1. A voice authentication apparatus comprising: an output unit which preferentially outputs a question with which text information indicating an answer is associated than a question 5 with which text information indicating an answer is not associated, and an authentication unit which performs voice authentication using voice information acquired as an answer to the question outputted by the output unit. 10 2. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a recording unit in which questions are recorded in association with user's identification information, wherein the questions include a question for which text information indicating an answer to the question is associated and recorded, and a question for 15 which text information indicating an answer to the question is not recorded.

3. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the voice information includes voice outputted by a user after the output unit outputs the question. 20

4. The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a priority setting unit which sets a priority of the question, wherein the priority of the question indicates a priority with which the output unit outputs the question, 25 wherein the recording unit records the priority of the question, and wherein the priority setting unit sets a higher priority to the question wi th which the text information indicating the answer is associated than the question with which the test information indicating the answer is not associated. 30 5. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the output unit outputs a question of a next highest priority when the authentication unit failed the authentication. 20

6. The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the output unit prompts an operator to ask a user the question displayed on the output unit.

7. A voice authentication 5 method comprising: preferentially outputting a question with which text information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text information indicating an answer is not associated, and performing voice authentication using voice information acquired as an 10 answer to the outputted question.

8. A recording medium storing a program causing a computer to execute: a process which preferentially outputs a question with which text 15 information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text information indicating an answer is not associated, and a process which performs voice authentication using voice information acquired as an answer to the outputted question.

[0001] The present invention relates to a voice authentication apparatus, a voice
authentication method and a recording medium.
10
BACKGROUND ART
[0002] In a service that accepts telephone inquiries such as an insurance service,
an inquiry of a bank account and a membership service, identity verification using
voice authentication may be performed in order to disclose information only to a
15 specific person.
[0003] The Patent document 1 discloses a system for specifying that a speaker on
the phone is a customer registered in advance. The system compares voiceprint
information extracted from the speaker's voice with a database in which voiceprints
are registered, and specifies that the speaker is a customer registered in advance.
20
PRECEDING TECHNICAL REFERENCES
PATENT DOCUMENT
[0004] Patent Document 1: Japanese Patent Application Laid-open under No. JP
2010-113167
25
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED BY THE INVENTION
[0005] According to the technique described in Patent Document 1, there are a
plurality of groups in the database in which the voiceprints are registered, and the
30 system compares the voiceprint of the speaker with the voiceprints of the reference
person of each group. Then, the system sequentially compares the voiceprint of
the speaker with the voiceprints of the registered persons belonging to the most
similar group, and identifies the most similar registered person. In this case, it
3
takes time to sequentially compare the speaker's voiceprint with the voiceprints
registered in the database.
[0006] It is an example object of the present invention to realize voice
authentication in a short time and with high accuracy in a situation where identity
verification is performed 5 via a telephone.
MEANS FOR SOLVING THE PROBLEM
[0007] According to an example aspect of the present invention, there is provided
a voice authentication apparatus comprising:
10 an output unit which preferentially outputs a question with which text
information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
an authentication unit which performs voice authentication using voice
information acquired as an answer to the question outputted by the output unit.
15 [0008] According to another example aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a voice authentication method comprising:
preferentially outputting a question with which text information indicating
an answer is associated than a question with which text information indicating an
answer is not associated, and
20 performing voice authentication using voice information acquired as an
answer to the outputted question.
[0009] According to still another example aspect of the present invention, there is
provided a recording medium storing a program making a computer execute:
a process which preferentially outputs a question with which text
25 information indicating an answer i s associated than a question with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
a process which performs voice authentication using voice information
acquired as an answer to the outputted question.
30 EFFECT OF THE INVENTION
[0010] According to the present invention, it is possible to perform authentication
by voice in a short time and with high accuracy.
4
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is an example of a functional block diagram of a voice
authentication system of an example embodiment.
FIG. 2 is an example of a functional block diagram of the voice
authentication apparatus of the example 5 embodiment.
FIG. 3 is a diagram schematically illustrating an example of information
processed by the voice authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
FIG. 4 is a diagram illustrating an example of a hardware configuration of
the voice authentication apparatus according to the example embodiment.
