Abstract:
A multichannel security system is disclosed, which system is for granting and denying access to a host computer in response to a demand from an access-seeking individual and computer. The access-seeker has a peripheral device operative within an authentication channel to communicate with the security system. The access-seeker initially presents identification and password data over an access channel which is intercepted and transmitted to the security computer. The security computer then communicates with the access-seeker. A biometric analyzer—a voice or fingerprint recognition device—operates upon instructions from the authentication program to analyze the monitored parameter of the individual. In the security computer, a comparator matches the biometric sample with stored data, and, upon obtaining a match, provides authentication. The security computer instructs the host computer to grant access and communicates the same to the access-seeker, whereupon access is initiated over the access channel.

Description:
RELATED APPLICATION  
       [0001]     This is a continuation-in-part of an application entitled OUT-OF-BAND SECURITY NETWORKS FOR COMPUTER NETWORK APPLICATIONS, Ser. No. 09/655,297, filed Sep. 5, 2000 and now abandoned. This application is incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
       [0002]     1. Field of the Invention  
         [0003]     This invention relates to security networks for computer network applications, and, more particularly, to a security network which provides user authentication by an out-of-band system that is entirely outside the host computer network being accessed. In addition, the out-of-band system optionally includes provision for biometric identification as part of the authentication process.  
         [0004]     2. Background of the Invention  
         [0005]     In the past, there have typically been three categories of computer security systems, namely, access control, encryption and message authentication, and intrusion detection. The access control systems act as the first line of defense against unwanted intrusions, and serve to prevent hackers who do not have the requisite information, e.g. the password, etc., from accessing the computer networks and systems. Secondly, the encryption and message authentication systems ensure that any information that is stored or in transit is not readable and cannot be modified. In the event that a hacker is able to break into the computer network, these systems prevent the information from being understood, and, as such, encryption systems as the second line of defense. Further intrusion detection systems uncover patterns of hacker attacks and viruses and, when discovered provide an alarm to the system administrator so that appropriate action can be taken. Since detection systems operate only after a hacker has successfully penetrated a system, such systems act as a third line of defense.  
         [0006]     Obviously, as an access control system is the first line of defense, it is important that the selection thereof be well-suited to the application. In access control systems there is a broad dichotomy between user authentication and host authentication systems. In current practice, the most common user authentication systems include simple password systems, random password systems, and biometric systems. The simple password systems are ubiquitous in our society with every credit card transaction using a pin identification number, every automatic teller machine inquiry looking toward a password for access, and even telephone answering messages using simple password systems for control.  
         [0007]     Additionally, when random password systems are used, another level of sophistication is added. In these systems, the password changes randomly every time a system is access. These systems are based on encryption or a password that changes randomly in a manner that is synchronized with an authorization server. The Secure ID card is an example of such a system. Random password systems require complimentary software and/or hardware at each computer authorized to use the network.  
         [0008]     In biometric systems, characteristics of the human body, such as voice, fingerprints or retinal scan, are used to control access. These systems require software and/or hardware at each computer to provide authorization for the use of the network.  
         [0009]     Another category of access control is that of host authentication. Here the commonest systems are those of “callback” and “firewall” systems. Callback systems are those systems which work by calling a computer back at a predetermined telephone number. These systems authenticate the location of a computer and are suitable for dial-up (modem) networks; however, such systems are ineffective when the attack comes via the Internet. On the other hand, firewall systems are designed to prevent attacks coming from the Internet and work by allowing access only from computers within a network. Even though firewall systems are implemented either as standalone systems or incorporated into routers, skilled hackers are able to penetrate host authentication systems.  
         [0010]     Typically, access-control security products, as described above, are in-band authentication systems with the data and the authentication information on the same network. Thus, upon accessing a computer, a computer prompt requests that you enter your password and, upon clearance, access is granted. In this example, all information exchanged is on the same network or in-band. The technical problem created thereby is that the hacker is in a self-authenticating environment.  
         [0011]     Except for callback systems, the above access control products authenticate only the user and not the location. When computer networks could only be accessed by modems, the authentication of location by dialing back the access-requesting computer, provided a modicum of security. Now, as virtually all computer networks are accessible by modem-independent internet connection, location authentication by callback is no longer secure. The lack of security arises as there is no necessary connection between the internet address and a location, and, in fact, an internet address most often changes from connection to connection. Thus, callback systems are rendered useless against attacks originating from the internet.  
