Patent ID: 7023966

Claim:
In a telecommunications network, a method of authenticating for a first user of a first voice message system an identity of a second user of a second voice message system, comprising: receiving a voice message from the second user, the voice message having a voice message address of the second user; extracting from the voice message the voice message address and a voice clip comprising a predetermined voice segment; encoding the voice clip into an original voice print; storing in a memory the original voice print in association with the voice message address of the second user; receiving a subsequent voice message from the voice message address of the second user, wherein the subsequent voice message comprises the voice message address of the second user and a new voice clip; extracting from the subsequent voice message the voice message address of the second user and the new voice clip; encoding the new voice clip into a new voice print; searching the memory for the voice message address of the second user; retrieving the original voice print associated with the voice message address of the second user; comparing the original voice print and the new voice print; and returning to the first user an authenticating response if the original voice print and the new voice print are substantially the same.