10 FIG. 5 is a flowchart illustrating an example of a processing flow of the
voice authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
FIG. 6 is an example of a functional block diagram of the voice
authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
FIG. 7 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow of the
15 voice authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
FIG. 8 is an example of a functional block diagram of the voice
authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
FIG. 9 is a flowchart illustrating an example of the processing flow of the
voice authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
20 FIG. 10 is an example of a functional block diagram of the voice
authentication apparatus of the example embodiment.
EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS
[0012]
25 A first example embodiment of the present invention will be described.
Using the functional block diagram of FIG. 1, an overall view of the voice
authentication system of the example embodiment will be described. The voice
authentication apparatus 10 is connected to the operator terminal 20, and transmits
and receives information necessary for voice authentication.
30 [0013] Voice authentication is an authentication method that identifies the person
who spoke using the feature amount of the voice. As the voice authentication
method, there are a method for registering and authenticating voice information of a
specific phrase (text -dependent method) and a method for registering and
5
authenticating voice information of non-fixed natural conversation without
depending on a phrase (text -independent method). Since the text-dependent
method uses speech voice data of a specific phrase for registration and
authentication, it is possible to perform authentication with shorter speech than the
text-independent method that does not depend on a phrase, and with 5 high accuracy.
Further, even in the text-independent method, if the text information indicated by
the voice used for the verification is known, authentication can be performed with
high accuracy.
[0014] The voice authentication apparatus 10 includes an identification
10 information acquisition unit 11, a storage unit 12, an output unit 13, a voice
acquisition unit 14, and an authentication unit 15. The operator terminal 20 is a
terminal used by an operator in a call center or the like, and includes a
communication unit 21, an input unit 22 and a display unit 23. These
configurations are connected via a communication network, such as the Internet, and
15 can communicate with each other.
[0015] The example embodiment will be described with reference to an example
in which an operator engaged in a telephone response work at a call center performs
identification of a customer on the phone using voice authentication. In the
example embodiment, the "customer" is a person who is the target of the
20 identification.
[0016] The operator is a person who receives a telephone inquiry from the
customer and responds to the inquiry. The operator operates the operator terminal
20 during the telephone response work. In the event that the operator discloses
restricted information such as personal information or the like to the customer who
25 made the inquiry by telephone, the operator needs to confirm that the customer is
the person to whom the personal information can be disclosed, before disclosing the
information. In this example embodiment, voice authentication is used to confirm
the customer's identity.
[0017] The operator terminal 20 is exemplified by, but is not limited to, a
30 personal computer, a smart phone, a tablet terminal, a mobile phone, a dedicated
terminal, and the like.
[0018] The input unit 22 receives the input of the identification information that
identifies the customer, and transmits the input ted information to the identification
6
information acquisition unit 11. The operator inputs the identification information
heard from the customer to the input unit 22. The input unit 22 may be
implemented as a device for receiving an input from the operator. The input unit
22 may include, but is not limited to, a keyboard connected to a personal computer,
a touch panel of a smartphone or a tablet terminal 5 , and the like.
[0019] The identification information acquisition unit 11 acquires the
identification information of the customer. The identification information may be
received from an external terminal, or inputted to the voice authentication apparatus
10. The identification information is exemplified by, but is not limited to, a
10 telephone number, a registration number, a name, a postcode, an address, a birth
date, a phonation phrase, an iris, a facial image, a finge rprint, a palmprint, a vein, a
gait, and the like.
[0020] The concept of the database included in the storage unit 12 will be
described with reference to FIG. 2. The storage unit 12 includes an authentication
15 database 1B in which the feature amounts of the customer's voices are recorded, and
a question database 2B in which questions used to authenticate the customer are
recorded. The question database 2B records information indicating questions to be
asked by the operator to the customers when the customer 's identity is confirmed
and information indicating answers to those questions in a manner associated with
20 each other.
[0021] The information recorded in the question database 2B will be described
with reference to FIG. 3. FIG. 3 is an example of informat ion recorded in the
question database 2B. The question database 2B records questions and answers
used to authenticate customers in association with each other. The combinations
25 of questions and answers are recorded in association with the customer
identification information.
