# US 12,190,893 B2 · Systems and methods for verifying identity using biometric data

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- Number: US 12,190,893 B2
- Document ID: US12190893B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/345,690
- Filed: 2021-06-11
- Published: 2021-12-16
- Granted: 2025-01-07
- Earliest claimed: 2020-06-11
- Assignees: Vonage Business Inc.
- Applicants: Vonage Business Inc.
- Inventors: Mark Berkeland; Angel Esteban Garcia
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12190893B2

## CPC

- G10L 17/24: the user being prompted to utter a password or a predefined phrase
- H04L 63/0861: {using biometrical features, e.g. fingerprint, retina-scan (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using biological data H04L9/3231)}
- G06F 21/32: using biometric data, e.g. fingerprints, iris scans or voiceprints
- G06Q 20/3255: {using mobile network messaging services for payment, e.g. SMS}
- G06Q 20/3272: {using an audio code}
- G06Q 20/40145: {Biometric identity checks}
- G10L 17/06: Decision making techniques; Pattern matching strategies
- H04L 9/3231: {Biological data, e.g. fingerprint, voice or retina (network architectures or network communication protocols for supporting authentication of entities using biometrical features in a packet data network H04L63/0861)}
- H04L 63/0853: {using an additional device, e.g. smartcard, SIM or a different communication terminal (cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication involving additional secure or trusted devices H04L9/3234)}
- G10L: SPEECH ANALYSIS TECHNIQUES OR SPEECH SYNTHESIS; SPEECH RECOGNITION; SPEECH OR VOICE PROCESSING TECHNIQUES; SPEECH OR AUDIO CODING OR DECODING
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A system for registering an individual's biometric data and then later verifying the identity of the individual using the previously registered biometric data makes use of either an audio communications channel or a messaging channel, both of which are accessed via an application programming interface (API). In some instances, spoken audio input is received from the individual and the spoken audio input is used to generate a voice print for the individual. In other instances, the biometric data could be image-based, such as facial images or an image of an individual's iris.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method performed by a biometrics unit for verifying the identity of an individual based on voice biometric information, comprising:
receiving at the biometrics unit a request to verify the identity of an individual using biometric information, wherein the request includes an identity of a remote server that is to be notified of the result of the identity verification process;
causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual;
obtaining verification instructions for verifying the identity of the individual using voice biometric information, wherein the verification instructions include a script that the individual is to speak;
causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual over the communications channel;
receiving spoken audio input provided by the individual, where the spoken audio input is received over the communications channel, and where the spoken audio input is expected to include the individual speaking the script in the verification instructions;
processing the received spoken audio input to generate a new voice print for the individual;
determining whether the generated new voice print substantially matches a previously generated voice print for the individual that is stored in a voice biometrics database; and
sending an identity verification message to the individual via the communications channel and to the remote server indicating that the identity of the individual has been verified when the generated new voice print substantially matches the previously generated voice print.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the script in the verification instructions includes a plurality of terms arranged in a particular order, and wherein the method further comprises:
examining the received spoken audio input to determine whether the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order; and
wherein the confirmation message is sent to the individual only if the examining step determines that the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The method of claim 2, wherein the step of examining the received spoken audio input comprises:
using the received spoken audio input to prepare a transcript of what the individual spoke in the received audio input; and
comparing the transcript to the script in the verification instructions to determine whether the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual comprises establishing an audio communications channel between the biometrics unit and the telephony device used by the individual.

### Claim 5 (depends on 4)

The method of claim 4, wherein the step of causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual over the communications channel comprises playing audio verification instructions to the individual over the audio communications channel.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the step of causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual comprises establishing a text-based messaging channel between the biometrics unit and the telephony device used by the individual.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method of claim 6, wherein the step of causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual comprises sending the verification instructions to the individual as part of a message that is sent to the individual's telephony device via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein the step of receiving spoken audio input from the individual comprises receiving, via the text-based messaging channel, a file containing the spoken audio input.

