Method and apparatus for dynamically adjusting biometric user authentication for accessing a communication device

1. A communication device, comprising:

an authentication engine receiving a user-originated voice biometric input and determining one of:

a successful user authentication based on a voice biometric matching threshold; and

an unsuccessful user authentication based on the voice biometric matching threshold;

a database for building an individual user profile based on successful user authentications, the individual user profile comprising non-voice usage parameters collected during successful user authentications, the database generating non-voice usage compensation controls based on the non-voice usage parameters collected during successful user authentications;

the authentication engine is further operable to receive a valid user PIN entry, indicative of a valid user, and to further determine false rejections and valid rejections; and

the authentication engine, subsequent to the detection of a false rejection, adjusting the voice biometric matching threshold and enabling the non-voice usage compensation controls, thereby improving user authentication for a valid user having an individual false rejection rate that falls outside of a public safety population norm.

2. The communication device of claim 1 , further comprising a timer for determining that the valid user PIN entry is entered within a predetermined time of the unsuccessful user authentication.

3. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the voice biometric matching threshold comprises decreasing the voice biometric matching threshold to decrease the individual false rejection rate.

4. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the non-voice usage parameters, comprise one or more of:

time of communication device during an authentication attempt, location of communication device during an authentication attempt, position of communication device during an authentication attempt, microphone positioning relative to a user during an authentication attempt, mixed device usage during an authentication attempt, and phrase verification.

5. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein detection of a valid rejection by the authentication engine further comprises determining whether the valid rejection is user based or device based.

6. The communication device of claim 5 , wherein:

the communication device sends a user alert to indicate a need for user training of the device in response to the valid rejection being user based; and

the communication device sends a user alert to indicate a need for device servicing in response to the valid rejection being device based.

7. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the authentication engine utilizes a plurality of sensors that determine the non-voice usage parameters.

8. The communication device of claim 7 , wherein the sensors that determine non-voice usage parameters comprise at least one of:

an accelerometer;

a gyroscope;

global positioning system (GPS);

a proximity sensor;

a temperature sensor;

a lighting sensor;

an altitude sensor; and

radar.

9. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device provides push-to-talk (PTT) functionality operating within a public safety system.

10. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein the communication device is a public safety communication device operating within a public safety system.

11. The communication device of claim 1 , wherein receipt of entry of an invalid PIN results in a valid authentication failure and prevents the enablement of the non-voice usage compensation controls.

12. A method for adjusting user authentication for accessing a communication device, comprising:

receiving a user-originated voice biometric input to the communication device that meets a voice biometric matching threshold indicative of a successful user authentication;

building an individual user profile of non-voice usage parameters collected during the successful user authentication;

generating non-voice usage compensation controls based on the of non-voice usage parameters collected during the successful user authentication;

receiving a user-originated voice biometric input to the communication device that fails the voice biometric matching threshold indicative of an unsuccessful user authentication;

receiving a valid PIN entry, indicative of a valid user, to the communication device after the unsuccessful user authentication;

calculating an individual user-based false rejection rate in response to the valid PIN entry;

comparing the user-based false rejection rate to a public safety population norm;

detecting that the user-based false rejection rate exceeds that of the public safety population norm;

adjusting the voice biometric matching threshold to reduce the individual user-based false rejection rate; and

enabling the non-voice usage compensation controls.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the biometric matching threshold comprises:

decreasing the voice biometric matching threshold.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

verifying an authentication phrase after receiving the valid PIN entry.

15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the non-voice usage parameters, comprise one or more of:

time of communication device usage, location of communication device usage, position of communication device during usage, microphone positioning relative to a user, mixed device usage, and phrase verification.

16. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

detecting a valid biometric rejection; and

determining whether the valid biometric rejection is user based or device based.

17. The method of claim 16 , further comprising:

sending a user alert to indicate a need for user training of the device in response to the valid biometric rejection being user based; and

sending a user alert to indicate a need for device servicing in response to the valid biometric rejection being device based.

18. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

enabling user access to public safety services via the communication device in response to verification of the user's current non-voice usage parameters against the non-voice usage compensation controls and the adjusted voice biometric matching threshold being decreased.

19. The method of claim 18 , wherein the public safety services comprise push-to-talk services.

20. The method of claim 18 , wherein the public safety services comprise command central services.