Network support for restricting wireline call terminations in a security risk area

• US 20070036322A1
• Filed: 08/12/2005
• Published: 02/15/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lucent Technologies, Inc. (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Krock, Richard, Goldman, Stuart, Rauscher, Karl, Runyon, James
• Application Number:
  US11/202,617
• Publication Number:
  US 20070036322A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/211.20
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/651 Text message transmission triggered by call automatic reactions in messaging within packet-switching networks H04L51/02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/12 intelligent networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/14 with services dependent on location where the service is an information service H04M2242/15; services independent of location H04M3/42229
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/30 Determination of the location of a subscriber
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42102 Making use of the called party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4211 where the identifier is used to access a profile
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42357 where the information is provided to a monitoring entity such as a potential calling party or a call processing server
• 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 7/006 Networks other than PSTN/ISDN providing telephone service, e.g. Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) , including next generation networks with a packet-switched transport layer H04L65/00 takes precedence; aspects not specific to the type of network H04M3/00; special services in those networks H04M3/42

Abstract

A precautionary measure against wireline-device triggered bombs is described that restricts call terminations within a designated security risk area without shutting down an entire telephone office switch serving the affected area. Embodiments described herein provide for restricting wireline call terminations directed to a designated security risk area that are originated from non-privileged users, i.e., the general public, yet authorizing call terminations directed to the security risk area that are originated from privileged government users (e.g., GETS/WPS users). Call originations are permitted within the security risk area from both privileged and non-privileged users.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an incoming wireline call from a calling party directed to a called party;

determining a location of the called party relative to a security risk area;

determining whether the calling party is a privileged user; and

preventing termination of the call if the called party is within the security risk area and the calling party is not a privileged user.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of completing the call if the calling party is a privileged user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of completing the call if the called party is not within the security risk area.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving an incoming wireline call comprises receiving dialed digits defining a directory number of a called party wireline device, the step of determining a location of the called party relative to the security risk area comprising:

determining, based on the directory number, a location of the called party device; and

comparing the location of the called party device to a designated security risk area.

5. The method of claim 4, performed by a terminating switch operably connected to an Intelligent Network Service Control Point (SCP), the terminating switch querying the SCP to determine a location of the called party device.

6. The method of claim 4, performed by a terminating switch consulting a database to determine a location of the called party device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of determining whether the calling party is a privileged user comprises determining whether the calling party is a WPS or GETS user.

8. A method comprising the steps of:

in response to a determination that an emergency situation is present or imminent within a critical area defining a security risk area, sending indicia of the emergency situation to one or more switching elements so as to restrict wireline call terminations directed to the security risk area from non-privileged users but which does not restrict wireline call terminations from privileged users.

9. A system comprising:

means for identifying a security threat condition corresponding to a security risk area and alerting one or more switching elements of the threat condition; and

one or more switching elements operable responsive to the threat condition to prevent wireline call terminations directed to the security risk area from non-privileged users and allow call terminations directed to security risk area from privileged users.

10. An article comprising:

one or more computer-readable signal-bearing media; and

means in the one or more media for preventing wireline call terminations directed to a designated security risk area from non-privileged users and allow wireline call terminations directed to the security risk area from privileged users.

11. The article of claim 10, wherein the means in the one or more media for preventing wireline call terminations includes:

means for determining that an incoming call originated from a calling party is directed-to a called party device within the security risk area;

means for determining whether the calling party is a privileged user; and

means for preventing termination of the call if the called party is within the security risk area and the calling party is not a privileged user.

12. The article of claim 10, further including means for completing the call if the calling party is a privileged user.