         [0012]     In preparing for this application, a review of various patent resources was conducted. The review resulted in the inventor gaining familiarity with the following patents:  
                                                                     Item No.   Patent No.   Inventor   Orig. Class   Date                                1   6,408,062   Cave, Ellis K.   379/210.01   June 2002       2   5,901,284   Hamdy-Swink,   713/200   May 1999               Katheryn A.       3   5,898,830   Wesinger, Jr.,   395/187.01   April 1999               et al.       4   5,872,834   Teitelbaum   379/93.03   February 1999       5   5,826,014   Coley, et al.   718,201   October 1998       6   5,787,187   Bouchard   382/115   July 1998       7   5,680,458   Spelman, et al.   380/21   October 1997       8   5,621,809   Bellegarda, et al.   382/116   April 1997       9   5,615,277   Hoffman   382/115   March 1997       10   5,588,060   Aziz   380/30   December 1996       11   5,548,646   Aziz, et al.   380/23   August 1996       12   5,153,918   Tuai, Gregory   713/182   October 1992                  
 
         [0013]     In general terms, the patents all show a portion of the authentication protocol and the data transferred in the same channel or “in-band”. For purposes of this discussion “in-band” operation is defined as one conducted wholly within a single channel or loop. Likewise, an “out-of-band” operation is defined as one using an authentication channel that is separated from the channel carrying the information and therefore is nonintrusive as it is carried over separate facilities, frequency channels, or time slots than those used for actual information transfer.  
         [0014]     The patent to E. K. Cave, U.S. Pat. No. 6,408,062, Item 1 above, describes a callback system. Here, the user is prequalified so that he does not get charged for calls that are not completed to the called party. However, here the authentication and the administrative function are in the same loop.  
         [0015]     In Item 3, the patent to Wesinger et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,898,830 (&#39;830) is a firewall patent. Here, the inventor attempts to enhance security by using out-of-band authentication. In his approach, a communication channel, or medium, other than the one over which the network communication takes place, is used to transmit or convey an access key. The key is transmitted from a remote location (e.g., using a pager or other transmission device) and, using a hardware token, the key is conveyed to the local device. In the Wesinger &#39;830 system, to gain access, a hacker must have access to a device (e.g., a pager, a token, etc.) Used to receive the out-of-band information. Pager beep-back or similar authentication techniques may be especially advantageous in that, if a hacker attempts unauthorized access to a machine while the authorized user is in possession of the device, the user will be alerted by the device unexpectedly receiving the access key. The key is unique to each transmission, such that even if a hacker is able to obtain it, it cannot be used at other times or places or with respect to any other connection.  
         [0016]     Next, turning to Item 7, the patent to Spelman et al., U.S. Pat. No. 5,680,458 (&#39;458), a method of recovering from the compromise of a root key is shown. Here, following the disruption of a new replacement key, an out-of-band channel is used by a central authority to publish a verification code which can be used by customers to verify the authenticity of the emergency message. The Spelman &#39;458 patent further indicates that the central authority uses the root key to generate a digital signature which is appended to the emergency message to verify that the emergency message is legitimate.  
         [0017]     Hoffman, U.S. Pat. No. 5,615,277, Item 9, is next discussed. Here, biometrics are combined with a tokenless security and the patent describes a method for preventing unauthorized access to one or more secured computer systems. The security system and method are principally based on a comparison of a unique biometric sample, such as a voice recording, which is gathered directly from the person of an unknown user with an authenticated unique biometric sample of the same type. The Hoffman technology is networked to act as a full or partial intermediary between a secured computer system and its authorized users. The security system and method further contemplate the use of personal codes to confirm identifications determined from biometric comparisons, and the use of one or more variants in the personal identification code for alerting authorities in the event of coerced access.  
         [0018]     Items 10 and 11 have a common assignee, Sun Microsystems, Inc., and both concern encryption/decryption keys and key management.  
         [0019]     The patent to Tuai, U.S. Pat. No. 5,153,918 (&#39;918) describes an in-band authentication system which uses a callback system after authentication. Within the authentication system, Tuai &#39;918 employs a voice verification technique.  
         [0020]     The submission of the above list of documents is not intended as an admission that any such document constitutes prior art against the claims of the present application. Applicant does not waive any right to take any action that would be appropriate to antedate or otherwise remove any listed document as a competent reference against the claims of the present application. None of the above show the novel and unobvious features of the invention described hereinbelow.  
       SUMMARY  
       [0021]     In general terms, the invention disclosed hereby includes in the embodiments thereof, a unique combination of user and host authentication. The security system of the present invention is out-of-band with respect to the host computer and is configured to intercept requests for access. The first step in controlling the incoming access flow is a user authentication provided in response to prompts for a user identification and password. After verification at the security system, the system operating in an out-of-band mode, uses telephone dialup for location authentication and user authentication via a password entered using a telephone keypad. In addition and optionally the system provides further authentication using a biometric system. When voice recognition is employed for the biometric component, the user speaks a given phrase which the system authenticates before permitting access. Upon granting of access, the user now for the first time enters the in-band operating field of the host computer.  
