Speech activated security systems and methods

Abstract

Speech actuated security devices and methods whereby a lock, or other security or access device, may be actuated by a speech input thereto, but without disclosure of the actual code where doing so to those hearing the code words spoken during use of the security device. The security device includes a microphone, a display for displaying a plurality of code elements, and a processor for controlling the display and analyzing the microphone signal to detect a proper sequence of code elements spoken by a user as detected by the microphone and to operate the security device in response thereto. The code elements are displayed on the display under processor control in various patterns. With the proper sequence of code elements for operation of the security device not being a preset sequence of code elements, but rather being the code elements which appear in each of a proper sequence of spatial code element positions in the pattern of code elements being displayed by making the code elements displayed in the pattern viewable only by the user during use of the security device. Hearing the code elements being spoken by the user conveys no information about the actual code as a spoken sequence which will operate the security device at any one time and will change for the next operation of the security device by the reassignment of the code elements to new spatial positions within the pattern of code elements in the display. Various embodiments and methods of operation thereof are disclosed.