Abstract: A method for authenticating a user includes receiving an authorization request for a transaction from an account. A plurality of authentication questions each having a corresponding correct answer are associated with the account. A first set of authentication questions of the plurality of authentication questions is transmitted to a communication device by way of an interactive voice response (IVR) call. A first set of user-generated answers corresponding to the first set of authentication questions is received from the communication device. The method further includes determining whether the user is an account holder of the account based on at least the first set of user-generated answers. The transaction is processed based on the determination that the user is the account holder of the account, thereby authenticating the user.

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatic speech analysis comprising setting a target phrase, the target phrase comprising a target phoneme, the target phoneme having corresponding target values of a set of phonological features associated therewith, wherein each target value is one of: an indication that the phonological feature should be present, an indication that the phonological feature should be absent, or an indication that the presence of the phonological feature is not specified, receiving a speech signal, wherein the speech signal comprises a user's attempt to say the target phrase, analysing the speech signal to determine the phonological features present within a portion of the speech signal corresponding to the target phoneme and assigning a probability to each of the set of phonological features, comparing the probability assigned to each phonological feature based on the speech signal to the expected target value of that phonological feature within the phrase, determining a deviation from the

Abstract: A computer implemented method for automatic speech analysis comprising setting a target phrase, the target phrase comprising a target phoneme, the target phoneme having corresponding target values of a set of phonological features associated therewith, wherein each target value is one of: an indication that the phonological feature should be present, an indication that the phonological feature should be absent, or an indication that the presence of the phonological feature is not specified, receiving a speech signal, wherein the speech signal comprises a user's attempt to say the target phrase, analysing the speech signal to determine the phonological features present within a portion of the speech signal corresponding to the target phoneme and assigning a probability to each of the set of phonological features, comparing the probability assigned to each phonological feature based on the speech signal to the expected target value of that phonological feature within the phrase, determining a deviation from the