       OBJECT AND FEATURES OF THE INVENTION  
       [0022]     It is an object of the present invention to provide a host computer with a cost effective, out-of-band security network that combines high security and tokenless operation.  
         [0023]     It is a further object of the present invention to provide a network to isolate the authentication protocol of a computer system from the access channel therefor.  
         [0024]     It is yet another object of the present invention to provide a separate security network which acts conjunctively with or as an overlying sentry box to the existing security system provided by the host computer.  
         [0025]     It is still yet another object of the present invention to provide an authentication using a biometric component, such as speech recognition, to limit access to specific individuals.  
         [0026]     It is a feature of the present invention that the security network achieves high security without encryption and decryption.  
         [0027]     It is another feature of the present invention to have a callback step that restricts authentication to a given instrument thereby enabling restriction to a fixed location.  
         [0028]     It is yet another feature of the present invention to combine callback and speech recognition in an out-of-band security facility.  
         [0029]     Other objects and features of the invention will become apparent upon review of the drawings and the detailed description which follow. 
     
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       [0030]     In the following drawings, the same parts in the various views are afforded the same reference designators.  
         [0031]      FIG. 1  is a schematic diagram of the prior art security system;  
         [0032]      FIG. 1A  is a schematic diagram of the security system of the present invention as applied to the internet in which an external accessor in a wide area network seeks entry into a host system;  
         [0033]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram of the apparatus required for the security system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0034]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram of the software program required for the security system shown in  FIG. 1  in which various program modules are shown for corresponding functions of the system and each module is shown in relation to the control module thereof;  
         [0035]      FIG. 4  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the line module of the security system shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0036]      FIG. 5  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the speech module of the security system shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0037]      FIG. 6  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the administration module of the security system shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0038]      FIG. 7  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the client/server module of the security system shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0039]      FIG. 8  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the database module of the security system shown in  FIG. 3 ;  
         [0040]      FIGS. 9A through 9E  is a flow diagram of the software program required for the security system shown in  FIG. 1 ;  
         [0041]      FIG. 10  is a schematic diagram of a second embodiment of the security system of the present invention as applied to the intranet in which an internal accessor in a local area network seeks entry into a restricted portion of the host system;  
         [0042]      FIG. 11  is a schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the security system using as peripheral devices a cellular telephone and a fingerprint verification device;  
         [0043]      FIG. 12  is a detailed schematic diagram of the software program required for the fingerprint module of the security system shown in  FIG. 11 ; and,  
         [0044]      FIG. 13  is a detailed schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the security system using as peripheral devices a personal digital assistant (PDA) and the associated fingerprint verification device. 
     
    
     DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT  
       [0045]     In the description that follows, the prior art is shown in  FIG. 1 . In a typical call-back system which this epitomizes, the user from his computer  10  accesses through an optional voice encoder  12  and, along a single authentication channel. The channel includes an in-band arrangement of the user&#39;s modem  14 , the host computer modem  16  and the authentication controller  17 . In a specific example of this, in the Tuai &#39;918 system, see supra, which uses voice verification, the user accesses a host computer  18  via modems  14  and  16 . The access attempt is intercepted by the controller  17  which prompts the user to enter a USER ID and speak a phrase for voice verification. If the verification is successful, the controller  17  acting within the single communication channel connects the user computer to the host computer. Both the USER ID and the voice password are sent along the same pathway and any improper accessor into this channel has the opportunity to monitor and/or enter both identifiers.  
         [0046]     The out-of-band security system networks for computer network applications is described in two embodiments. The first describes an application to a wide area network, such as the internet, wherein the person desiring access and the equipment used thereby are remote from the host computer. In this description and consistent with Newton&#39;s  Telecom Dictionary  (19 th  Ed.), an “out-of-band” system is defined herein as one having an authentication channel that is separated from the information channel and therefore is nonintrusive as it is carried over separate facilities than those used for actual information transfer. The second embodiment describes the application of the disclosed invention to a local area network wherein the person desiring access and the equipment used thereby are within the same network (referred to as the “corporate network”) as the host computer. For purposes of this description the person desiring access and the equipment used thereby are referred collectively as the “accessor”.  
         [0047]     In  FIG. 1 , a general overview of the first embodiment of the out-of-band security networks for computer network applications of this invention is shown and is referred to generally by the reference designator  20 . Here the accessor is the computer equipment  22 , including the central processing unit and the operating system thereof, and the person or user  24  whose voice is transmittable by the telephone  26  over telephone lines  28 . The access network  30  is constructed in such a manner that, when user  24  requests access to a web page  32  located at a host computer or web server  34  through computer  22 , the request-for-access is diverted by a router  36  internal to the corporate network  38  to an out-of-band security network  40 . Authentication occurs in the out-of-band security network  40 , which is described in detail below.  
         [0048]     This is in contradistinction to present authentication processes as the out-of-band security network  40  is isolated from the corporate network  38  and does not depend thereon for validating data. The first shows a biometric validation which, in this case, is in the form of voice recognition and is within voice network  42 . While voice recognition is used herein, it is merely exemplary of many forms of recognizing or identifying an individual person. Others include, but are not limited to fingerprint identification, iris recognition, retina identification, palms recognition, and face recognition. Each of these are similar to the first embodiment in that these are a requirement for monitoring the particular parameter of the individual person; including the parameter to a mathematical representation or algorithm therefore; retrieving a previously stored sample (biometric data), thereof from a database and comparing the stored sample with the input of the accessor.  
         [0049]     Referring now to  FIG. 2 a  block diagram is shown for the hardware required by the out-of-band security network for computer network applications of this invention. The request-for-access is forwarded from the router  36  of the corporate network to a data network interface  50  which, in turn, is constructed to transfer the request to a dedicated, security network computer  52  over a data bus  48 . The computer  52  is adapted to include software programs, see infra, for receiving the user identification and for validating the corresponding password, and is further adapted to obtain the user telephone number from lookup tables within database  54  through data bus  48 . The computer  52  is equipped to telephone the user through a PBX interface  56  and voice bus  58 . For voice recognition, a speech or biometric system  60  is provided to process requested speech phrases repeated by the user  24  which is verified within the security computer  52 . Upon authentication, access is granted through the data network interface  50 .  
         [0050]     Referring now to  FIGS. 3 through 8  the software architecture supporting the above functions is next described. The security computer  52 ,  FIG. 2 , is structured to include various functional software modules,  FIG. 3 , namely, a control module  62 , a line module  64 , a speech module including a biometric for voice recognition  66 , an administration module  68 , a client/server module  70 , and a database module  72 . The software program of the control module  62  functions and interconnects with the other modules (line, speech, administration, client/server and database modules) to control the processing flow and the interfacing with the internal and external system components.  
         [0051]     As will be understood from the flow diagram description, infra, the control module  62  software of the security computer  52  incorporates a finite state machine, a call state model, process monitors, and fail-over mechanisms. The software program of the line module  64  is structured to provide an interface with the telephone network. The software program of the speech module  66  is structured to perform processing functions such as, but not limited to, speech verification, text-to-speech conversion and announcements. The software program of the administration module  68  is structured to archive the records of each call made, to provide security and management functions, and to process any alarms generated. The software program of the client/server module  70  is structured to enable a host computer or a web server  34  to interface with the out-of-band security network  40 . The software program of the database module  72  is comprised of the databases to support the security network  40  which in the present invention includes an audit database, a subscriber database, a speech database, an announcement database, and a system database.  
         [0052]     Referring now to  FIG. 4 , the line module  64  is described in further detail. The analog telephone interface  74  is the equipment, such as voice bus  58  and PBX interface  56 , that interfaces to an analog line. The analog telephone interface  74  is, in turn, controlled by software program of the analog line driver  76 . Similarly, digital telephone interface  78  is the equipment, such as data bus  48  and PBX interface  56 , that interfaces to a digital line (T1 or ISDN PRI)a. The digital telephone interface  78  is, in turn, controlled by the software program of the digital line driver  80 . The software progarm of the telephone functions module  82  is structured to accommodate functions such as, Call Origination, Call Answer, Supervisory signaling, Call Progress signaling, Ring generation/detection, DTMF generation/detection, and line configuration.  
         [0053]     In  FIG. 5  the speech module  66  architecture is detailed. The speech verification (SV) hardware  84 , (part of speech system  60 ,  FIG. 2 ) consists of digital signal processors that utilize SV algorithms for verification of an accessor&#39;s spoken password. The speech verification hardware  84  is controlled by the software program of the SV hardware driver  86 . The software program of the speech verification processing unit  88  provides an interface with control module  62  and is structured to respond to queries therefrom for verifying an accessor&#39;s spoken password. Also, the SV processing unit  88  enables the enrollment of users with the speech password and the interaction of the speech database of database module  72 .  
         [0054]     The text-to-speech (TTS) hardware  90  consists of digital signal processors that utilize TTS algorithms. The text-to-speech hardware  90  is controlled by the software program of the TTS hardware driver  92 . The software program of the TTS processing unit  94  provides an interface with the control module  62  and, as required by the control module  62 , converts text strings to synthesized speech. The announcement hardware  96  consists of digital signal processors that utilize speech algorithms to record and play announcements. The announcement hardware is controlled by the software program of the announcement hardware driver  98 . The software program of the announcement processing unit  100  also provides an interface with control module  62 ; upon demands of the control module  62 , supplies stored announcements; and interacts with the announcements database of database module  72 .  
         [0055]     In  FIG. 6 , the software program of the administration module  68  is presented in more detail. As the administration module  68  interfaces with the control module  62 , see supra, a subprogram, namely, a control module interface  102  is constructed to manage the communication therebetween. The administration module  68  further includes software to provide an audit trail of all calls requesting access. This unit or audit log  104  creates records about each call, which records are stored in the audit database of the database module  72 . Any alarms caused as a result of errors, threshold crossing or system failures are processed by the software program of alarm module  106 . For remote administration of the out-of-band security system  40  of this invention, the software program of the network interface  108  is provided, which software communicates with the corporate network  38  (via network adapters). Access to the out-of-band security system  40  for administrative purposes is controlled by security module  110 . Similar to the network interface  108 , the software program of the management module  112  provides for the remote management of the out-of-band security system  40  for configuration, status reporting, software upgrades and trouble-shooting purposes.  
         [0056]     Referring now to  FIG. 7 , the software program of the client/server module  70  that secures the host computer or web server or router  34  of the corporate network  38  through the out-of-band security system  40  of this invention is shown in detail. Here, the client protocol module  114  provides the interfacing means for the host computer or web server  34  and communicates with the out-of-band security system  40  using a proprietary protocol. Alternatively, standard protocols such as RADIUS and TACACS can be used. The server protocol module  116  interfaces with the control module  62  and manages the interaction with the client protocol module  114 .  
         [0057]     In  FIG. 8 a  detailed schematic diagram is shown of the software program required for the database module  72  of the out-of-band security system  40  of this invention. The database module  72  is the recordkeeping center, the lookup table repository, and the archival storehouse of the system. In the above description numerous relationships to this module have already been drawn. The database module  72  communicates through control module interface  118  to the control module  62 .  
         [0058]     Two types of communications are channeled to and from the database module  72 , namely, communicating data for use during operations through database access interface  120  and communicating data for maintenance and provisioning of the out-of-band security system through database provisioning interface  122 . While the databases described herein are specifically related to the application of this embodiment to voice recognition the formation of specific databases, e.g. a different set of samples of biometric parameters or characteristics, is within the contemplation of the invention. The databases hereof are the audit database  124  for the call records; the subscriber database  126  for subscriber information; the speech database  128  for aid in verifying an accessor&#39;s spoken password; the announcements database  130  for announcements to be played to users during a call; and, system database  132  for system related information (e.g. configuration parameters).  
         [0059]     In  FIGS. 9A through 9E  the flow diagram for the above software program operation is shown and is described hereinbelow. Thus, while the preceding in discussing the network architecture for the out-of-band security system  40  explains the access portion of the program—the operations side—and the configuration and maintenance portion of the program—the provisioning side, the description which follows is of the software operation of the out-of-band security system  40  from the receipt of a request-to-access inquiry to a granting-of-access or denial-of-access result. The logic description that follows reflects the accessor&#39;s inputs and the programmed processes along the logical pathway from the receipt of a request-to-access inquiry to a granting-of-access or denial-of-access result.  
         [0060]     The pathway commences at the REQUEST FOR ACCESS block  150  whereby a request to enter the host computer or web server  34  is received from the user at the remote computer  22 . The user requesting access to the host computer from the remote computer is immediately prompted to login at the LOGIN SCREEN PRESENTED block  152 . While the login procedure here comprises the entry of the user identification and password and is requested by the host computer  34 , such information request is optionally a function of the security computer  40 . Upon entry of data by user at the ENTRY OF ID AND PASSWORD block  154  the information is passes to the security computer  40 .  
         [0061]     As described in the software architecture review, supra, the software pathway of the login data is first to client module  114  at SEND LOGIN DATA TO CLIENT MODULE block  156  and then successively to server module  116  at SEND LOGIN DATA TO SERVER MODULE block  158  and to control module  62  at SEND LOGIN DATA TO CONTROL MODULE block  160 . In transmitting the login data from the client module  114  to the server module a proprietary protocol is employed, which protocol includes encryption of the data using standard techniques. The verification process is continued at the control module  62  which next enters the subscriber database  126  and retrieves at CONTROL MODULE QUERIES SUBSCRIBER DATABASE AND RETRIEVES PASSWORD ASSOCIATED WITH LOGIN ID block  162  the password associated with the logged in identification. The control module  62  verifies at CONTROL MODULE VERIFIES PASSWORD block  164  that the password received from the remote computer  22  is the same as the password retrieved from the subscriber database  126 .  
