Call authentication using call forwarding

• US 10,027,816 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2017
• Issued: 07/17/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2016
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Pindrop Security, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Pindrop Security, Inc.
• Inventors: Gupta, Payas, Dewey, David
• Primary Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US15/445,569
• Publication Number:
  US 20180041638A1
• Time in Patent Office: 504 Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/126 the source of the received data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1466 Active attacks involving interception, injection, modification, spoofing of data unit addresses, e.g. hijacking, packet injection or TCP sequence number attacks
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6027 Fraud preventions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/54 Arrangements for diverting calls for one subscriber to another predetermined subscriber based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; to voice mail H04M3/53308
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/543 Call deflection
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/126 Anti-theft arrangements, e.g. protection against subscriber identity module [SIM] cloning
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/50 Service provisioning or reconfiguring

Abstract

The invention may verify calls to a telephone device by activating call forwarding to redirect calls for the telephone device to a prescribed destination; receiving a message from a server verifying the call; deactivating call forwarding to receive the call; and reactivating call forwarding when the call is concluded. In another embodiment, the invention may, in response to a telephone device initiating a call to a second telephone device installed with a particular application or software, transmit a message to a server causing it to instruct the second telephone device to deactivate call forwarding. In yet another embodiment, the invention may cause a server to receive a message from a prescribed location indicating that a call was received via call forwarding, and in response to the message, transmit an instruction to the intended recipient to deactivate the call forwarding if the call is verified as legitimate.

Claims

1. A method for verifying calls to a telephone device, said telephone device being assigned a telephone number, comprising:

executing, by a processor, an application or software to perform a process including,

activating call forwarding to redirect telephone calls for said telephone number to another prescribed destination;

receiving a message from a prescribed server;

in response to receiving said message, deactivating said call forwarding to receive a telephone call for said telephone number authorized by a third party; and

in response to determining that one of hanging up or terminating the authorized telephone has occurred in connection with said authorized telephone call, reactivating said call forwarding.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said multiple concluding events include:

said telephone device hanging up on said authorized telephone call after having picked up said authorized telephone call, and

said authorized telephone call being terminated by the originating party before being picked up by said telephone device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said process further comprises authenticating said received message, and sending an acknowledgement of said received message to said prescribed server.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said process further comprises:

sending status notifications to said prescribed server in connection with said activation and reactivation of said call forwarding.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein said status notifications are sent via a cloud messaging service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said prescribed destination comprises at least one of:

said prescribed server, and

a second server in communication with said prescribed server.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the telephone device includes the processor executing the application or software.