[0022] In the example in FIG. 3, the answer to the recorded question "What is the
date of birth?" is recorded as the text information "MONTH, DATE". On the other
hand, for the recorded question "What is the bottom four digits of your mobile
30 phone?", no text information indicating the answer is recorded. In this way, the
question database 2B records several types of questions with which answers are
recorded as the text information and questions with which answers are not recorded
as the text information.
7
[0023] The output unit 13 uses the identification information acquired by the
identification information acquisition unit 11 to specify a question associated with
the customer indicated by the identification information from the questions recorded
in the question database 2B, and preferentially outputs a question with which the
answer is recorded in association with the text information. The 5 output unit 13
may output an instruction to display information on the display unit 23, or the
output unit 13 itself may have the function of the display unit 23.
[0024] The display unit 23 displays information that the operator refers to. The
display unit 23 displays the information received from the output unit 13. The
10 information displayed by the display unit 23 may include, for example, information
necessary for identity verification of the customer, information indicating a question
to be asked by the operator to the customer, results of the voice authentication, or
the like. The display unit 23 is a device to output visual information, and a display,
a lamp or the like is exemplified, but is not limited thereto.
15 [0025] Instead of transmitting information to the operator by the display unit 23,
a speaker (not shown) may transmit information re ceived from the output unit 13 to
the operator in voice. Also, the display unit 23 may include a speaker (not shown).
In that case, the display unit 23 outputs the information received from the output
unit 13 as audio information and visual information. The speakers not shown are
20 exemplified by, but not limited to, those embedded in a personal computer or a
headset connected to a tablet terminal, or those provided in a smartphone or tablet
terminal.
[0026] The communication unit 21 receives the voice of the customer during the
telephone communication between the operator terminal 20 and the customer, and
25 transmits the received voice to the voice acquisition unit 14. It is sufficient that
the voice transmitted by the communication unit 21 to the voice acquisition unit 14
includes at least a portion of the voice of the customer. For example, the
communication unit 21 transmits the voice of the customer answering to the
question, after the operator asks the question to the customer. The communication
30 unit 21 may be designed to acquire the voice of the customer simply after asking the
question.
[0027] The communication unit 21 may be implemented as a device used by the
operator to make telephone communication with the customer. The communication
8
unit 21 includes, but is not limited to, a headset connected to a personal computer or
a tablet terminal, a microphone and a speaker of a smartphone or a tablet terminal,
and the like.
[0028] The voice acquisition unit 14 acquires the voice of the customer, and
transmits the voice to the authentication unit 15. It is sufficient 5 that the voice
transmitted by the voice acquisition unit 14 to the authentication unit 15 includes at
least a portion of the voice of the customer. For example, the voice acquisition
unit 14 acquires the voice after the output unit 13 outputs the information (e.g., a
question to be used for authentication).
10 [0029] The authentication unit 15 refers to the voice or the feature amount of the
voice acquired by the voice acquisition unit 14, and compares the feature amount
with the feature amounts of the voices recorded in the authentication database 1B.
If authentication is successful, the authentication unit 15 determines that the
customer is the person indicated by the identification information.
15 [0030] Next, an example of a hardware configuration in which the voice
authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20 are implemented using one
or more computers will be described. The functional units of the voice
authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20 are realized by any
combination of hardware and software, such as a CPU (Central Processing Unit) of
20 any computer, a memory, a program loaded into the memory, a storage unit such as
a hard disk for storing the program, and a network connection interface. It will be
understood by those skilled in the art that there are various modifications of this
implementation method and device. In addition to the program stored before
shipment of the device, the storage unit may store a program in an optical disk, a
25 magneto-optical disk, a storage medium such as a semiconductor flash memory , or a
program downloaded from a server on the Internet.
[0031] FIG. 4 is a block diagram illustrating a hardware configuration of the
voice authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20. As shown in FIG.
4, the voice authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20 include a
30 processor 1A, a memory 2A, an input/output interface 3A, a peripheral circuit 4A, a
communication interface 5A, and a bus 6A. The peripheral circuit 4A includes
various modules. The voice authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal
20 may have no peripheral circuitry 4A. Incidentally, the voice authentication
9
apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20 may be constituted by a plurality of
devices divided physically and/or logically. In this case, each of the plurality of
devices may include the above hardware configuration.