         [0062]     Upon verification, the control module  62  at DOES THE PASSWORD MATCH? block  166  sends confirmation thereof back along the software pathway to inform the user of the event. Upon failure to verify, the control module  62  at DOES THE PASSWORD MATCH? block  166  initiates an alarm indicating that the login conditions were not met. The software program upon an alarm condition terminates processing. Alternatively, the program offers the user an opportunity to retry whereupon there is a retracement through the same software path as just described and then, upon repeated alarm occurrence, the software terminates processing. The retry process may be limited to a specified number of times. The message that the verification has been achieved is transmitted along the software pathway substantially in the reverse manner as the login data transmission.  
         [0063]     From the control module  62 , the verification is first received by the server module  116  and at SEND VERIFICATION FROM SERVER MODULE TO CLIENT MODULE block  168  the verification message along with the information that the authentication is proceeding is transmitted to the client module  114 . In transmitting these messages to the client module  114  from the server module a proprietary protocol is employed, which protocol includes decryption of the data, where required, using standard techniques. The client module  114  transmits at SEND VERIFICATION FROM CLIENT MODULE TO HOST COMPUTER block  170  the message to the host computer  34 . Finally, the host computer  34  transmits at SEND VERIFICATION FROM HOST COMPUTER TO REMOTE COMPUTER block  172  the message that the login verification is complete is sent to the remote computer  22  and prompts the person or user  24  to stand by for a telephonic callback.  
         [0064]     Now with the control module  62  having verified the remote computer  22 , the software program hereof is constructed to have the control module  62  at CALLBACK INITIATED BY CONTROL MODULE block  174  initiate out-of-band the call-back procedure to the user  24 . The control module  62  queries the subscriber database  126  and retrieves therefrom the telephone number associated with the login identification. Based on the data retrieved from the subscriber database, the control module  62  instructs the line module  64  at DIAL USER TELEPHONE NUMBER block  176  to call user  24 . Upon user  24  answering the telephone at USER ANSWERS TELEPHONE block  178 , the software pathway continues with the line module  64  relaying to the control module  62  at CONTROL MODULE NOTIFIED BY LINE MODULE OF OFF-HOOK CONDITION block  180  that the user&#39;s telephone is off-hook. The program is constructed so that the control module  62  then instructs the speech module  66  at SPEECH MODULE INSTRUCTED BY CONTROL MODULE TO RETRIEVE PASSWORD block  182  to retrieve (or generate) a DTMF password. To accomplish this, the speech module  66  now queries the announcement database  130  at PROMPT RETRIEVED BY SPEECH MODULE block  184  retrieves the prompt to be played to the user  24 . Alternatively, the password for the prompt is generated and synthesized by the text-to-speech system  90 ,  92  and  94  of the speech module  66 .  
         [0065]     At PROMPT PLAYED BY SPEECH MODULE TO USER block  186 , the user  24  is instructed to impress the DTMF password on the telephone keypad. The program progresses so that after the user  24  enters the DTMF password on the telephone keypad at USER ENTER DTMF PASSWORD block  188 , the line module  64  at LINE MODULE TRANSMITS ENTRY TO CONTROL MODULE block  190  notifies the control module  62  of the entry made by user  24 . In the manner similar to the login password, supra, the control module  62  queries the subscriber database and, at CONTROL MODULE RETRIEVES DTMF PASSWORD block  192 , retrieves the password or the generated password associated with the subscriber. At CONTROL MODULE VERIFIES DTMF PASSWORD block  194 , the control module  62  verifies that the password entered at the telephone keypad by the user matches the password retrieved from the subscriber database. Upon verification, the control module  62  at DOES THE DTMF PASSWORD MATCH? block  196  sends confirmation thereof back along the software pathway to inform the user of the event.  
         [0066]     Upon failure to verify, the control module  62  at DOES THE DTMF PASSWORD MATCH? block  196  initiates an alarm indicating that the login conditions were not met. The software program upon an alarm condition terminates processing. As in the previous password verification and alternatively, the program offers the user an opportunity to retry. Whereupon there is a retracement through the same software path as just described and then, upon repeated alarm occurrence, the software program terminates processing. As before, the retry process may be limited to a specified number of times.  
         [0067]     Upon out-of-band callback verification being received, the biometric identification portion of the software program is initiated. In this present embodiment, while the biometric parameter that is monitored is speech, any of a number of parameters may be used. In this case, the control module  62  instructs the speech module  66  at SPEECH MODULE RETRIEVES PROMPT FOR USER block  198  to retrieve a prompt that for the purpose of later playing the prompt to the user and collecting the speech password. The speech module  66  queries the announcement database  130  and retrieves the prompt to be played to the user  24 . Besides using a prepared prompt, as above, a prompt synthesized by the text-to-speech system  90 ,  92  and  94  is utilizable for this purpose.  