### Claim 9 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein obtaining verification instructions comprises receiving text-based instructions, and wherein causing the obtained verification instructions to be sent to the individual comprises sending a text-based message that includes the verification instructions to the individual via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 10 (depends on 7)

The method of claim 7, wherein obtaining verification instructions comprises receiving audio verification instructions, and wherein causing the verification instructions to be sent to the individual comprises sending a file containing the audio verification instructions to the individual via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The method of claim 1, wherein the request to verify the identity of an individual is received from a first server controlled by a first entity, and wherein the remote server that is to be notified of the result of the identity verification process is a second server controlled by a second entity that is different from the first entity.

### Claim 12

A system for verifying the identity of an individual based on voice biometric information, comprising:
means for receiving, at a biometrics unit, a request to verify the identity of an individual using biometric information, wherein the request includes an identity of a remote server that is to be notified of the result of the identity verification process;
means for causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual;
means for obtaining verification instructions for verifying the identity of the individual using voice biometric information, wherein the verification instructions include a script that the individual is to speak;
means for causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual over the communications channel;
means for receiving spoken audio input provided by the individual, where the spoken audio input is received over the communications channel, and where the spoken audio input is expected to include the individual speaking the script in the verification instructions;
means for processing the received spoken audio input to generate a new voice print for the individual;
means for determining whether the generated new voice print substantially matches a previously generated voice print for the individual that is stored in a voice biometrics database; and
means for sending an identity verification message to the individual via the communications channel and to the remote server indicating that the identity of the individual has been verified when the generated new voice print substantially matches the previously generated voice print.

### Claim 13

A system for verifying the identity of an individual based on voice biometric information, comprising:
a memory; and
at least one processor, wherein the at least one processor is configured to perform a method comprising the steps of:
receiving, at a biometrics unit, a request to verify the identity of an individual using biometric information, wherein the request includes an identity of a remote server that is to be notified of the result of the identity verification process;
causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual;
obtaining verification instructions for verifying the identity of the individual using voice biometric information, wherein the verification instructions include a script that the individual is to speak;
causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual over the communications channel;
receiving spoken audio input provided by the individual, where the spoken audio input is received over the communications channel, and where the spoken audio input is expected to include the individual speaking the script in the verification instructions;
processing the received spoken audio input to generate a new voice print for the individual;
determining whether the generated new voice print substantially matches a previously generated voice print for the individual that is stored in a voice biometrics database; and
sending an identity verification message to the individual via the communications channel and to the remote server indicating that the identity of the individual has been verified when the generated new voice print substantially matches the previously generated voice print.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the script in the verification instructions includes a plurality of terms arranged in a particular order, and wherein the method performed by the at least one processor further comprises:
examining the received spoken audio input to determine whether the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order; and
wherein the confirmation message is sent to the individual only if the examining step determines that the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The system of claim 14, wherein the step of examining the received spoken audio input comprises:
using the received spoken audio input to prepare a transcript of what the individual spoke in the received audio input; and
comparing the transcript to the script in the verification instructions to determine whether the individual spoke the plurality of terms in the particular order.

### Claim 16 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the step of causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual comprises establishing an audio communications channel between the biometrics unit and the telephony device used by the individual, and wherein the step of causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual over the communications channel comprises playing audio verification instructions to the individual over the audio communications channel.

### Claim 17 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the step of causing a communications channel to be established between the biometrics unit and a telephony device used by the individual comprises establishing a text-based messaging channel between the biometrics unit and the telephony device used by the individual.

### Claim 18 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the step of causing the obtained verification instructions to be conveyed to the individual comprises sending the verification instructions to the individual as part of a message that is sent to the individual's telephony device via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 19 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein the step of receiving spoken audio input from the individual comprises receiving, via the text-based messaging channel, a file containing the spoken audio input.

### Claim 20 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein obtaining verification instructions comprises receiving text-based instructions, and wherein causing the obtained verification instructions to be sent to the individual comprises sending a text-based message that includes the verification instructions to the individual's telephony device via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 21 (depends on 17)

The system of claim 17, wherein obtaining verification instructions comprises receiving audio verification instructions, and wherein causing the verification instructions to be sent to the individual comprises sending a file containing the audio verification instructions to the individual's telephony device via the text-based messaging channel.

### Claim 22 (depends on 13)

The system of claim 13, wherein the request to verify the identity of an individual is received from a first server controlled by a first entity, and wherein the remote server that is to be notified of the result of the identity verification process is a second server controlled by a second entity that is different from the first entity.