Audio based human-interaction proof

Abstract

A method and system for allowing access to computer functions such as websites that utilizes a user's ability to recognize sounds is described. The method presents a user a series of sounds. Some of the sounds presented in the series are labeled as validation sounds. The user is asked to provide an input every time he or she hears the validation sound. The user must identify the sound within a specified length of time. The system disclosed comprises a user interface, a sound database module, a generation module, and a sound database module. The generation module creates the validation test file and expected answer. The answer confirmation module checks the input from the requesting computer and provides access to the computer function if the computer input from the requesting computer meets the required parameters.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer implemented method to authorize access to a computer function, comprising the steps of:
 receiving a request to access a computer function from a requesting computer;   generating a computer generated validation test and an expected response, wherein said validation test comprises a series of sounds presented at various intervals, wherein at least one sound in said series of sounds is a validation sound;   presenting said computer generated validation test to the requesting computer;   receiving an input from said requesting computer in response to the validation test presented to said requesting computer;   determining whether the input corresponds to the expected response; and   allowing access to the computer function if the input corresponds to the expected response.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one sound in said series of sounds is a non-validation sound. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said validation sound is presented multiple times within said series of sounds. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein said non-validation sound is presented multiple times within said series of sounds. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the expected response corresponds to at least one key stroke input recorded within a specified period of time after a validation sound is presented. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the at least one key stroke is one key stroke for each instance a validation sound is presented. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein a key stroke is selected from the group consisting of a keyboard entry, a tap on touch screen, and a mouse click. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting step comprises transmitting said computer generated validation test to the requesting computer for execution at the requesting computer. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said presenting step comprises presenting the output of the computer generated validation test to the requesting computer where the computer generated validation test is executed at a second computer. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said computer function is a website. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said requesting computer is selected from the group consisting of a mobile device, a mobile application, a telecommunications device, and a personal computer station. 
     
     
         9 . A system for authorizing access to a computer function, comprising
 a user interface module, configured to manage communications between a requesting computer and the system;   a validation test generation module configured to generate a validation test and an expected response, wherein said validation test comprises a series of sounds presented at various intervals, wherein at least one sound in said series of sounds is a validation sound; and   an answer confirmation module, configured to determine whether an input from said requesting computer corresponds to the expected response and allowing access to the computer function; wherein the user interface module, the validation test module, and the answer confirmation module are communicatively connected to each other.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , further comprising a sound database module comprising sound bites to be used by the validation test generation module. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the sound bites are arranged by category. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 9 : wherein the validation test generation module is configured to select validation and non-validation sounds. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 9 , wherein the system is connected to a computer network.