[0032] The bus 6A is a data transmission path for the processor 1A, the memory
2A, the input/output interface 3A, the peripheral circuit 4A and 5 the communication
interface 5A to transmit and receive data to and from each other. The processor
1A is an arithmetic processing unit such as a CPU, a GPU (Graphics Processing
Unit), or a microprocessor. The processor 1A can execute the process according to
various programs stored in the memory 2A, for example.
10 [0033] The memory 2A is, for example, a memory such as RAM (Random Access
Memory) or ROM (Read Only Memory), and stores programs and var ious data.
[0034] The input/output interface 3A includes an interface for acquiring
information from an input device, an external device, an external storage unit, an
external sensor, a camera, or the like, and an interface for outputting information to
15 an output device, an external device, an external storage unit, or the like. The
input device is, for example, a touch panel, a keyboard, a mouse, a microphone, a
camera, or the like. The output device is, for example, a display, a speaker, a
printer, a lamp, and the like.
[0035] The processor 1A can issue instructions to each module and perform
20 operations based on the results of those operations.
[0036] The communication interface 5A enables the voice authentication
apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20 to communicate with an external device,
and also enables the voice authentication apparatus 10 and the operator terminal 20
to communicate with each other. It is noted that some functions of the voice
25 authentication apparatus 10 or the operator terminal 20 may be configured by a
computer.
[0037] Next, a voice authentication method in this example embodiment will be
described with reference to the flowchart of FIG. 5. The operator operates the
operator terminal 20 to start telephone communication with the customer. The
30 operator receives the identification information of the customer during the telephone
communication, and inputs it to the input unit 22 (S11). The input unit 22
transmits the received identification information of the customer to the
identification information acquisition unit 11. The identification information
10
acquisition unit 11 specifies the group of questions associated with the
identification information from the question database 2B in the storage unit 12
based on the received ident ification information of the customer (S12).
[0038] From the group of questions associated with the identification information
of the customer, the output unit 13 transmits, to the display unit 23, 5 a question with
which the text information indicating the answer is associated and recorded. The
display unit 23 displays the question transmitted from the output unit 13 (S13).
The operator askes the question displayed on the display 23 to the customer on the
phone.
10 [0039] After the operator askes the question, the communication unit 21 acquires
voice indicating the answer to the question, and transmits the voice to the voice
acquisition unit 14 (S14). Namely, the communication unit 21 acquires the voice
of the customer after the output unit 13 outputs the que stion. The voice
acquisition unit 14 transmits the received customer's voice to the authentication unit
15 15. The authentication unit 15 performs authentication using the received voice
(S15).
[0040] According to the example embodiment described above, when voice
authentication of a customer is performed, the voice authentication apparatus 10
selects a question with which text information indicating the answer is associated
20 and recorded, from the questions recorded in a database, and presents the question
to an operator to make the operator ask the question. Since the operator makes the
customer easily output the voice whose text information is known, it becomes
possible to perform the identity verification by voice in a shorter time than the case
where a question is generated at random.
25 [0041]
The second example embodiment differs from the first example
embodiment in that the voice authentication apparatus 10 functions independently,
without communication with the operator terminal 20. This example embodiment
describes the voice authentication apparatus 10.
30 [0042] The second example embodiment of the present invention will be
described. Using the functional block diagram of FIG. 6, an overall image of the
voice authentication apparatus of the second example embodiment will be described.
The voice authentication apparatus 10 includes an identification information
11
acquisition unit 11, a storage unit 12, an output unit 13, a voice acquisition unit 14,
and an authentication unit 15. These units are connected via a communication
network such as the Internet, and can communicate with each other.
[0043] The identification information acquisition unit 11 acquires the
identification information of the customer. The identification 5 information may be
received from an external terminal, or may be directly input ted to the voice
authentication apparatus 10. The identification information is exemplified by, but
is not limited to, a telephone number, a registration number, a name, a postcode, an
address, a birth date, a phonation phrase, an iris, a facial image, a fingerprint, a
10 palmprint, a vein, a gait, and the like.
[0044] The output unit 13 uses the identification information acquired by the
identification information acquisition unit 11 to specify a question associated with
the customer indicated by the identification information from the questions recorded
in the question database 2B, and preferentially outputs a question with which the
15 text information indicating the answer is associated and recorded.
[0045] The voice acquisition unit 14 acquires the voice of the customer, and
transmits the voice to the authentication unit 15. It is sufficient that the voice
transmitted by the voice acquisition unit 14 to the authentication unit 15 includes at
least a portion of the voice of the customer. For example, the voice acquisition
20 unit 14 acquires the voice after the output unit 13 outputs the information (e.g., a
question to be used for authentication).
[0046] The authentication unit 15 refers to the voice or the feature amount of the
voice acquired by the voice acquisition unit 14, and compares the feature amount
with the feature amounts of the voices recorded in the authentication database 1B.
25 If authentication is successful, the authentication unit 15 determines that the
customer is the person indicated by the identification information.
[0047] Next, an example of a processing flow of the voice authentication
apparatus 10 of this example embodiment will be described with reference to a
flowchart of FIG. 7. When the identification information of the customer is
30 inputted (S21), the voice authentication apparatus 10 outputs, from the questions
associated with the identification information of the customer, a question with
which the text informat ion indicating the answer is associated and recorded (S22).
After outputting the question, the voice authentication apparatus 10 acquires voice
12
indicating an answer to the question (S23), and performs authentication using the
acquired voice (S24).
[0048] According to the example embodiment described above, when voice
authentication of a customer is performed, the voice authentication apparatus 10
preferentially outputs a question with which the text information 5 indicating the
answer is associated and recorded, from the questions recorded in the database.
Since the customers are more likely to attempt to answer the question and output
voice whose text information is known, it becomes possible to perform identity
verification by voice in a short time, compared to the case where the question to the
10 customer is outputted at random.
[0049]
The third example embodiment differs from the first and second
embodiments in that the voice authentication apparatus 10 further includes a priority
setting unit 16. Other elements of the voice authentication apparatus 10 are the
15 same as those of the first and second example embodiments. Description will be
omitted for the same portions as the first and second example embodiments.
[0050] Using the functional block diagram of FIG. 8, an overall image of the
voice authentication apparatus of this example embodiment will be described. The
voice authentication apparatus 10 includes a priority setting unit 16 in addition to
20 the configuration of the voice authentication apparatus according to the first
example embodiment.
[0051] The priority setting unit 16 sets the priority of the questions that the
output unit 13 outputs from the question database 2B. Similarly to the first
example embodiment, the question database 2B stores a plurality of questions for
25 which associated answers are recorded as text information and a plurality of
questions for which associated answers are not recorded as text information.
[0052] Among a plurality of questions recorded in the question database 2B, the
priority setting unit 16 sets a higher priority to the questions for which the answers
are recorded as the text information than the questions for which the answers are not
30 recorded as the text information.
[0053] The storage unit 12 records the priority set by the priority setting unit 16
in association with the question recorded in the question database 2B.
[0054] The output unit 13 selects and outputs the questions having high priorities
13
from the questions recorded in the question database 2B, based on the priorit ies set
for the questions by the priority setting unit 16. The output unit 13 outputs one or
more questions, for example, and if the question selected and outputted first is not
effective for the customer's identity verification, the question having the next
highest priority 5 may be output ted.
[0055] Next, an example of a processing flow of the voice authentication
apparatus 10 of this example embodiment will be described with reference to a
flowchart of FIG. 9. When the identification information of the customer is
inputted (S31), the voice authentication apparatus 10 refers to the database based on
10 the identification information of the customer , and sets the priority for outputting
the question (S32). Next, the voice authentication apparatus 10 records the set
priority in association with the question (S33). Next, from the questions
associated with the customer's identification information, the voice authentication
apparatus 10 outputs the question having the highest priority (S34). After
15 outputting the question, the voice authentication apparatus 10 acquires the voice
indicating the answer to the question (S35), and performs authentication using the
acquired voice (S36).
