Law enforcement call monitoring

• US 20030215069A1
• Filed: 05/14/2002
• Published: 11/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2002
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Hitzeman, Bonnie Marie
• Application Number:
  US10/145,474
• Publication Number:
  US 20030215069A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.19
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/304 intercepting circuit switched data communications lawful interception of wireless network communications H04W12/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6045 Identity confirmation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• 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 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

A method and apparatus for selectively controlling the connection of a call to a monitoring station, as well as to a called party. Callers and called parties are required to identify themselves through the use of a Personal Identification Number (PIN), or some device such as a thumb reader. A database maintains a list of legitimate personal identification numbers, and of those personal identification numbers or thumb prints which require that a call be monitored. Advantageously, law enforcement agencies can control the monitoring of a call from or to a particular party as identified by a personal identification number or a thumb print, no matter where the call originates or terminates.

Claims

1. A method of selectively controlling the monitoring of calls from or to identified parties, comprising the steps of:

identifying the calling party of a call;

querying a database to determine whether the calling party is one whose calls are to be monitored; and

if it is determined that the calls are to be monitored, connecting a call from a party whose calls are to be monitored to a monitoring station.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the calling party comprises the step of obtaining a personal identification number (PIN).

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of obtaining a PIN comprises the step of reading a thumb print reader output.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of obtaining a PIN comprises the step of causing a series of Dual-Tone Multi-Frequency (DTMF) signals to be sent.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of identifying the calling party comprises the step of analyzing a voice sample of said calling party to determine an identity of said calling party.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of:

identifying a called party of a call;

querying a database to determine whether the called party is one whose incoming calls are to be monitored; and

it is determined that the incoming calls to the called party are to be monitored, connecting a call to the called party to a monitoring station.