US5907597A — Method and system for the secure communication of…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 93 words

A remote access system comprising: a generating device generating a predetermined signal; a transmitter transmitting said predetermined signal to a user communication device; a receiver receiving, from said user communication device, a response signal representing a response of a user of said communication device; an analyzer determining if said response signal includes a signal substantially identical to said predetermined signal previously transmitted by said transmitter; and a processor determining if said user is an authorized user based on the results of said determination and at least one other determination made by said analyzer.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 93 words

A remote access system comprising: a generating device generating a predetermined signal; a transmitter transmitting said predetermined signal to a user communication device; a receiver receiving, from said user communication device, a response signal representing a response of a user of said communication device; an analyzer determining if said response signal includes a signal substantially identical to said predetermined signal previously transmitted by said transmitter; and a processor determining if said user is an authorized user based on the results of said determination and at least one other determination made by said analyzer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 14 words

The remote access system of claim 1, wherein said predetermined signal relates to time.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 13 words

The remote access system of claim 1, said response signal including identification information.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 37 words

The remote access system of claim 1, said generating device further comprising: a timing module generating said predetermined signal, wherein said predetermined signal comprises a plurality of timing signals; and a memory module storing said timing signals.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The remote access system of claim 4, wherein said analyzer analyzes said response signal to determine if one of said plurality of timing signals is present and corresponds to a recently transmitted timing signal stored in memory.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 27 words

The remote access system of claim 1, wherein said analyzer determines whether said response signal comprises an instantaneously rendered verbal response or a previously recorded verbal response.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 15 words

The remote access system of claim 1, wherein said user communication device comprises a telephone.

Claim 9

Independent Claim 98 words

A method of performing user-verification comprising the steps of: transmitting to a user communication device from a user verification system a signal related to clock time; transmitting from said user communication device to said user verification system, a signal characteristic of a verbal response of a user of said user communication device; determining if said signal characteristic of a verbal response includes said signal related to clock time previously transmitted from said user verification system; and processing the results of said determining step and at least one other determination to determine if said user is an authorized user.

Claim 10

Independent Claim 98 words

A method of performing user-verification comprising the steps of: transmitting to a user communication device from a user verification system a signal related to clock time; transmitting from said user communication device to said user verification system, a signal characteristic of a verbal response of a user of said user communication device; determining if said signal characteristic of a verbal response includes said signal related to clock time previously transmitted from said user verification system; and processing the results of said determining step and at least one other determination to determine if said user is an authorized user.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 15 words

The method of performing user-verification of claim 8, said user communication device comprising a telephone.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 87 words

The method of performing user-verification of claim 8, wherein said step of examining said signal related to clock time further comprises: determining a clock time represented by said signal related to clock time; determining whether said clock time is different from a transmission time at which said user communication device transmitted to said user verification system said signal characteristic of a verbal response of an authorized user; and determining that said user is not an authorized user if said clock time is different from said transmission time.

Claim 13

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of using a user-authentication system to perform password sufficiency screening comprising: receiving a signal at a verification system representing a passphrase stated by a user; determining whether an impairment adversely affecting said signal exists in said communications medium; determining if an audio characteristic of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria, wherein said predetermined criteria is adjusted in response to the existence of an impairment in said communications medium; and validating said passphrase if said passphrase stated by a user satisfies said predetermined criteria.

Claim 14

Independent Claim 88 words

A method of using a user-authentication system to perform password sufficiency screening comprising: receiving a signal at a verification system representing a passphrase stated by a user; determining whether an impairment adversely affecting said signal exists in said communications medium; determining if an audio characteristic of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria, wherein said predetermined criteria is adjusted in response to the existence of an impairment in said communications medium; and validating said passphrase if said passphrase stated by a user satisfies said predetermined criteria.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 28 words

The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: determining if the spectral distribution and phonetic makeup of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 24 words

The method of claim 12, further comprising the steps of: determining if the cadence of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 73 words

The method of claim 11, further comprising the steps of: determining if the phonetic makeup of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria; determining if the spectral distribution of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria; determining if the cadence of said passphrase stated by a user satisfies predetermined criteria; and combining said determinations for phonetic makeup, spectral distribution, and cadence; and determining if said combination satisfies predetermined criteria.

Claim 18

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for performing user-verification comprising: transmitting from a user device a plurality of tone signals, said plurality of tone signals representing a telephone number; receiving said plurality of tone signals at a user-verification system; comparing said plurality of tone signals with stored tone signals previously received, said stored tone signals representing telephone numbers previously used by said user-device; determining if said plurality of tone signals match said stored tone signals; and determining whether a user is an authorized user in response to a match between said plurality of tone signals and said stored tone signals.