[0056] It is noted that the above-described processing flow is an example, and
each step from S31 to S36 can be appropriately changed. For example, the step
20 (S32) of setting the priority of the question and the step (S33) of recording the
priority in association with the question may be executed before the step (S31) of
inputting the identification information of the customer. Also, the priority of the
question may be set before the above-described processing flow described is
executed, or the priority of the question may be set (updated) again at a timing when
25 a new question is recorded in the question database 2B. The timing at which the
priority of the question is set and the timing at which the priority is recorded in
relation to the question are not limited.
[0057] According to the example embodiment described above, when voice
authentication of the customer is performed, the voice authentication apparatus 10
30 sets the priority of the question to be output , from the questions recorded in the
database. Since the voice authentication apparatus can preferentially ask the
question with which answer of text information is associated, t he customers are
more likely to attempt to answer the question and output voice of known text
14
information. Since the text information of the voice outputted by the customer can
be predicted, the identity verification by the voice can be carried out in a short time,
compared with the case where the question is output ted randomly to the customer.
[0058]
Modifications applicable to the first to third example embodiments 5 will be
described. Although the voice authentication apparatus 10 of the above-described
example embodiments includes the storage device 12, in the modified example, the
storage unit 12 may be mounted on an external terminal different from the voice
authentication apparatus 10. In this case, the voice authentication apparatus 10
10 and the storage unit 12 can communicate with each other via a communication
network such as the Internet.
[0059] Another modification will be described. In the first example
embodiment, the operator asks the question output ted from the display unit 23 of the
operator terminal 20, and the voice authentication is performed using the voice of
15 the customer answering the question. However, in addition to outputting the
question to the operator terminal 20, the output unit 13 may directly ask the
question to the customer by automatic voice or the like via the communication unit
21. In this case, the customer listens to the question outputted as the automatic
voice through a terminal (not shown) used for the call , and speaks the answer to the
20 question. The communication unit 21 of the operator terminal 20 acquires the
voice spoken by the customer.
[0060] In the above modification, since the operator does not need to ask the
question to the customer, it is possible to reduce the load required for the operator's
identification work.
25 [0061] Other modifications will be described below. The display unit 23 in the
operator terminal 20 may display the authentication result of the customer, or may
display predetermined information associated with the identification information of
the customer according to the authentication result.
[0062] The voice authentication apparatus 10 may have the function of the
30 operator terminal 20. The same effect can be obtained even in that case.
[0063] The number of the operator terminals 20 that communicate with the voice
authentication apparatus 10 may be plural , or the voice authentication apparatus 10
may include a plurality of operator terminals 20.
15
[0064] The modifications described above may be suitably combined with the
first to third example embodiments, and the modifications may be combined with
each other. The configuration described in the first to third example embodiments
may be combined with each other.
[0065]
FIG. 10 shows the functional configuration of the voice authentication
apparatus according to the fourth example embodiment. The voice authentication
apparatus 40 includes an output unit 41 and an authentication unit 42. The output
unit 41 preferentially outputs a question with which text information indicating an
10 answer is associated than a question with which text information indicating an
answer is not associated. The authentication unit 42 performs voice authentication
using voice information acquired as an answer to the question outputted by the
output unit 41.
[0066] In addition, it is appropriately possible to replace the components in the
15 above-described example embodiments with well-known components without
departing from the spirit of the present invention. Also, the technical content of
the present invention is not limited to the above -described example embodiments,
and various modifications can be made without departing from the spirit of the
present invention.
20 [0067] A part or all of the example embodiments described above may also be
described as the following supplementary notes, but not limited thereto.
[0068] (Supplementary note 1)
A voice authentication apparatus comprising:
an output unit which preferentially outputs a question with which text
25 information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
an authentication unit which performs voice authenticat ion using voice
information acquired as an answer to the question outputted by the output unit.
[0069] (Supplementary note 2)
30 The voice authentication apparatus according to supplementary note 1,
further comprising a recording unit in which questions are recorded in association
with user's identification information,
wherein the questions include a question for which text information
16
indicating an answer to the question is associated and recorded, and a question for
which text information indicating an answer to the question is not recorded.
[0070] (Supplementary note 3)
The voice authentication apparatus according to supplementary note 1 or 2,
wherein the voice information includes voice outputted by a user 5 after the output
unit outputs the question.
