Confirming identity of telephone caller

Claim 3

A method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising the steps of receiving, at the second station, data corresponding to a signature from the first station, and storing, in a signal cache at the second station, the data corresponding to the signature.

Claim 8

A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the step of confirming the authorization comprises storing an authorization signal in a transaction database at the second station.

Claim 9

A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the subsequent transaction comprises a financial transaction.

Claim 10

A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's valid signature.

Claim 13

A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the signal representing the signature comprises a spoken password.

Claim 14

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the step of digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature comprises digitizing the signal and extracting a block of voice print data characteristic of a voice print of the possible user.

Claim 15

A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the steps of receiving, via the public telephone system, at a plurality of second stations, respective telephone calls each comprising signals representing (i) a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user and (ii) a voice signal or a tone signal representing caller identification information for the possible user, digitally signal processing, at each of the plurality of second stations, the signals received at each of the plurality of second stations, and based on signature data communicated via a plurality of telephone lines from the first station to respective ones of the plurality of second stations either before or after the respective telephone calls, testing the signal representing the signature of the possible user against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information sent from the first station and received at the respective second stations.

Claim 16

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the signal representing the signature of the possible user is distinct from the signal representing the caller identification information.

Claim 17

A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the caller identification information identifies an account of the user.

Claim 18

A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of directing the signal representing the signature to a speaker verification unit in a manner such that the signal representing the signature is isolated from access by other persons, the speaker verification unit performing the step of digital signal processing the signal representing the signature.

Claim 19

A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the step of testing the signal representing the signature of the possible user against the valid signature comprises communicating with a digital data processing system at the first station, the digital data processing system comprising a database in which data corresponding to the valid signatures and to the caller identification information is stored.

Claim 20

A method in accordance with claim 8, further comprising the step of reporting, at the second station, whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user mismatches the valid signature to a level necessary to establish a mismatch, and whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature to a level insufficient to establish a match but also insufficient to establish a mismatch.

Claim 21

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user, and for digitally signal processing the voice signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to cause a digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the first station for future reference, and wherein: the processor comprises a signal cache, the processor is programmed to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the signal cache for future reference, and the processor is programmed to receive from the signal cache the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and to transmit the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to the first station to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to be stored in the first station for future reference.

Claim 22

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user, and for digitally signal processing the voice signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to cause a digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the first station for future reference, and wherein: the processor comprises a signal cache, the processor is programmed to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the signal cache for future reference, and the processor is programmed to receive from the signal cache the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and to transmit the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to the first station to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to be stored in the first station for future reference.

Claim 23

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 24

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 25

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficient to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's valid signature.

Claim 26

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficient to identify said person as being one of said authorized users, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a voice signal representing a signature of a possible user and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's valid signature.

Claim 27

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the signal representing the signature comprises a spoken password.

Claim 28

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the signal representing the signature comprises human speech, and the speaker verification unit comprises digitization circuitry arranged to digitize the signal representing the signature and voice print extraction circuitry arranged to extract, from a digitized signal produced by the digitization circuitry, a block of voice print data characteristic of a voice print of the possible user.

Claim 29

A system in accordance with claim 19, comprising a plurality of second processing stations located at differing remote locations, each second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a signal representing a signature of a possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via one of a plurality of telephone lines between the first station and respective ones of the plurality of second stations, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before or after the telephone call in order to permit the signal representing the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information sent from the first station and, received at the processor.

Claim 30

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the signal representing the signature of the possible user is distinct from the signal representing the caller identification information.

Claim 31

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the caller identification information identifies an account of the user.

Claim 32

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the second station further comprises an automatic call direction unit adapted to direct the signal representing the signature of the possible user to the speaker verification unit.

Claim 33

A system in accordance with claim 25, wherein the automatic call direction unit is adapted to direct the signal representing the signature to the speaker verification unit in a manner such that the signal is isolated from access by other persons.

Claim 34

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor located at the second station is programmed to using the caller identification information in a first protocol compatible with the digital data processing system located at the second station, and to communicate with the first station via the telephone line between the first station and second station in a second protocol compatible with the first station.

Claim 35

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor communicates with the first station by communicating with a digital data processing system at the first station, the digital data processing system comprising a database in which the data corresponding to the valid signatures and to the caller identification information is stored.