Claim 19

Independent Claim 96 words

A method for performing user-verification comprising: transmitting from a user device a plurality of tone signals, said plurality of tone signals representing a telephone number; receiving said plurality of tone signals at a user-verification system; comparing said plurality of tone signals with stored tone signals previously received, said stored tone signals representing telephone numbers previously used by said user-device; determining if said plurality of tone signals match said stored tone signals; and determining whether a user is an authorized user in response to a match between said plurality of tone signals and said stored tone signals.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 26 words

The method of claim 16, further comprising the step of: performing voice verification when said plurality of tone signals do not match said stored tone signals.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 88 words

The method of claim 16, the step of performing voice verification further comprising: obtaining a user's electronic voice file, said voice file comprising data relating to a recorded passphrase; prompting the user to speak a passphrase into a microphone; receiving signals representing said passphrase at said user verification system; comparing said signals with said data relating to a recorded passphrase to determine if said signals match said data relating to a recorded passphrase; and if said signals match said passphrase, indicating that the user is an authorized user.

Claim 22

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for performing user verification comprising: obtaining a user's electronic verification file in response to a signal received from a user device, said file comprising data relating to at least one recorded passphrase and data identifying the user; prompting said user to speak a passphrase into a microphone; receiving signals relating to said passphrase at said user verification system; retrieving data relating to prior receipt of signals relating to said passphrase; creating a predetermined degree of match in response to said data relating to prior receipt of said signals relating to said passphrase; determining a degree of match between said data relating to said recorded passphrase and said signals relating to said passphrase; and comparing said degree of match with said predetermined degree of match.

Claim 23

Independent Claim 126 words

A method for performing user verification comprising: obtaining a user's electronic verification file in response to a signal received from a user device, said file comprising data relating to at least one recorded passphrase and data identifying the user; prompting said user to speak a passphrase into a microphone; receiving signals relating to said passphrase at said user verification system; retrieving data relating to prior receipt of signals relating to said passphrase; creating a predetermined degree of match in response to said data relating to prior receipt of said signals relating to said passphrase; determining a degree of match between said data relating to said recorded passphrase and said signals relating to said passphrase; and comparing said degree of match with said predetermined degree of match.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: indicating that said user is authorized if said degree of match is greater than said predetermined degree of match.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 44 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: prompting said user to answer questions relating to said data identifying said user if said degree of match is below a first predetermined degree of match and above a second predetermined degree of match.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 18, further comprising the steps of: indicating that a user is not authorized if said degree of match is less than said predetermined degree of match.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 19 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said signal received from said user device represents said user's electronic voice file.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 30 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said data relating to said at least one recorded passphrase comprises a pointer for locating said user's electronic verification file on a telephone network.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 29 words

The method of claim 18, wherein said data relating to prior receipt of said signals relating to said passphrase includes data relating to prior fraudulent use of said passphrase.

Claim 30

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of performing user verification comprising: transmitting tone signals from a user device in communication with a user verification system; receiving tone signals at said user verification system, said tone signals representing a number transmitted to reach said user verification system; determining a security level associated with said number; determining whether a degree of noise accompanies said tone signals; and adjusting a stringency requirement for user verification in response to said security level or said degree of noise.

Claim 31

Independent Claim 79 words

A method of performing user verification comprising: transmitting tone signals from a user device in communication with a user verification system; receiving tone signals at said user verification system, said tone signals representing a number transmitted to reach said user verification system; determining a security level associated with said number; determining whether a degree of noise accompanies said tone signals; and adjusting a stringency requirement for user verification in response to said security level or said degree of noise.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 135 words

A user-verification system comprising: a storage module storing identifying data relating to a user, said identifying data comprising a plurality of characteristics identifying said user; a processor communicating a query signal to a transmitter; said transmitter in communication with said processor transmitting said query signal to the user, said query signal comprising a prompt to the user to answer a question relating to one of said plurality characteristics; a receiver receiving user-stated information responsive to said query signal; an analyzer in communication with said receiver, comparing said user-stated information with said one of said plurality of characteristics; and a repeater in communication with said analyzer, assigning said one of said plurality of characteristics for a repetition in a successive query signal when said user-stated information does not match said one of said plurality of characteristics.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 135 words

A user-verification system comprising: a storage module storing identifying data relating to a user, said identifying data comprising a plurality of characteristics identifying said user; a processor communicating a query signal to a transmitter; said transmitter in communication with said processor transmitting said query signal to the user, said query signal comprising a prompt to the user to answer a question relating to one of said plurality characteristics; a receiver receiving user-stated information responsive to said query signal; an analyzer in communication with said receiver, comparing said user-stated information with said one of said plurality of characteristics; and a repeater in communication with said analyzer, assigning said one of said plurality of characteristics for a repetition in a successive query signal when said user-stated information does not match said one of said plurality of characteristics.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 28 words

The user verification system of claim 26, wherein said plurality of characteristics comprises data relating to name, sex, date of birth, social security number, and mother's maiden name.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2002-05-24	2002-11-23	2003-05-25	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2006-05-24	2006-11-23	2007-05-25	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2010-05-24	2010-11-23	2011-05-25	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Method and system for the secure communication of data

Abstract

Inventors

Bibliographic Details

Claims Analysis

References Cited (Backward Citations)

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Assigned Categories & Tags

Assign Category Tag