Method and apparatus for access control based on an audible uttering and timing of the audible uttering

Apparatus for controlling access to a facility having acoustic input and output means, comprising:

• generating means for generating a first personal access code for a plurality of authorized users of the facility, said first personal access code being provided by an evaluation means included in said generating means in response to an audible uttering of one of said plurality of authorized users, of at least one of freely selectable words and sounds during a playing of a pre-recorded text;
• storing means including a memory for storing the first personal access code;
• playback means for subsequently playing back said pre-recorded text to a subsequent user seeking to gain access to the facility, without indicating to said subsequent user how and when, said subsequent user should repeat the audible uttering of said one of said authorized users, of at least one of the freely selectable words and sounds during said subsequent playing back of said pre-recorded text;
• said generating means generating a second personal access code, responsive to an audible uttering of said subsequent user of said at least one of said freely selectable words and sounds during said subsequent playing back of said pre-recorded text;
• said generating means including an evaluation means and a comparator for comparing said first and second personal access codes with each other;
• and
• accessing means connected to said generating means for providing access to the facility to said subsequent user only if said compared first and second personal access codes correspond with each other in both the pattern thereof and the timing of the audible uttering of said freely selectable words and sounds during the playing back of the pre-recorded text.