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Claims  |
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What is claimed is:
1. A method for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call
is one of a plurality of authorized users of a system, comprising
prior to the telephone call, storing, at a first processing station, 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,
receiving, via the public telephone system, at a second processing station,
a telephone call comprising (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, using a digital data processing sytem located
at the second station, the signals received at the second station, and
based on signature data communicated via a telephone line from the first
station to the second station either before the telephone call or after
the telephone call, testing the signal presenting the signature of the
possible user against the valid signature of the authorized user whose
caller identification information corresponds to the caller identification
information received at the second processing station and wherein
the step of testing the signal representing the signature of the possible
user against the valid signature comprises using the caller identification
information, in a first protocol compatible with the digital data
processing system located in the second station, and communicating with
the first station via the telephone line between the first station and the
second station in a second protocol compatible with the first station.
2. 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.
3. A method for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call
is one of a plurality of authorized users of a system, comprising
prior to the telephone call, storing, at a first processing station, 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 users,
receiving, via the public telephone system, at a second processing station,
a telephone call comprising (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 the second station, the signals received at
the second station,
based on signature data communicated via a telephone line from the first
station to the second station either before the telephone call or after
the telephone call, 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 received at the second processing station,
causing data corresponding to the signal representing the signature of the
possible user received at the second station to be stored in a signal
cache at the second station for future reference, and
receiving from the signal cache the data corresponding to the signal
representing the signature of the possible user and transmitting the data
corresponding to the signal representing the signature of the possible
user to the first station to cause the data corresponding to the signal
representing the signature of the possible user to be stored in the first
station.
4. A method for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call
is one of a plurality of authorized users of a system, comprising
prior to the telephone call, storing, at a first processing station, 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,
receiving, via the public telephone system, at a second processing station,
a telephone call comprising (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 the second station, the signals received at
the second station,
based on signature data communicated via a telephone line from the first
station to the second station either before the telephone call or after
the telephone call, 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 received at the second processing station, and
confirming, at the second station, 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,
wherein the subsequent transaction comprises recording a change to the data
corresponding to the user's caller identification information.
5. 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.
6. A method in accordance with claim 4, wherein the subsequent transaction
comprises a financial transaction.
7. 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.
8. A method for verifying whether a person speaking during a telephone call
is one of a plurality of authorized users of a system, comprising
prior to the telephone call, storing, at a first processing station, 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,
receiving, via the public telephone system, at a second processing station,
a telephone call comprising (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 the second station, the signals received at
the second station,
based on signature data communicated via a telephone line from the first
station to the second station either before the telephone call or after
the telephone call, 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 received at the second processing station,
storing, at the second station, a value indicating a level of matching
between the signal representing the signature of the possible user and the
valid signature, and
reporting whether the signal representing the signature of the possible
user matches the valid signature to the level necessary to establish a
match.
9. A method in accordance with claim 8 wherein the signal representing the
signature comprises a spoken password.
10. 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.
11. 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.
12. 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.
13. A method in accordance with claim 8, wherein the caller identification
information identifies an account of the user.
14. 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.
15. 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.
16. 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.
17. 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.
18. 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.
19. 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.
20. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the signal representing
the signature comprises a spoken password.
21. 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.
22. 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.
23. 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.
24. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the caller identification
information identifies an account of the user.
25. 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.
26. 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.
27. 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.
28. 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.
29. 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.
30. 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.
31. 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.
32. 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.
33. 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.
34. 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.
35. A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the
caller identification information identifies an account of the user.
36. 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.
37. 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.
38. 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.
39. 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.
40. 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.
41. 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.
42. 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.
43. 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.
44. 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.
45. 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.
46. A system in accordance with claim 19, wherein the subsequent
transaction comprises a financial transaction.
47. 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.
48. A signal processing station in accordance with claim 32, wherein the
subsequent transaction comprises a financial transaction. |
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Claims |
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