Methods, systems, and computer program products for surveillance of messaging service messages in a communications network

• US 20060217136A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 09/28/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tekelec Global, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Tekelec
• Inventors: Russell, Travis Earl, Ravishankar, Venkataramaiah, Bantukul, Apirux, Marsico, Peter J.
• Granted Patent: US 7,912,486 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/466
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer program products for surveillance of messaging service messages in a communications network are disclosed. According to one aspect, a system is provided for intercepting a messaging service message in a communications network. The system can include a communication module for receiving and sending messaging service messages from a communications network. Further, the system can include a subscriber surveillance database for maintaining a listing of subscribers that have been placed under surveillance. The system can also include a surveillance function for receiving a messaging service message, extracting a subscriber identifier from the messaging service message, performing a lookup in the surveillance database using the subscriber identifier, and performing a surveillance action in response to locating a matching entry in the database.

Claims

1. A method for providing surveillance of messaging service messages in a communications network, the method comprising:

(a) receiving a messaging service message;

(b) identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance;

(c) generating a copy of the messaging service message; and

(d) forwarding the message copy to a surveillance entity.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a short message service message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a multimedia message service message.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving an instant message service message.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a mobile application part (MAP) message including messaging service content.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging service message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes identifying the messaging service message as being sent by a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes identifying the messaging service message as being sent to a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes using subscriber identification information extracted from the message to perform a lookup in a subscriber surveillance database.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a copy of the messaging service message includes generating an electronic mail (email) message that includes information associated with the messaging service message.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a copy of the messaging service message includes generating a SIP message that includes information associated with the messaging service message.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein generating a copy of the message includes generating a copy of the message and performing a media-type conversion on the message contents.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein a media-type conversion includes performing a text-to-voice conversion.

14. The method of claim 13 including generating a voicemail message using the converted message content.

15. The method of claim 1 including routing the received messaging service message to its target destination.

16. The method of claim 1 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node.

17. The method of claim 1 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node with IMS capabilities.

18. The method of claim 1 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node with A-interface offload capabilities.

19. The method of claim 1 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a stand-alone data collection system.

20. A system for intercepting a messaging service message in a communications network and for providing surveillance, the system comprising:

(a) a communication module for receiving and sending messaging service messages from a communications network;

(b) a subscriber surveillance database for maintaining a listing of subscribers that have been placed under surveillance; and

(c) a surveillance function for receiving a messaging service message and;

i. extracting a subscriber identifier from the messaging service message;

ii. performing a lookup in the surveillance database using the subscriber identifier; and

iii. in response to locating a matching entry in the database, performing a surveillance action.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the surveillance database includes information that specifies the type of surveillance action that is required.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein a surveillance action includes generating a copy of at least a portion of the messaging service message content.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the surveillance action includes transmitting the copy to a surveillance authority.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the surveillance action includes generating a surveillance authority notification message that includes information associated with the messaging service message.

25. The system of claim 24 wherein the surveillance action includes transmitting the surveillance authority notification message to a surveillance authority.

26. The system of claim 20 wherein the surveillance action includes generating a call detail record (CDR) associated with the messaging service message.

27. The system of claim 20 wherein the surveillance database includes information that specifies the surveillance authority that is to be notified when a surveillance action is required.

28. The system of claim 27 wherein the information that identifies the surveillance authority includes an electronic mail address.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein the information that identifies the surveillance authority includes an Internet protocol address.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein the information that identifies the surveillance authority includes a telephone number address.

31. A computer program product comprising computer executable instructions embodied in a computer readable medium for performing steps comprising:

(a) receiving a messaging service message;

(b) identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance;

(c) generating a copy of the messaging service message; and

(d) forwarding the message copy to a surveillance entity.

32. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a short message service message.

33. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a multimedia message service message.

34. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving an instant message service message.

35. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a mobile application part (MAP) message including messaging service content.

36. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein receiving a messaging service message includes receiving a session initiation protocol (SIP) messaging service message.

37. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes identifying the messaging service message as being sent by a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance.

38. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes identifying the messaging service message as being sent to a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance.

39. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein identifying the messaging service message as being associated with a subscriber that has been placed under surveillance includes using subscriber identification information extracted from the message to perform a lookup in a subscriber surveillance database.

40. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein generating a copy of the messaging service message includes generating an electronic mail (email) message that includes information associated with the messaging service message.

41. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein generating a copy of the messaging service message includes generating a SIP message that includes information associated with the messaging service message.

42. The computer program product of claim 31 wherein generating a copy of the message includes generating a copy of the message and performing a media-type conversion on the message contents.

43. The computer program product of claim 42 wherein a media-type conversion includes performing a text-to-voice conversion.

44. The computer program product of claim 43 including generating a voicemail message using the converted message content.

45. The computer program product of claim 31 including routing the received messaging service message to its target destination.

46. The computer program product of claim 31 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node.

47. The computer program product of claim 31 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node with IMS capabilities.

48. The computer program product of claim 31 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a message routing node with A-interface offload capabilities.

49. The computer program product of claim 31 comprising performing steps (a)-(d) at a stand-alone data collection system.