[0071] (Supplementary note 4)
The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of supplementary
notes 1 to 3, further comprising a priority setting unit which sets a priority of the
10 question,
wherein the priority of the question indicates a priority with which the
output unit outputs the question,
wherein the recording unit records the priority of the question, and
wherein the priority setting unit sets a higher priority to the question with
15 which the text information indicating the answer is assoc iated than the question with
which the test information indicating the answer is not associated.
[0072] (Supplementary note 5)
The voice authentication apparatus according to supplementary note 4,
wherein the output unit outputs a question of a next highe st priority when the
20 authentication unit failed the authentication.
[0073] (Supplementary note 6)
The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of supplementary
notes 1 to 5, wherein the output unit prompts an operator to ask a user the question
displayed on the output unit.
25 [0074] (Supplementary note 7)
A voice authentication method comprising:
preferentially outputting a question with which text information indicating
an answer is associated than a question with which text information indicat ing an
answer is not associated, and
30 performing voice authentication using voice information acquired as an
answer to the outputted question.
[0075] (Supplementary note 8)
A recording medium storing a program making a computer execute:
17
a process which preferentially outputs a question with which text
information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
a process which performs voice authentication using voice information
acquired as an answer to the outputted 5 question.
[0076] While the present invention has been described with reference to the
example embodiments, the present invention is not limited to the above example
embodiments. Various changes that can be understood by those skilled in the art
within the scope of the present invention can be made in the configuration and
10 details of the present invention. Namely, it is needless to say that the present
invention includes various modifications and alterations that could be made by a
person skilled in the art according to the entire disclosure including the scope of the
claims, and the technical philosophy. In addition, each disclosure of the
above-mentioned patent documents shall be incorporated by reference to this
15 document.
[0077] This application claims priority based on Japanese Patent Application
2019-026871, filed February 18, 2019, and incorporates all of its disclosure herein.
DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS
20 [0078] 1A Processor
2A Memory
3A Input/Output Interface
4A Peripheral circuit
5A Communication interface
25 6A Bus
1B Authentication database
2B Question database
10 Voice authentication apparatus
11 Identification information acquisition unit
30 12 Storage unit
13 Output unit
14 Voice acquisition unit
15 Authentication unit
18
16 Priority setting unit
20 Operator terminal
21 Communication unit
22 Input unit
5 23 Display unit

WE CLAIM:

1. A voice authentication apparatus comprising:
an output unit which preferentially outputs a question with which text
information indicating an answer is associated than a question 5 with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
an authentication unit which performs voice authentication using voice
information acquired as an answer to the question outputted by the output unit.
10 2. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 1, further
comprising a recording unit in which questions are recorded in association with
user's identification information,
wherein the questions include a question for which text information
indicating an answer to the question is associated and recorded, and a question for
15 which text information indicating an answer to the question is not recorded.
3. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 1 or 2, wherein
the voice information includes voice outputted by a user after the output unit
outputs the question.
20
4. The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of claims 1
to 3, further comprising a priority setting unit which sets a priority of the question,
wherein the priority of the question indicates a priority with which the
output unit outputs the question,
25 wherein the recording unit records the priority of the question, and
wherein the priority setting unit sets a higher priority to the question wi th
which the text information indicating the answer is associated than the question with
which the test information indicating the answer is not associated.
30 5. The voice authentication apparatus according to claim 4, wherein the
output unit outputs a question of a next highest priority when the authentication unit
failed the authentication.
20
6. The voice authentication apparatus according to any one of claims 1
to 5, wherein the output unit prompts an operator to ask a user the question
displayed on the output unit.
7. A voice authentication 5 method comprising:
preferentially outputting a question with which text information indicating
an answer is associated than a question with which text information indicating an
answer is not associated, and
performing voice authentication using voice information acquired as an
10 answer to the outputted question.
8. A recording medium storing a program causing a computer to
execute:
a process which preferentially outputs a question with which text
15 information indicating an answer is associated than a question with which text
information indicating an answer is not associated, and
a process which performs voice authentication using voice information
acquired as an answer to the outputted question.