US5365574A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Telephone network voice recognition and verification using selectively-adjustable signal thresholds
Assignee: Nuance Communications Inc
•
Filing: 1992-11-25
•
Granted: 1994-11-15
•
Expires: 2012-11-25
Abstract
Abstract A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password is described. The method begins by establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal. For each spoken character of the password, the method generates a set of parameters using a voice verification feature transformation. After entry and recognition of the password, the sets of parameters are used to generate a speaker verification signal for the password. Upon the occurrence of a predetermined call condition, the predetermined threshold value is adjusted to increase the level of security in the verification algorithm. If the signal verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, the caller's identity is accepted. If not, the caller may be asked to answer certain personal questions before his or her identity is accepted.
Inventors
- 👤 Alan K. Hunt
- 👤 Thomas B. Schalk
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 23:50
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F21/00; G06F21/30; G06F21/31; G06F21/32; G06F21/40; G06F21/70; G06F21/82; G06F21/83; G07; G07C; G07C9/00; G07C9/30; G07C9/32; G07C9/33; G07C9/37; G10; G10L; G10L17/00; G10L17/22; G10L17/24; H; H04; H04M; H04M3/00; H04M3/38; H04M3/382; G06F2221/00; G06F2221/21; G06F2221/2105; G06F2221/2113; G06F2221/2117; H04M2201/00; H04M2201/40
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 11
Claim 1
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password having a plurality of characters, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal; generating first and second sets of parameters for each spoken character using a voice recognition feature transformation and a voice verification feature transformation, respectively, the first sets of parameters for use in a voice recognition system and the second sets of parameters for use in a voice verification system; recognizing the password using the first sets of parameters; following entry of the password, using the second sets of parameters to generate a speaker verification signal for the password; adjusting the predetermined threshold value upon a predetermined call condition; determining whether the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value; and if the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 2
Independent Claim
175 words
A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password having a plurality of characters, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal; generating first and second sets of parameters for each spoken character using a voice recognition feature transformation and a voice verification feature transformation, respectively, the first sets of parameters for use in a voice recognition system and the second sets of parameters for use in a voice verification system; recognizing the password using the first sets of parameters; following entry of the password, using the second sets of parameters to generate a speaker verification signal for the password; adjusting the predetermined threshold value upon a predetermined call condition; determining whether the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value; and if the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as described in claim 1 further including the steps of: if the speaker verification signal for the password does not have the predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, prompting the caller to answer at least one personal question associated with the password; determining whether the question is answered correctly; and if the question is answered correctly, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 2 further including the step of: if the question is answered incorrectly, rejecting the caller's identity.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the predetermined call condition is a request to access a predetermined one of the services.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the predetermined call condition is a request for a particular transaction in connection with one of the services.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method as described in claim 1 wherein the predetermined call condition is the receipt of a call from a predetermined calling station.
Claim 8
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password having a plurality of characters, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal; generating a set of parameters for each spoken character using a voice verification feature transformation, the set of parameters for use in a voice verification system; following entry and recognition of the password, using the sets of parameters to generate a speaker verification signal for the password; adjusting the predetermined threshold value upon a predetermined call condition; determining whether the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value; and if the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 9
Independent Claim
144 words
A method for enabling a caller to obtain access to one or more services via a telephone network by speaking a password having a plurality of characters, comprising the steps of: establishing at least one predetermined threshold value for a speaker verification signal; generating a set of parameters for each spoken character using a voice verification feature transformation, the set of parameters for use in a voice verification system; following entry and recognition of the password, using the sets of parameters to generate a speaker verification signal for the password; adjusting the predetermined threshold value upon a predetermined call condition; determining whether the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value; and if the speaker verification signal for the password has a predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
65 words
The method as described in claim 7 further including the steps of: if the speaker verification signal for the password does not have the predetermined relationship with respect to the adjusted threshold value, prompting the caller to answer at least one personal question associated with the password; determining whether the question is answered correctly; and if the question is answered correctly, accepting the caller's identity.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method as described in claim 8 further including the step of: if the question is answered incorrectly, rejecting the caller's identity.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3896266A
Cited
US4363102A
Cited
US4757525A
Cited
US4694493A
Cited
US4910782A
Cited
US4850005A
Cited
US4959855A
Cited
US4827518A
Cited
US4853953A
Cited
WO1989010612A1
Cited
US5267299A
Cited
US5274695A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1997-11-14 | 1998-05-16 | 1998-11-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2001-11-14 | 2002-05-16 | 2002-11-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2005-11-14 | 2006-05-16 | 2006-11-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |