Distributed Method and System to Improve Collaborative Services Across Multiple Devices

Abstract

A distributed system and method to improve collaborative service across multiple sensors on various devices. According to one embodiment, multiple devices may be used to train and then utilize a common algorithm for purposes including but not limited to recognizing a source to perform some action, control, command, calculation, storage, retrieval, encryption, decryption, alerting, alarming, notifying or as in some embodiments, to authenticate. In one embodiment of the invention, devices with one or more sensors such as but not limited to microphones, acoustic arrays or audio sensors may contribute to one or more models by sending samples, features, recognition scores, and/or risk scores to each other to improve collaborative training, signal quality, recognition, synchronization, inter-device proximity location and/or fusion of recognition scores and/or risk scores.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for authenticating a user, the system comprising:
 a first device having a first sensor for receiving first information from a source;   a second device having a second sensor for receiving second information from the source;   each of the first and second devices for processing the respective first and second information and for assigning a respective first and second authentication score responsive thereto;   the first device acting as an authentication device and receiving the second authentication score or the second device acting as the authentication device and receiving the first authentication score; and   the authentication device processing the first and second authentication scores for authenticating the user.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1  after authenticating the user, further comprising the first and second devices collaborating to provide a service to the user. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1  further comprising each one of the first and second devices for processing the respective first and second information and for assigning a respective first and second risk score responsive thereto. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 3  wherein a combination of the first and second authentication scores and the first and second risk scores are used to assign the source to an authentication class indicative of a risk level for executing transactions with the source. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1  each of the first and second devices processing the respective first and second information using a different recognition model. 
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the first and second devices collaborate to assign a collaborative authentication score for use in authenticating the user. 
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 1  the first and second devices for processing the respective first and second information according to operating characteristics of each one of the first and second devices, the operating characteristics comprising power, bandwidth, proximity, processing power, range, availability, memory capacity, available power, sensor type, and sensor quality. 
     
     
         8 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second devices requests additional or different information from another of the first and second devices for use in assigning the respective first and second authentication scores. 
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the source comprises a human source or a physical object source. 
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 1  the first and second devices in a linked condition further comprising the first and second devices authenticated to each other. 
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 1  wherein the information comprises identification information further comprising sound samples, speech samples, sound features, speech features, voice, whistles, clicks, claps, music, brain waves, behavior metrics, or biometrics. 
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 1  the first device for processing the first information using a first recognition model and the second device for processing the second information using a second recognition model. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12  further comprising the first and second devices exchanging recognition model information for use in training the first and second recognition models. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second devices, after authenticating the source, facilitates a control service for controlling a door lock, a window blind, a television, a home automation device, a thermostat, a light, an irrigation system, a fan, a light switch, an alarm system, an appliance, a digital picture frame, a cooking utensil, music equipment, gaming equipment, a server, a computer, a tablet, a vehicle, a garage door opener, or a keyless lock. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 1  wherein one of the first and second devices comprises a cell phone, a watch, a wallet, a necklace, a bracelet, a ring, or a wearable. 
     
     
         16 . A system for authenticating a user, the system comprising:
 a sensor for receiving information from a source, the information comprising a first information portion and a second information portion;   a first device receiving the first information portion from the sensor;   a second device receiving the second information portion from the sensor;   each of the first and second devices for processing the respective first and second information portions and for producing first and second authentication indicators responsive thereto; and   a third device receiving and processing the first and second authentication indicators to authenticate the user.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the third device comprises one of the first and second devices. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 16  the first and second devices for processing the respective first and second information according to operating characteristics of each one of the first and second devices, the operating characteristics comprising power, bandwidth, proximity, processing power, range, availability, memory capacity, and available power. 
     
     
         19 . A system for processing data to provide a service to a user, the system comprising:
 a first device for receiving and processing first data to generate a first result;   a second device for receiving and processing second data to generate a second result;   the first device acting as a service-providing device and receiving the first result from the second device or the second device acting as a service-providing device and receiving the first result from the first device; and   the service-providing device providing the service to the user responsive to the first and second results.   
     
     
         20 . A method for performing a task for or providing a service to a source, the method comprising:
 communicatively linking a first and second device, the first device comprising a first sensor;   at the first sensor, receiving recognition information from the source;   processing the recognition information at the first device and assigning a first recognition score based thereon;   the second device receiving at least a portion of the recognition information from the first device;   processing the at least a portion of the recognition information at the second device and assigning a second recognition score based thereon;   authenticating the source by one or both of the first and second devices responsive to one or both of the first and second recognition scores; and   responsive to the source having been authenticated, performing the task for or providing the service to the source by one or both of the first and second devices.