Abstract:
The present invention discloses a payment card that uses speaker identification and verification (SIV) speech processing techniques for activation purposes. For example, the invention can initially identify a payment card in a deactivated state, which is an internal state of the payment card. Speech input can then be received. Speech characteristics of the speech input can be determined and compared against a voice print of an authorized card user. The payment card can be selectively activated based on comparison results. That is, when the voice print and the speech characteristics match, the payment card can be activated. Otherwise, the card will remain deactivated. An activated payment card is one that has undergone an internal state change from the deactivated state. For example, when activated a credit card number can appear in a display and a magnetic strip can contain payment information, neither of which are present in the deactivated state.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    1. Field of the Invention 
         [0002]    The present invention relates to the field of payment card activation technologies and, more particularly, to using speaker identification and verification speech processing technologies to activate a payment card. 
         [0003]    2. Description of the Related Art 
         [0004]    When a customer is accepted for a credit card, a contract is formed between the customer and the credit provider, where the customer contractually agrees to reimburse the credit provider for purchased goods. Similarly, a vendor accepting a credit card agrees to immediately provide goods to credit card wielding customers in accordance with a contractual obligation of the credit provider to reimburse the vendor. This system is advantageous to all involved parties, yet is subject to harmful insecurities. A principle insecurity occurs when a fraudulent credit card transaction is conducted, where a card wielder is not the customer authorized to use the card. Fraudulent transactions typically directly and financially harm the credit provider, who still has to pay the vendor for fraudulently obtained goods, but who is not reimbursed by the customer. Vendors and card customers are indirectly harmed in the form of escalated credit provider fees, which the credit provider needs to charge to compensate themselves for moneys lost during fraudulent transactions. Moreover, vendors and card holders involved in fraudulent transactions are often harmed by compensation delays, a period of credit unavailability, obligatory administrative paperwork detailing specifics of the fraudulent transactions, and other frustrations. 
         [0005]    To minimize a possibility of fraudulent transactions, many security measures are implemented to minimize fraud. One such security measure is shipping new credit cards in a deactivated state. When a customer receives the card, it is fully disabled and is only enabled once a phone number is called to activate the card. Disablement is external to the payment card meaning that a card provider server disables the card so that any attempted transactions involving the disabled card are denied by the server. Currently, upon activation, personal information is required to establish the identity of the activating person. Conventionally used personal information can often be obtained through web searches or other information gathering techniques. Unauthorized individuals who have acquired a deactivated card can often fraudulently activate it using discoverable personal information, further, once activated a card can be stolen by a non-authorized user and utilized until the theft was detected. Another authentication or security technique is needed to prevent unauthorized users access to credit cards, which would minimize fraudulent transactions. 
       SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
       [0006]    The present invention discloses using speaker identification and verification (SIV) speech processing techniques to activate a payment card. A payment card can be any negotiable instrument able to be presented as payment during a transaction. For example, a payment card can be a credit card, a debit card, a gift card, a phone card, a smart card, and the like. A voice print for an authorized speaker can be embedded into the card. Activation can require speech input from a user from which speech characteristics are extracted and compared against the voice print. Activation via the speech input and voice print can occur when a card is initially received, further, the card can be selectively deactivated, which requires a reactivation before it can be used. 
         [0007]    In one embodiment, the new payment card can have a self-contained activation/deactivation system. The self-contained activation system can allow a customer to activate/deactivate the new card without the use of any external device. Speech input can he provided to the self-contained activation system, which extracts speaker characteristics from the input and compares these characteristics against the voice print before activating the card. In one implementation, after an established period lapses, an activated card can automatically deactivate itself. The payment card can also include a manual deactivation option. A deactivated card can be one not able to be used as a negotiable or payment instrument. 
         [0008]    For example, credit card numbers can only be readable when a card is activated. Further, magnetic strip information needed for a card reader can be disabled when the card is deactivated. Payment cards are not limited to usages that are dependent upon numbers or a magnetic strip and deactivation/activation can be tailored to payment card specifics. For example, a payment card can authenticate itself using a radio frequency identification (RFID) chip containing data which can be obscured or unavailable when a payment card is deactivated. In one embodiment, an activated card can be used with unmodified commercial off-the-shelf (COTS) point of sale (POS) systems. Thus, the present invention can be implemented using existing payment card infrastructures. 
         [0009]    The present invention can be implemented in accordance with numerous aspects consistent with the material presented herein. For example, one aspect of the present invention can include a method for activating a payment card. The method can include a step of identifying a payment card in a deactivated state and a step of receiving speech input. The deactivated state is an internal state of the payment card. Speech characteristics of the speech input can be determined and compared against a voice print of an authorized card user. The payment card can be selectively activated based on comparison results. That is, when the voice print and the speech characteristics match, the payment card can be activated. Otherwise, the card will remain deactivated. An activated payment card is one that has undergone an internal state change from the deactivated state. 
         [0010]    Another aspect of the present invention can include a payment card that includes an internal enabled and disabled state as well as a state change mechanism. The internal enabled state can be one in which a payment mechanism is active so that the payment card is able to be used for payment transactions. The internal disabled state can be one in which a payment mechanism is deactivated so that the payment card is unable to be used for payment transactions. The state change mechanism can change the payment card from the internal disabled state to the internal enabled state based upon how speech characteristics extracted from speech input compare with a voice print of an authorized cad user. 
         [0011]    Still another aspect of the present invention can include a payment card system that includes a memory store, an audio transducer, an SIV engine, and an activated card authorized card user. The audio transducer can be configured to receive speech input. The SIV engine can compare speech characteristics extracted from the speech input against the voice print. The activation engine can change the payment card between an internal disabled state and an internal enabled state. The payment card can be able to be utilized for payment transaction when in the internal state is enabled and can be unable to be utilized for payment transactions when in the internal state is disabled. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0012]    There are shown in the drawings, embodiments which are presently preferred, it being understood, however, that the invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown. 
           [0013]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a method for using speaker identification speech processing techniques to activate payment card 
           [0014]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangements of a system that uses speaker identification and verification speech processing techniques to activate a payment card. 
           [0015]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system of an embodiment of 
           [0016]    speaker identification and verification speech processing techniques to activate payment cards. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION 
       [0017]    Currently, there are many forms of identity theft. Identity theft exists because there are insecurities that allow for it. For example, many identifying elements can he duplicated or faked. Such identifying elements can be an identification card such as a driver&#39;s license, a signature, a password or secret code, or the like. Certain identifying elements, such as speech characteristics, are currently hard to fraudulently obtain. Such speech characteristics can include tone, pitch variance, speech flow, gender, head size, accent, and the like. When these characteristics are combined, they can form a unique identifiable “voice print” The present invention uses this voice print when activating payment cards. A payment card is defined to include a variety of payment instruments, such as a credit card, a debit card, a gift card, a rechargeable card, a radio frequency identification (RFID) based payment instrument, smart, cards, and the other payment arti facts. 
         [0018]      FIG. 1  is a flow chart of a method  100  for using speaker identification and verification SIV speech processing techniques to activate payment cards. The method  100  can begin in step  105 , where a user requests a payment card from a credit provider or other card source, in step  110 , the credit provider can create or can obtain a voice print of the user. This step can involve voice enrollment, where a user speaks a sufficient number of phrases for an accurate voice print to be constructed. In step  115 , the credit provider can create the payment card with the voice print embedded in the card and can send the card to the user in a deactivated state. In an alternative embodiment, the voice print can be stored in a data store external to the card, which can be accessed by a machine during an activation attempt, in step  120 , the user can receive the card and can attempt activation. 
         [0019]    In step  125 , a user can be prompted for spoken input. In one configuration, the prompting can be implicit, where a user automatically speaks alter pressing an activation button or selector on a card. The prompting can also be an explicit audio or visual prompting for spoken input. In step  130 , spoken input can be speech processed to extract speaker characteristics, in step  135 , the extracted speaker characteristics can be compared against the voice print of the user, which can be stored within the card as noted by step  115 . 
         [0020]    When the characteristics do not match the voice print, the method can proceed from step  135  to step  140 , where a count of failed attempts can be incremented. In step  145 , a check to determine if the maximum attempt count has been reached can be performed. If the maximum attempt count has been reached, the process can move onto step  150 , and the card can be locked to prevent further activation attempts. If in step  145  the maximum attempt count has not been reached, the process can repeat step  125 , where the activation system re-prompts the user for spoken input. 
         [0021]    When the characteristics match in step  135 , the process can progress from step  135  to step  160  where additional identity verification data may be required, which is compared against a correct response (not shown). Activation or security based upon identity verification data (not speech input) is well known and can be easily combined with the disclosed speech input/voice print based activation by one of ordinary skill in the art if additional security is desired. 
         [0022]    In step  165 , the payment card can he activated. Activation can enable previously disabled portions of the payment card, such as a magnetic strip, a card number display, or an RFID component. Once activated, the payment card can be utilized by a point of sale (POS) device, such as a magnetic strip reader that is commonly used to read credit cards. Unlike conventional “activation” of a payment card, which occurs at a payment center server activation, step  165  refers to intra-card activation. Even if a payment center (e.g., credit provider) has activated a card to permit charge processing, an Internally deactivated card is one that is not usable for charging purposes. 
         [0023]    In step  170 , a user can opt to deactivate the payment card. This causes the card to be internally deactivated in step  180 . When no manual selection to deactivate a payment card is made, the payment card can still be automatically deactivated, as shown by step  175 . For example, a time out condition can cause an activated card to be automatically deactivated a fixed time after activation has occurred. Deactivating a card in step ISO represents disabling necessary portions of the payment card, such as a number display, a magnet strip, and the like. 
         [0024]    The deactivation options shown in steps  170 - 180  are optional steps. In one embodiment, the method  100  can be designed to execute once to initially activate the payment card internally so that it can thereafter he used. Further, additional deactivation conditions are contemplated, which are not shown in method  100 . For example, a POS device can possess a capability to deactivate the payment card in one embodiment. For example, a card can be deactivated when a questionable charge is attempted, so that a card wielder is required to provide speech input that matches the voice print before, the card can again be used. 
         [0025]      FIG. 2  is a schematic diagram illustrating arrangements of a system  200  that uses SIV speech processing techniques to activate a payment card. The activation/deactivation process for the cards shown in system  200  can occur in a manner elaborated upon in method  100 . 
         [0026]    In system  200 , an embedded SIV arrangement  201  can allow the distribution of a self-contained card  203  and activation system. The payment card  203  can advantageously be utilized by conventional, unmodified, commercial off-the-self (COTS) POS devices. The card  203  can be a self-contained payment card and activation system with an embedded activation engine  211  and embedded SIV engine  212 . Card  203  can include display  205 , audio transducer  215 , power switch  202 , and power source  206 , a magnetic strip, and the like. 
         [0027]    Embedded activation engine  211  can be used to perform tasks necessary to activate card  203  after using audio transducer  215  to receive spoken input for speech identification and verification purposes. The activation engine  211  can also be used to deactivate a previously activated card  203 . Activation can enable necessary payment components. For example, activating a card  203  can result in a credit card number being shown in display  205 , where the display  205  does not display the credit card number when deactivated. In another example, activating the card  203  can result in necessary information being written/enabled in the magnetic strip. Embedded activation engine  211  can be implemented in many ways such as, but not limited to, an integrated circuit, microprocessor, flash memory, or the like. 
         [0028]    Embedded SIV engine  212  can be used to perform speech identification and verification tasks to determine the identity of the user by receiving spoken input through audit) transducer  215 . Embedded SIV engine  212  can determine the user&#39;s Identity by comparing speech characteristics extracted from the spoken input to stored speech characteristics of the user, which are contained in a voice print stored in a memory of the card  203 . The memory containing the voice print can be a fixed memory that a user is unable to read or alter, which was established when the card  203  was issued. Tampering with the voice print memory (or the engines  211 ,  212  for that matter) can permanently disable the card  203 . Embedded SIV engine  212  can be implemented in many ways such as, but not limited to, an integrated circuit, microprocessor, flash memory, or the like. 
         [0029]    Audio transducer  215  can be used to accept spoken input and convert it into electrical energy, usable by SIV engine  212 . Audio transducer  215  can be any device capable of receiving audio input, such as a microphone. 
         [0030]    Power source  206  can be used to provide power for elements embedded in card  203  that require power. Such elements that can require power in some embodiments are audio transducer  215 , SIV engine  212 , activation engine  212  and display  205 . Power source  206  can be any power cell or portable data source, such as a “watch” battery. Power source  206  can also be external to the card  203 , which can include an electrical conduit for receiving power. For example, the card  203  can include a USB port, which receives power from a remote source, 
         [0031]    Display  205  can be used to display information about the card&#39;s current status. Display  205  can allow easy use of the card&#39;s activation system. Display  205  can he used to prompt the user for spoken input for speech identification and verification. Display  205  can exist in different forms in different embodiments, which include an LED or LCD display. The display  205  is not to be construed as limited in this manner, however. For example, in one contemplated embodiment, electronic ink (e-ink) that does not require constant power to be maintained can be used to variably show a credit card number. In another example, the display  205  can include an obscuring element, which prevents (when enabled) an underlying card number (visible when the obscuring element is disabled) from being read. 
         [0032]    Power switch  202  can be used to toggle a power state for card  203 . In one embodiment, the power switch  202  can be manually turned on/of, such as by pinching a portion of the card  203 . In another embodiment, a card can automatically power-off, when not in use after a designated time. Attempted use of the card with a POS device can cause the card  203  to be automatically powered on, which may or may not require the card  203  to be re-activated. 
         [0033]    When the components of arrangement  201  are used together, audio transducer  215  can be used to receive the spoken input and can send the spoken input to SIV engine  212 . SIV engine  212  can determine the speech characteristics of the spoken input. In one embodiment, SIV engine  212  can determine if the speech characteristics match stored speech characteristics, or voice print. When a match results, the activation engine  211  can activate the card  203 . 
         [0034]    It should be appreciated that the disclosed payment card  203  is able to be selectively disabled/enabled internally. Activation and enablement can be based upon comparing a voice print against speech characteristics extracted from speech input. This can be implemented in numerous manners, which achieve a similar effect to the arrangement  201 . A few of these derivatives are represented by arrangements  221 - 241 . Arrangement  221 , for example, is a distributed arrangement where one or more components from arrangement  201  are implemented within a portable activation device  210  external to the payment card  220 . The portable activation device  210  can be used to activate multiple different payment cards  220  implemented in accordance with the inventive arrangements disclosed herein. More specifically, somewhat expensive components, such as the activation engine  211  and the SIV engine  212 , can be implemented in a re-usable device  210  so that an expense of providing these components is not incurred for each payment card  220 . The end result, however, is effectively the same since a user possessing the card  220  and the activation, device  210  can selectively activate/deactivate the payment card  220 . 
         [0035]    More specifically, the portable activation device  210  can be powered on when card  220  is read using card reader  235 . Portable activation device  210  can prompt the user to provide spoken input for speech identification and verification. Portable activation device  210  can include power source  225 , activation engine  21 L SIV engine  212 , and audio transducer  230  to receive the spoken input and process it. Data port  237  can be used to allow portable activation device  210  and computing device  236  to interface and exchange information. In one embodiment, computing device  236  connected via data port  237  can be required for activation. Further, one or more of the engines  211 ,  212  can execute within the computing device  236 . 
         [0036]    Another arrangement for an activate-able payment card  220  is shown in kiosk arrangement  231 . In arrangement  236 , a kiosk  238  can include one or more of the components shown in arrangement  201 , such as activation engine  211  or SIV engine  212 . Kiosk  238  can be any computing device capable of interacting with the payment card  220  so that together speech based activation actions can be conducted. For example, the kiosk  238  can he an ATM machine which has been modified to permit payment card  220  activation. The kiosk  238  can also be modified to automatically deactivate the payment card  220  based upon predetermined conditions, such as the card  220  being used for a questionable transaction. Deactivation of the card  220  renders the payment card  220  non-operable (i.e., a card number can be obscured, a magnetic strip cleared of information,etc.) etc.) until the card  220  is re-activated. The kiosk  238  can include a card reader  235  and can be connected to a network  240 . In one implementation, one or more of the activation functions cat be conducted by a network  240  element remotely located from either the payment card  220  or the kiosk  236 . 
         [0037]    Still another arrangement for an activate-able payment card  220  is shown in the interactive voice response (IVR) arrangement  241 . In arrangement  241 , a user  261  can use telephony device  260  to contact IVR server  270 , which performs one or more functions needed to activate a payment card  220 . User  261  can provide card information  262  and user  261  specific speech input to IVR server  270 . The IVR server  270  can extract speech characteristics from the speech input using SIV engine  212 , which also compares the extracted speech characteristics against a voice print of the user  261 . When the comparison matches, the activation engine  211  can execute an activation action. For example, the activation action can provide an activation number, which the user  261  can input into the card  220  using an included numeric input mechanism  290 , which is integrated with the payment card  220 . 
         [0038]      FIG. 3  is a schematic diagram illustrating a system  300  of an embodiment of speaker identification and verification speech processing techniques to activate credit/debit cards or other negotiable instruments. More specifically, system  300  illustrates that activation/deactivation of the payment card  320  in accordance with method  100  can involve multiple computing components connected via a network  340 . For example, the components of system  300  can include a client  310 , an application server  343 , a backend server  352 , and a voice server  350 . 
         [0039]    The card  320  itself can be selectively disabled. When disabled (i.e., a card number can be obscured, a magnetic strip cleared of information, etc.) the card  320  can be unable to be used for payment transactions. Activation of the card  320  enables it (i.e., a card number can be displayed, a magnetic strip loaded with appropriate payment information, etc.) so that the card  320  is able to be used for payment transactions. 
         [0040]    As shown, a user  361  can speak into client  310 , which conveys speech input over network  340 , as prompted by a speech enabled application  346  executing on an application server  343 . The speech input can be sent to the voice server  350  for processing by one or more speech engines  355 . A voice print of the user  361  can also be retrieved from a data store  354  of a backend server  352 , which can be a server of the credit provider. When the speech characteristics of the speech input match the voice print, an activation command can be conveyed to the client  310 . This activation command/key can be transferred to the client  320 . The transfer can require a manual entry to the card  320  as shown in arrangement  241 . The transfer can also occur digitally, such as over a USB connection established between client  310  and card  320  or over a wireless (e.g., BLUETOOTH) connection between the client  310  and the card  320 . Once client  320  receives a proper key, it can be activated so that It is able to be used for credit transactions. 
         [0041]    The present invention: may be realized in hardware, software, or a combination of hardware and software. The present invention may be realized in a centralized fashion in one computer system or in a distributed fashion where different elements are spread across several interconnected computer systems. Any kind of computer system or other apparatus adapted for carrying out the methods described herein is suited. A typical combination of hardware and software may be a general purpose computer system with a computer program that, when being loaded and executed, controls the computer system such that it carries out the methods described herein. 
         [0042]    The present invention also may be embedded in a computer program product, which comprises all the features enabling the implementation of the methods described herein, and which when loaded in a computer system is able to carry out these methods. Computer program in the present context means any expression, in any language, code or notation, of a set of instructions intended to cause a system having an information processing capability to perform a particular function either directly or after either or both of the following: a) conversion to another language, code or notation; b) reproduction in a different material form. 
         [0043]    This invention may be embodied in other forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof. Accordingly, reference should be made to the following claims, rather than to the foregoing specification, as indicating the scope of the invention.