Voice phone-based method and system to authenticate users

1. A method comprising:

playing a non-verbal sound when a user calls, wherein the non-verbal sound is selected based on the user;

comparing a vocal response from the user to a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

authenticating the user when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-verbal sound is randomly selected from a plurality of non-verbal sounds associated with the user.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

playing the non-verbal sound to the user; and

storing a desired vocal answer chosen by the user to obtain the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the non-verbal sound is based on a phone number which the user calls from and a numerical code.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

granting the user access to an account if the user is authenticated.

6. The method of claim 4 , wherein the phone number which the user calls from is provided by the user in response to a query.

7. The method of claim 4 , wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

8. The method of claim 4 , wherein the non-verbal sound only plays if the phone number and numerical code correspond to the user.

9. The method of claim 3 , further comprising storing a plurality of desired vocal answers chosen by the user to obtain a plurality of stored vocal responses corresponding to a plurality of non-verbal sounds.

10. The method of claim 5 , wherein granting the user access to an account comprises enabling the user to select from a plurality of service options on a main menu.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:

disconnecting the user call, if the user is not authenticated.

12. The method of claim 3 , further comprising:

storing the desired vocal answer chosen by the user as a sound-based component of the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound;

converting the desired vocal answer chosen by the user into a text string; and

storing the text string as a text-based component of the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein comparing the vocal response comprises:

comparing the vocal response with the sound-based component of the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

14. The method of claim 12 , wherein comparing the vocal response comprises:

converting the vocal response from the user into a text string; and

comparing the text string with the text-based component of the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the plurality of service options on a main menu comprises:

enabling a user to perform a balance inquiry;

enabling a user to pay for purchases;

enabling a user to conduct a money transfer;

enabling a user to receive money; or enabling a user to exit and disconnect the call.

16. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling the user to pay for purchases comprises:

having the user obtain a reference number when purchasing a product from a merchant;

prompting the user to enter the reference number;

verifying the reference number and then providing the user with a purchase amount value for confirmation; and

processing the payment if the user performs a purchase confirmation and sending the user and the merchant a confirmation message.

17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the confirmation message comprises a confirmation email, a confirmation text message sent with a phone, or a confirmation phone-call, which specifies the date, time and amount of the purchase confirmation or specifies the date, time and amount of a purchase cancellation.

18. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling the user to conduct a money transfer comprises:

prompting the user for a transferee ID and an amount to be transferred;

confirming with the user the amount and the transferee ID; and

transferring the amount to an account associated with the transferee ID if the user performs a transfer confirmation and sending the user and the transferee a confirmation message.

19. The method of claim 15 , wherein enabling the user to receive money comprises:

prompting the user for a transferor ID;

verifying whether the transferor has performed a transfer confirmation or a transfer cancellation; and

transferring the money to the user's account and sending the user and the transferor a confirmation message.

20. A method comprising:

registering a phone number;

calling an access phone number with the phone number;

speaking a vocal response in reply to a non-verbal sound; and

being authenticated if the vocal response matches a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

21. The method of claim 20 , wherein registering a phone number comprises:

entering a phone number on an online financial transaction program website.

22. The method of claim 20 , wherein the non-verbal sound is based on the phone number and from a numerical code.

23. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

accessing an account if authenticated.

24. The method of claim 22 , wherein the numerical code is generated from a security keyfob device.

25. The method of claim 22 , wherein the non-verbal sound only plays if the phone number and numerical code correspond to the user.

26. The method of claim 23 , wherein accessing the account comprises choosing from a plurality of service options on a main menu.

27. The method of claim 20 , further comprising:

being disconnected if the vocal response does not match the stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound.

28. The method of claim 26 , wherein said plurality of service options on the main menu comprises:

performing a balance inquiry;

paying for purchases;

conducting a money transfer;

receiving money; or exiting and disconnecting the call.

29. The method of claim 28 , wherein performing a balance inquiry comprises:

providing an account ID; and

receiving the current balance associated with the account ID.

30. The method of claim 28 , wherein paying for purchases comprises:

obtaining a reference number when purchasing a product from a merchant;

entering the reference number; presented with a purchase amount value for a purchase confirmation; and

receiving a confirmation message.

31. The method of claim 30 , wherein the confirmation message comprises a confirmation email, a confirmation text message sent with a phone, or a confirmation phone-call, which specifies the date, time and amount of the purchase confirmation or specifies the date, time and amount of a purchase cancellation.

32. The method of claim 28 , wherein conducting a money transfer comprises:

providing a transferee ID and an amount to be transferred;

having money transferred to a transferee account associated with the transferee ID if a transfer confirmation of the transferee ID and the amount to be transferred is performed; and

receiving a confirmation message.

33. The method of claim 28 , wherein receiving money comprises:

providing a transferor ID;

receiving money from the transferor if the transferor has performed a transfer confirmation; and

receiving a confirmation message.

34. A phone-system application comprising:

a telephone network equipped with Interactive Voice Response (IVR) capabilities configured to interact with a user;

a plurality of databases to store sounds and text strings, the plurality of databases being connected to the telephone network; and

software stored in the plurality of databases, wherein the software is configured to:

play a non-verbal sound when a user calls, wherein the non-verbal sound is selected based on the user;

compare a vocal response from the user to a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

authenticate the user when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

35. The phone-system application of claim 34 , wherein the telephone network further comprises:

an interface program that stores a desired vocal answer chosen by the user as the stored vocal response in the plurality of databases.

36. A non-transitory computer-readable medium containing instructions to perform a method comprising the steps of:

playing a non-verbal sound when a user calls, wherein the non-verbal sound is selected based on the user;

comparing a vocal response from the user to a stored vocal response corresponding to the non-verbal sound; and

authenticating the user when the vocal response from the user matches the stored vocal response.

37. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 36 , wherein the method further comprises:

granting the user access to an account if the user is authenticated.