Claim 36

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to indentify each of said authorized users as being an authorized user, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a signal representing a signature of a possible user wherein the signal representing the signature comprises a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 37

An information processing system for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call is one of a plurality of authorized users of the system, comprising a first processing station, arranged for storing, prior to the call, data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for each of said authorized users, said valid signature and said caller identification information being sufficent to indentify each of said authorized users as being an authorized user, and a second processing station located at a remote location, the second station comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call comprising a signal representing a signature of a possible user wherein the signal representing the signature comprises a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, connected to the speaker verification unit and adapted for connection to the first station via a telephone line between the first station and the second station, programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature signal for the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 38

A system in accordance with claim 29, wherein the second station is programmed to report whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user mismatches the valid signature to a level necessary to establish a mismatch, and whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature a level insufficient to establish a match but also insufficient to establish a mismatch.

Claim 39

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 40

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's caller identification information.

Claim 41

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's valid signature.

Claim 42

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, wherein the processor is programmed to confirm authorization of the possible user to engage in a subsequent transaction, the authorization being confirmed if and only if the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature, and wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data corresponding to the user's valid signature.

Claim 43

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the signal representing the signature comprises human speech, and the speaker verification unit comprises digitization circuitry arranged to digitize the signal representing the signature and voice print extraction circuitry arranged to extract, from a digitized signal produced by the digitization circuitry,a block of voice print data characteristic of a voice print of the possible user.

Claim 44

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the signal representing the signature of the possible user is distinct from the signal representing the caller identification information.

Claim 45

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the caller identification information identifies an account of the user.

Claim 46

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, further comprising an automatic call direction unit adapted to direct the signal representing the signature of the possible user to the speaker verification unit.

Claim 47

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 36, wherein the automatic call direction unit is adapted to direct the signal representing the signature to the speaker verification unit in a manner such that the signal is isolated from access by other persons.

Claim 48

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the processor is programmed to using the caller identification information in a first protocol compatible with the digital data processing system, and to communicate with the database station via the telephone line between the database station and the signal processing station in a second protocol compatible with the database station.

Claim 49

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the processor comprises a signal cache, and the processor is programmed to receive data from the database station corresponding to a signature, and to store the data corresponding to the signature in the signal cache.

Claim 50

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the processor is programmed to cause a digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the first station for future reference.

Claim 51

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 40, wherein the processor comprises a signal cache, the processor is programmed to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and produced by the speaker verification unit to be stored in the signal cache for future reference, and the processor is programmed to receive from the signal cache the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user and to transmit the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to the database station to cause the digitally processed signal representing the signature of the possible user to be stored in the database station for future reference.

Claim 52

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the processor communicates with the database station by communicating with a digital data processing system at the database station, the digital data processing system comprising a database in which the data corresponding to valid signatures and to the caller identification information is stored.

Claim 53

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, and wherein the signal processing station is programmed to store a value indicating a level of matching between the signal representing the signature of the possible user and the valid signature, and to report whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature to the level necessary to establish a match.

Claim 54

A signal processing station for processing information, comprising a speaker verification unit, adapted for receiving, via the public telephone system, a telephone call from a possible user comprising a signal representing a signature of the possible user wherein the signal is comprised of a voice signal or a tone signal, and for digitally signal processing the signal representing the signature, and a processor, adapted for connection to the speaker verification unit, and adapted for connection to a database station via a telephone line between the signal processing station and the database station, the database station being arranged for storing data corresponding to a valid signature and to caller identification information for respective users, the processor being programmed to receive caller identification information for the possible user and to receive a digitally processed signature signal for the possible user from the speaker verification unit, and programmed to participate in a communication of signature data via a telephone line from the first station to the second station either before the telephone call or after the telephone call, in order to permit the signature of the possible user to be tested against the valid signature of the authorized user whose caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification information received at the processor, and wherein the signal processing station is programmed to store a value indicating a level of matching between the signal representing the signature of the possible user and the valid signature, and to report whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature to the level necessary to establish a match.

Claim 55

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 43, wherein the signal processing station is programmed to report whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user mismatches the valid signature to a level necessary to establish a mismatch, and whether the signal representing the signature of the possible user matches the valid signature to a level insufficient to establish a match but also insufficient to establish a mismatch.

Claim 56

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the processor comprises a transaction database, and the processor confirms the authorization by storing an authorization signal in the transaction database.

Claim 57

A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the subsequent transaction comprises a financial transaction.

Claim 58

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the processor comprises a transaction database, and the processor confirms the authorization by storing an authorization signal in the transaction database.

Claim 59

A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the subsequent transaction comprises a financial transaction.