merchant.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier corresponds to a recipient of funds from the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifier corresponds to a sender of funds to the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is a merchant.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a security identifier prior to the playing.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the non-verbal sound is randomly selected from a plurality of non-verbal sounds associated with the user for the interactive voice response system, and wherein each of the plurality of non-verbal sounds are associated with one of a plurality of vocal responses set by the user for the each of the plurality of non-verbal sounds.

8. 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.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein transaction comprises one of:

performing a balance inquiry;

paying for purchases;

conducting a money transfer;

or

receiving money.

11. A non-transitory machine-readable medium having stored thereon machine-readable instructions executable to cause a machine to perform operations comprising:

playing, through an audio output device of a communication device, a non-verbal sound during a call by a user from communication device, wherein the non-verbal sound is selected based on information about the user;

comparing, using a voice recognition process of an interactive voice response system, a vocal response, received from the user using the communication device in response to the non-verbal sound, to a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound;

authenticating the user when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response;

in response to authenticating the user, receiving an identifier associated with a transaction from the user that is input through the communication device during the call; and

processing the transaction based on the identifier.

12. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier corresponds to a purchase from a merchant.

13. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier corresponds to a recipient of funds from the user.

14. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the identifier corresponds to a sender of funds to the user.

15. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the user is a merchant.

16. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a security identifier prior to the playing.

17. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the non-verbal sound is randomly selected from a plurality of non-verbal sounds associated with the user for the interactive voice response system, and wherein each of the plurality of non-verbal sounds are associated with one of a plurality of vocal responses set by the user for the each of the plurality of non-verbal sounds.

18. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the non-verbal sound is based on a phone number which the user calls from and a numerical code.

19. The non-transitory machine-readable medium of claim 11, wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein transaction comprises one of:

performing a balance inquiry;

paying for purchases;

conducting a money transfer;

or

receiving money.