Voiceprint Authentication via External Device Mediation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electronic devices face challenges in performing voiceprint authentication for unregistered users, as current methods require pre-registered voiceprints and lack the ability to authenticate users without prior registration, limiting functionality and accessibility.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device equipped with a communication circuit, microphone, and processor that receives a voice input, performs initial voiceprint authentication, and if unmatched, transmits data to an external device for secondary authentication, allowing access to an external server for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) and Natural Language Understanding (NLU) operations, enabling operations based on successful authentication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If voiceprint authentication is performed using pre-registered voiceprints only, then authentication security is maintained, but device accessibility and functionality for unregistered users deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice accessibilityVSAvoidauthentication security
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an external device as an intermediary to perform secondary voiceprint authentication when the primary device cannot authenticate a user. The external device receives voiceprint data, performs matching against its own registered voiceprints, and returns authentication results to the primary device, enabling unregistered users to access services through their own authenticated devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is segmented into primary authentication (performed by the electronic device itself) and secondary authentication (performed by external devices). This segmentation allows the system to maintain security through the primary device's verification while expanding accessibility through the secondary authentication pathway using externally registered voiceprints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If secondary voiceprint authentication through external devices is implemented, then device functionality and accessibility improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice functionalityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The external device serves as a mediator that handles the complexity of secondary authentication. The primary electronic device simply needs to transmit voiceprint data and receive authentication results, while the external device performs the actual voiceprint matching and account verification, distributing system complexity across multiple devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

Users perform self-service by using their own registered devices to authenticate themselves. The system leverages the user's existing authentication credentials on their personal devices, eliminating the need for the primary device to maintain its own extensive voiceprint database or authentication infrastructure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If voiceprint data is transmitted to external devices for authentication, then authentication capability for unregistered users improves, but data transmission and communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication capabilityVSAvoiddata transmission volume
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system extracts only the essential voiceprint data (voiceprint information and account information) needed for authentication, rather than transmitting complete audio recordings or unnecessary metadata. This extraction minimizes data transmission volume while maintaining authentication capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system transmits only the partial data necessary for authentication (voiceprint features and account identifiers) rather than complete voice recordings or full user profiles. This partial action approach provides sufficient authentication capability while minimizing communication overhead.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP3525205B1Electronic device and method of performing function of electronic device
Publication Date: 2021.06.02 SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO LTD
  • EP3525205B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3525205B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3525205B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

An electronic device and method are disclosed, including a communication circuit, a speaker, a microphone and a processor. The processor implements the method, including receiving a first voice input through the microphone, executing first voiceprint authentication on the first voice input including determining whether the first voice input matches voice information corresponding to a user stored in the electronic device, when the first voice input does not match the voice information, transmit a request message to at least one external electronic device for execution of a second voiceprint authentication, receive a response message indicating whether the first voice input is authenticated under the second voiceprint authentication, receive a second voice input through the microphone, and transmit second data related to the second voice input to an external server through the communication circuit for Automatic Speech Recognition (ASR) or Natural Language Understanding (NLU) on the second data.