System and method for recording telephonic communications

• US 20040131161A1
• Filed: 12/19/2003
• Published: 07/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Amcom Software, Inc. (Spok Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Robert M. Charland, William I. Schwartz
• Inventors: Charland, Robert M., Schwartz, William I.
• Granted Patent: US 7,042,987 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for recording a telephone call upon demand by a party to the telephone call. The method includes the steps of receiving a request from a first party to record a telephone call between the first party and a second party, establishing a third-party connection with the first party and the second party, receiving the telephone call, and storing the content of the telephone call in memory for subsequent delivery or retrieval.

Claims

1. A method for recording a telephone call upon demand by a party to the telephone call comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a request from a first party to record a telephone call between the first party and a second party;

b) establishing a third-party connection with the first party and the second party;

c) receiving the telephone call; and

d) storing the content of the telephone call in memory.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request to record a telephone call comprises receiving a signal from the first party.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a signal from the first party comprises receiving the request to record a telephone call.

4. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of identifying the first party.

5. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of annotating the stored telephone call by designating at least the time, date and identity of the first party.

6. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the telephone call has been terminated.

7. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call to at least one location based upon the identity of the first party.

8. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call in real-time by way of audio streaming.

9. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call to at least one location based upon delivery instructions received from the first party.

10. A method according to claim 4, further comprising the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call to at least one location based upon delivery instructions stored in database.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call to at least one location comprises transmitting the content of the telephone call over a communication network.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of transmitting the content of the telephone call to at least one location comprises delivering the content of the telephone call on a data storage medium.

13. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call to limit access thereto.

14. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a password to facilitate access to encrypted content.

15. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of providing a password to facilitate access to encrypted content includes providing the password to a party other than a party to the telephone call.

16. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of providing an audible signal to the parties engaged in the telephone call to indicate that the telephone call is being recorded.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request to record a telephone call occurs prior to the initiation of the telephone call.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of receiving a request to record a telephone call occurs during the telephone call.

19. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of recording the telephone call occurs without the knowledge of the second party.

20. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing the content of the telephone call in memory comprises the step of storing the content of the telephone call in a digital format.

21. A method according to claim 1, wherein the step of storing the content of the telephone call in memory comprises the step of storing the content of the telephone call in an analog format.

22. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of facilitating access to the content of a telephone call by the first party over a communication network.

23. A method according to claim 1, further comprising the step of certifying the content of the telephone call.

24. A method for recording a telephone call upon demand comprising the steps:

a) initiating a telephone call with at least one receiving party; and

b) establishing a third-party connection with a central archive to facilitate recordation of the content of telephone call thereby.

25. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a third-party connection with a central archive comprises generating a signal for receipt by the central archive.

26. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of initiating the telephone call establishes a third-party connection with a central archive.

27. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a third-party connection with a central archive occurs prior to the initiation of the telephone call to at least one intended recipient of the telephone call.

28. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a third-party connection with a central archive occurs during the telephone call.

29. A method according to claim 24, wherein the step of establishing a third-party connection with a central archive occurs without the knowledge of the receiving party.

30. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of causing the central archive to transmit the content of the telephone call to at least one other location.

31. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of instructing the central archive to transmit the content of the telephone call to at least one other location.

32. A method according to claim 24, further comprising the step of accessing the content of a telephone call over a communication network.

33. A method for recording a telephone call upon demand by a party to the telephone call comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a telephone call at a central archive;

b) storing the content of the telephone call at the central archive; and

c) delivering the content of the telephone call to a remote location.

34. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of establishing a communication link between a party to the telephone call and the central archive.

35. A method according to claim 34, wherein the communication link is selectively established by the party to the telephone call.

36. A method according to claim 34, wherein the communication link is automatically established upon initiation of the telephone call.

37. A method according to claim 34, wherein the communication link is automatically established upon reception of the telephone call.

38. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of encrypting the telephone call at the central archive to prevent unauthorized access thereto.

39. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of determining whether the telephone call has been terminated.

40. A method according to claim 33, further comprising the step of delivering the content of the telephone call to a remote location based upon the identity of a party to the telephone call.

41. A system for recording a telephone call at a central archive upon demand by a party to the telephone call comprising:

a) means for receiving a telephone call;

b) means for storing the content of the telephone call; and

c) means for delivering the content of the telephone call to a remote location.

42. A system as recited in claim 41, further comprising means for receiving a request from a first party to record the telephone call between the first party and a second party.43.

43. A system as recited in claim 42, further comprising means for establishing a third-party connection with the first party and the second party.

44. A system as recited in claim 42, further comprising means for determining the identity of the first party.

45. A system as recited in claim 41, further comprising means for determining whether the telephone call has been terminated.

46. A system as recited in claim 41, further comprising means for encrypting the content of the telephone call to limit access thereto.

47. A method for recording a telephone call comprising the steps of:

a) monitoring a telephone line to detect the initiation of a telephone call;

b) recording the content of the telephone call upon the initiation thereof; and

c) transmitting the content of the telephone call over an electronic communication network for subsequent review.

48. A method for recording a telephone call according to claim 47, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call to preserve the integrity thereof.

49. A method for recording a telephone call according to claim 47, wherein the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call occurs during the recordation thereof.

50. A method for recording a telephone call according to claim 47, wherein the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call occurs after the recordation thereof.

52. A method according to claim 50, further comprising the step of delivering the content of the telephone call.

53. A method according to claim 52, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call.

51. A method for recording a telephone call comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a telephone call at a central archive;

b) archiving the content of the telephone call; and

c) certifying the integrity of the content of the telephone call.