Identity Verification for at Least One Party to a Text-Based Communication

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided for identity verification for at least one user to a text-based communication. An identity of at least one user to a text-based communication is verified by obtaining a plurality of characteristic features of at least one prior text-based communication between the at least one user and at least one additional user; comparing the plurality of characteristic features to a current session of the text-based communication; and verifying the identity of the at least one user based on a result of the comparison. The text-based communication can optionally be suspended if a user is not verified and/or an alarm can be generated.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for verifying an identity of at least one user to a text-based communication, comprising
 obtaining a plurality of characteristic features of at least one prior text-based communication between said at least one user and at least one additional user;   comparing the plurality of characteristic features to a current session of said text-based communication; and   verifying said identity of said at least one user based on a result of said comparison.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step uses the statistical properties of the words entered by the user. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the comparing step uses the statistical properties of the dynamics of user keystrokes 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said text-based communication comprises one or more of instant messaging, text messaging and electronic mail. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of characteristic features are obtained using machine learning techniques. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of observing said text-based communication between said at least one user and at least one additional user using machine learning techniques to determine said plurality of characteristic features. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of characteristic features are recorded in at least one feature vector. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , further comprising the step of updating said at least one feature vector. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said plurality of characteristic features are recorded in one or more rules. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of suspending said text-based communication if said at least one user is not verified. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising the step of generating an alarm if said at least one user is not verified.