         [0068]     The prompt for collecting the speech password is played to the user  24  at PROMPT USER AND COLLECT SPEECH PASSWORD block  200 . The user  24 , who has previously had his biometric sample, namely the speech pattern, registered with the speech database  128 , the voices the speech password at USER VOICES SPEECH PASSWORD block  202  and transmits the same over the telephone at the remote computer  22  to the security computer  40 . Then, at SPEECH MODULE RETRIEVES SPEECH PASSWORD ASSOCIATED WITH LOGIN ID block  204 , the software program for the speech module  66  is adapted to query the speech database  128  and to retrieve the speech password associated with the accessor&#39;s login identification. Through the application of biometric analysis, such as voice recognition technology, the speech or module  66  at SPEECH MODULE VERIFIES SPEECH PASSWORD block  206  verifies that the voiced speech password received from the user  24  has the same pattern as the speech password retrieved from database  128 .  
         [0069]     Upon verification, the speech module  66  at DOES THE SPEECH PASSWORD MATCH? block  208  sends confirmation thereof back along the software pathway to inform the user of the event. Upon failure to verify, the speech module  66  at DOES THE SPEECH PASSWORD MATCH? block  208  notifies the control module  62  which initiates an alarm indicating that the login conditions were not met. The software program upon an alarm condition terminates processing. As in the previous password verification and alternatively, the program offers the user an opportunity to retry. Whereupon there is a retracement through the same software path as just described and then, upon repeated alarm occurrence, the software program terminates processing.  
         [0070]     As before, the retry process may be limited to a specified number of times. Upon being notified of a match between the pattern of the voiced speech password and that of the one retrieved from the database  128 , the control module  62  at CONTROL MODULE INSTRUCTS SPEECH MODULE TO ANNOUNCE ACCESS IS GRANTED block  210  instructs the speech module  66  to provide an announcement to the user  24  indicating that access is granted. The speech module  66  queries the announcement database  130  and retrieves the announcement for the user  24 . Alternatively, the announcement can be synthesized by the text-to-speech system  90 ,  92  and  94  and played to the user  24 . Whichever announcement is used, it is made to the user at ACCESS GRANTED ANNOUNCEMENT MADE TO USER block  212 .  
         [0071]     Upon completion of the announcement at SPEECH MODULE NOTIFIES CONTROL MODULE OF ANNOUNCEMENT block  214 , the speech module  66  notifies the control module  62  that the announcement has been made to the user  24 . At this point at DISCONNECT TELEPHONE CONNECTION WITH USER block  215 , the control module  62  instructs the line module  64  to terminate the telephone connection and the telephone connection between the security computer  40  and user  24  is severed. At CONTROL MODULE SENDS AUTHENTICATION MESSAGE TO SERVER PROTOCOL MODULE block  216 , the message that the user  24  is authenticated is relayed by control module  62  to server protocol module  116  which is requested to communicate the same to the client protocol module  114 .  
         [0072]     At SERVER PROTOCOL MODULE SENDS AUTHENTICATION MESSAGE TO CLIENT PROTOCOL MODULE block  217 , the message is relayed to the client protocol module  114  and thence via a proprietary protocol, at CLIENT PROTOCOL MODULE SENDS AUTHENTICATION MESSAGE TO HOST COMPUTER block  218 , to the host computer  34 . The host computer or web server  34  at HOST COMPUTER GRANTS ACCESS TO USER block  219  grants access to the authenticated used  24 .  
         [0073]     In  FIG. 10 a  schematic diagram of the second embodiment of the present invention is shown. For ease of comprehension, where similar components are used, reference designators “ 200 ” units higher are employed. In contrast to  FIG. 1  which describes the out-of-band security networks for computer networks of this invention as applied to the internet or wide area networks, this embodiment describes the application to local area networks. The second embodiment is referred to generally by the reference designator  220 . Here the accessor is the computer equipment  222 , including the central processing unit and the operating system thereof, and the person or user  224  whose voice is transmittable by the telephone  226  over telephone lines  228 .  
         [0074]     While in this example the biometric parameter monitored is voice patterns as interpreted by voice recognition systems, any of a number of other parameters may be used to identify the person seeking access. The access network  230  is constructed in such a manner that, when user  224  requests access to a high security database  232  located at a host computer  234  through computer  222 , the request-for-access is diverted by a router  236  internal to the corporate network  238  to an out-of-band security network  240 . Here the emphasis is upon right-to-know classifications within an organization rather than on avoiding entry by hackers.  
