Voiceprint Authentication for Basic Terminals Using an Intermediary

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Solution Overview

Problem

Basic communication terminals lack internet access capabilities, limiting their use of high-value services requiring strong user authentication, such as banking, due to reliance on mobile phone numbers for authentication, which is inadequate for security.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a voice biometrics mechanism coupled with communication terminal identifiers, using DTMF, USSD, or SMS channels, to authenticate users by recognizing voiceprints and additional password requests, enhancing security through multiple authentication layers.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If voice biometrics mechanism is implemented, then authentication security is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an authentication device as an intermediary component that handles voice biometrics processing separately from the communication terminal. This mediator captures voice data, processes it through voiceprint analysis, and returns authentication results, thereby enhancing security without significantly complicating the terminal device itself.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is segmented into distinct functional modules: the communication terminal that initiates authentication, the authentication device that processes voice biometrics, and the server that manages service access. This segmentation distributes complexity across multiple components rather than concentrating it in one device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If multiple authentication layers are added, then authentication security is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveauthentication securityVSAvoidauthentication process simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary voiceprint registration during an initial setup phase, storing the user's voice characteristics in advance. During subsequent authentication attempts, the system only needs to compare new voice samples against the pre-stored voiceprint, significantly reducing the operational steps required while maintaining multi-layer security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If voice biometrics is used for basic terminals, then service accessibility is improved, but measurement precision deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidvoiceprint recognition accuracy
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

An authentication device acts as a specialized intermediary that handles the complex voiceprint analysis tasks, compensating for the limited processing capabilities of basic terminals. This mediator ensures consistent measurement precision across different terminal types by centralizing the biometric analysis function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The authentication system is designed to work universally across multiple terminal types including basic feature phones, smartphones, and other communication devices. The system adapts to different device capabilities by using standardized authentication protocols and leveraging the intermediary authentication device to handle complex processing requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP4128693B1Strong authentication of a user of a communication terminal
Publication Date: 2026.01.07 ORANGE SA
  • EP4128693B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4128693B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4128693B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a method for authenticating a user of a service on a communication terminal, comprising what follows, performed by the communication terminal: - transmitting (S23) to a server a request to access said server, said request comprising an identifier associated with the communication terminal and an identifier associated with a required service in said server, - receiving (S25), from an authentication device, an authentication request asking the user to pronounce at least one word, - communicating (S26) said at least one word pronounced by the user to the device, - said at least one pronounced word corresponding to a voiceprint of the user stored beforehand in association with the identifier of said communication terminal, accessing (S30a) the service or receiving (S29b) from the device a complementary user authentication request.