Policy control and billing support for call transfer in a session initiation protocol (SIP) network

• US 20030177099A1
• Filed: 09/04/2002
• Published: 09/18/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 03/12/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: OL Security LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gallant, John Kenneth, Gregorat, Mariafranca, McMurry, Kathleen A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,092,385 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/04 Billing or invoicing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/56 for VoIP communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/63 based on the content carried by the session initiation protocol [SIP] messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/67 Transmitting arrangements for sending billing related information
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/70 Administration or customization aspects; Counter-checking correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/73 Validating charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/8292 Charging for signaling or unsuccessful connection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/202 VoIP; Packet switched telephony
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/48 Sending information over a non-traffic network channel or another connection than the one actually used, e.g. signalling, D-channel, data and voice
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/70 Administration aspects, modify settings or limits or counter-check correct charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/7072 Validate charges
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• 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

Abstract

A session initiation protocol (SIP) server adds billing and authentication information to conventional SIP messages used in establishing call transfers. This additional information is later verified by a SIP server and used to enable advanced billing and fraud protection features for call transfers in a SIP telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first session initiation protocol (SIP) message at a first SIP server, the first SIP message initiating a call transfer;

appending billing information and a digital signature to the first SIP message; and

receiving a second SIP message initiating a call related to the call transfer at a second SIP server, the second SIP message including the billing information and the digital signature, the second SIP server generating an indication that a party indicated by the billing information be billed for the call when the digital signature indicates that the second SIP message is authentic.

2. The method of claim 1, where the first and second SIP servers are a portion of a same computing system.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first SIP message is a SIP REFER message.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the second SIP message is a SIP INVITE message.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

appending a timestamp to the first SIP message.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the second SIP server generates the indication that the party indicated by the billing information be billed for the call when the digital signature indicates that the second SIP message is authentic and when the timestamp indicates that less than a predetermined period of time has elapsed.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the second SIP server indicates that the party that sent the first SIP message is to be billed.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

appending the billing information to the first SIP message based on account information retrieved for the party.

9. A method for effecting a call transfer in accordance with session initiation protocol (SIP), the method comprising:

receiving a first SIP message at a SIP server, the first SIP message being generated by a first party, addressed to a second party, and indicating that the first party is requesting a call be initiated between the second party and a third party;

accessing account information associated with the first party that includes call policy information associated with the call; and

determining whether to bill the first party for the call between the second and third party based on the call policy information.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

appending at least one of billing information, a timestamp, and a digital signature to the first SIP message based on the call policy information.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the billing information and the timestamp are encrypted.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

generating a second SIP message by the second party and addressed to the third party, the second SIP message inviting the third party to join a call with the second party and including the call policy information.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

authenticating the call policy information in the second SIP message; and

determining to bill the first party for the call when authentication of the call policy information is successful.

14. The method of claim 9, wherein the first SIP message is a SIP REFER message.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein the second SIP message is a SIP INVITE message.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the call policy information of the first party overrides call policy information of the third party.

17. A system comprising:

a database configured to store account information relating to users of a telecommunications network; and

a session initiation protocol (SIP) server configured to receive a first SIP message initiating a call transfer, the SIP server configured to append billing information and a digital signature to the first SIP message based on account information of one of the users stored in the database, the digital signature providing for authentication of the call transfer.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a location service database configured to store location information relating to the users of the telecommunications network.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the SIP server is further configured to query the location service database for an address of an intended recipient of the first SIP message and to forward the first SIP message to the intended recipient at the address retrieved from the location service database.

20. The system of claim 17, further comprising:

a first end-user station configured to generate the first SIP message.

21. The system of claim 20, further comprising:

a second end-user station configured to receive the first SIP message from the SIP server and to generate a second SIP message inviting a third end-user station to join a call, the second SIP message including the billing information and the digital signature, and the third end-user station being identified by the first SIP message.

22. The system of claim 21, further comprising:

a second SIP server configured to receive the second SIP message, authenticate the billing information based on the digital signature, and determining that a user associated with the first end-user station should be billed for the call when the billing information is successfully authenticated.

23. The system of claim 21, wherein the first SIP message is a REFER message.

24. The system of claim 21, wherein the second SIP message is an INVITE message.

25. The system of claim 20, wherein the SIP server is further configured to append a timestamp to the first SIP message.

26. A system comprising:

means for receiving a first session initiation protocol (SIP) message that initiates a call transfer;

means for appending billing information and a digital signature to the first SIP message; and

means for receiving a second SIP message initiating a call related to the call transfer, the second SIP message including the billing information and the digital signature, and generating an indication that a party indicated by the billing information be billed for the call when the digital signature indicates that the second SIP message is authentic.

27. The system of claim 26, wherein the means for appending further appends a timestamp to the first SIP message.

28. A server in a telecommunications network, the server comprising:

a processor;

a memory containing program instructions for configuring the processor to

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) message that includes a digital signature that relates to a call transfer in the network;

validate the digital signature; and

determine a party to bill for the call transfer based on whether the validation of the digital signature is successful.

29. The server of claim 28, wherein the determination of the party to bill for the call transfer includes determining whether a timestamp in the SIP message has expired.

30. The server of claim 28, wherein the memory further comprises:

program instructions for configuring the processor to drop the call transfer when the timestamp has expired.

31. The server of claim 28, wherein the SIP message is a SIP INVITE message.

32. A server in a telecommunications network, the server comprising:

a processor;

a memory containing program instructions for configuring the processor to

receive a session initiation protocol (SIP) REFER message relating to a call transfer in the network; and

determine whether to forward the SIP REFER message based on profiles associated with parties involved in the call transfer.

33. The server of claim 32, wherein the memory further includes:

program instructions for configuring the processor to append a timestamp to the SIP REFER message when forwarding the SIP REFER message.

34. The server of claim 33, wherein the memory further includes:

program instructions for configuring the processor to append a digital signature to the SIP REFER message when forwarding the SIP REFER message.

35. A method comprising:

receiving a first session initiation protocol (SIP) message at a SIP server, the first SIP message initiating a call transfer;

appending billing information and a digital signature to the first SIP message; and

receiving a second SIP message initiating a call related to the call transfer at the SIP server, the second SIP message including the billing information and the digital signature, the SIP server generating an indication that a party indicated by the billing information be billed for the call when the digital signature indicates that the second SIP message is authentic.