         [0075]     Thus, as the accessor is already within the system, the first level of verification of login identification and password at the host computer is the least significant and the authentication of the person seeking access is the most significant. Authentication occurs in the out-of-band security network  240 , which is analogous to the one described in detail above, except the subscriber database becomes layered by virtue of the classification. This is in contradistinction to present authentication processes as the out-of-band security network  240  is isolated from the corporate network  238  and does not depend thereon for validating data. The overview shows the bibmetric validation which, in this case, takes the form of a voice network  242 .  
         [0076]     In  FIG. 11 a  schematic diagram of the third embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment describes the application of the security system to access over the internet. For ease of comprehension, where similar components are used, reference designators “ 300 ” units higher are employed. In contrast to  FIG. 1  which describes the out-of-band security networks for computer networks of this invention as applied to wide area networks, this embodiment describes the application to internet networks. The third embodiment is referred to generally by the reference designator  320 . The case of user accessing a web application, such as an online banking application, (located on a web server  334 ) over the internet  330 . The user from a computer  322  accesses the web application over an access channel and enters their USER ID. The web server  334  sends the USER ID to the security system  340 , also referred to as the centralized out-of-band authentication system (COBAS). COBAS  340  proceeds with authenticating the user through the user&#39;s cellular telephone over an authentication channel. The security system  340  calls the access-seeking user at the cellular telephone  326 . The user answers the phone and is prompted to enter a password for password verification and to enter a biometric identifier, such as a fingerprint. The security system  340  authenticates the user and sends the result to the web server  334 . Upon a positive authentication and after disconnecting from the authentication channel, access is granted along the access channel to the USER&#39;S PC device  322 .  
         [0077]     The flow diagram for the COBAS device  340  software is analogous to that described in the first embodiment, supra, but for the speech module  66 . In lieu thereof, in  FIG. 12  the fingerprint module  366  architecture is detailed. The fingerprint verification hardware  384 , consists of digital signal processors that utilize algorithms for verification of an accessor&#39;s fingerprint. The fingerprint verification hardware  384  is controlled by the software program of the fingerprint hardware driver  386 . The software program of the fingerprint verification processing unit  388  provides an interface with control module  362  and is structured to respond to queries therefrom for verifying an accessor&#39;s password. Also, the fingerprint processing unit  388  enables the enrollment of users fingerprint and the interaction of the fingerprint database of the COBAS device  340 .  
         [0078]     The text-to-speech (TTS) hardware  390  consists of digital signal processors that utilize TTS algorithms. The text-to-speech hardware  390  is controlled by the software program of the TTS hardware driver  392 . The software program of the TTS processing unit  394  provides an interface with the control module  362  and, as required by the control module  362 , converts text strings to synthesized speech. The announcement hardware  396  consists of digital signal processors that utilize speech algorithms to record and play announcements. The announcement hardware is controlled by the software program of the announcement hardware driver  398 . The software program of the announcement processing unit  400  also provides an interface with control module  362 ; upon demands of the control module  362 , supplies stored announcements; and interacts with the announcements database of the related database (not shown).  
         [0079]     In  FIG. 13 a  schematic diagram of the fourth embodiment of the present invention is shown. This embodiment describes the application to PDAs (Personal Digital Assistant) . For ease of comprehension, where similar components are used, reference designators “ 400 ” units higher are employed. In contrast to  FIG. 1  which describes the out-of-band security networks for computer networks as applied to wide area networks, this embodiment describes the application to wireless networks including peripherals, such as PDAs and cellular telephones. The fourth embodiment is referred to generally by the reference designator  420 .  
         [0080]     Although there are several PDAs currently marketing including the Blackberry and the Palm Computer, in this embodiment an HP iPAQ running on a Windows CE operating system is utilized. These PDAs have wireless capabilities and can also incorporate custom software applications. The HP iPAQ hereof incorporates a fingerprint reader. The security system  420  has two distinct and independent channels of operation, namely, the access channel and the authentication channel. The user from a computer  422  accesses the web application over an access channel and enters their USER ID. The web server  434  sends the USER ID to the security system  440 . COBAS  440  proceeds with authenticating the customer via the wireless network  442  over an authentication channel.  
         [0081]     The security system  440  sends an authentication request message to a software program located on the PDA  422 . The software program prompts the user to enter their fingerprint. The COBAS security system  440  now authenticates the user&#39;s fingerprint against the template stored in its database and send the result to the web server  434 . Upon a positive authentication and after disconnecting from the authentication channel, access is granted along the access channel to the USER&#39;S PDA device  422 .  
         [0082]     Because many varying and different embodiments may be made within the scope of the inventive concept herein taught, and because many modifications may be made in the embodiments herein detailed in accordance with the descriptive requirement of the law, it is to be understood that the details herein are to be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.