Telephone Caller Classification
First Claim
1. A computer-implemented method of identifying that an incoming telephone call originating from a first telephone number and directed to a second telephone number is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam, the method comprising:
- identifying, by a computing system having a processor and memory, individuals that are within a predetermined distance in a social network graph of a person associated with the second telephone number;
accessing a plurality of classifications associated with previous calls from the first telephone number, wherein;
the classifications are submitted by the identified individuals, anda classification indicates whether or not a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam;
identifying one or more of the plurality of classifications that indicates that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam;
determining a weight for each of the identified one or more classifications, wherein a weight depends on a relative distance in the social network graph between an individual who submitted the classification and the person associated with the second telephone number;
combining the determined weights;
determining that the combined weights exceed a predetermined threshold;
determining that the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on the determination that the combined weights exceed a threshold; and
providing to a telephone associated with the second telephone number an indication that the incoming call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on the determinination that the incoming telephone is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
In general, the subject matter described in this specification can be embodied in methods, systems, and program products for identifying telephone spam. An indication of an incoming telephone call and a calling device telephone number for the incoming telephone call is received. An indication that the calling device telephone number has been determined to be a source of telephone spam based on identifications by one or more users, other than a user of a mobile telephone, that the calling device telephone number is a source of telephone spam is received. A secondary alert is output to the user of the mobile telephone that is different than a default alert. The default alert is output to the user of the mobile telephone if the calling device telephone number is not determined to be a source of telephone spam.
35 Citations
26 Claims
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1. A computer-implemented method of identifying that an incoming telephone call originating from a first telephone number and directed to a second telephone number is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam, the method comprising:
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identifying, by a computing system having a processor and memory, individuals that are within a predetermined distance in a social network graph of a person associated with the second telephone number; accessing a plurality of classifications associated with previous calls from the first telephone number, wherein; the classifications are submitted by the identified individuals, and a classification indicates whether or not a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam; identifying one or more of the plurality of classifications that indicates that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam; determining a weight for each of the identified one or more classifications, wherein a weight depends on a relative distance in the social network graph between an individual who submitted the classification and the person associated with the second telephone number; combining the determined weights; determining that the combined weights exceed a predetermined threshold; determining that the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on the determination that the combined weights exceed a threshold; and providing to a telephone associated with the second telephone number an indication that the incoming call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on the determinination that the incoming telephone is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A computer system for identifying that an incoming telephone call originating from a first telephone number and directed to a second telephone number is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam, the computer system comprising:
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a first data structure storing first information about a social network graph; a second data structure storing second information relating to previous calls from the first telephone number, wherein the second information includes classifications by individuals that are within a predetermined distance in the social network graph of a person associated with the second telephone number; a processor; and memory storing instructions that, if executed by the processor, cause the computer system to; access the plurality of classifications; determine a weight for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam, wherein a weight depends on a relative distance in the social network graph between an individual who submitted the classification and the person associated with the second telephone number; combine the weights for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was telephone spam; determine whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; determine whether the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on a result of determining whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; and cause an alert indicating that the incoming call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam to be sent to a telephone associated with the second telephone number if it is determined that the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A non-transitory computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program comprising instructions that, if executed, operate to cause the computer system to perform operations for indicating that an incoming telephone call originating from a first telephone number and directed to a second telephone number is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam, the operations comprising:
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accessing a plurality of classifications by individuals that are within a predetermined distance in a social network graph of a person associated with the second telephone number; determining a weight for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam, wherein a weight depends on a relative distance in the social network graph between an individual who submitted the classification and the person associated with the second telephone number; combining the weights for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was telephone spam; determining whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; determining whether the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam based on a result of determining whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; and causing an alert indicating that the incoming call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam to be sent to a telephone associated with the second telephone number if it is determined that the incoming telephone call is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20, 21)
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22. A computer system for identifying that an incoming telephone call originating from a first telephone number and directed to a second telephone number is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam, the computer system comprising:
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a processor; memory; one or more data structures storing first information about a social network graph and storing second information relating to previous calls from the first telephone number, wherein the second information includes classifications by individuals that are within a predetermined distance in the social network graph of a person associated with the second telephone number; a telephone spam determination unit operable to receive a request from a mobile telephone to determine if a calling number is or potentially is a source of telephone spam, wherein the telephone spam determination unit is operable in response to receiving the request to; access the plurality of classifications; determine a weight for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam, wherein the weight depends on a relative distance in the social network graph between an individual who submitted the classification and the person associated with the second telephone number; combine the weights for at least some of the classifications that indicate that a previous call from the first telephone number was from a source of telephone spam and determine whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; determine whether the incoming telephone call is or potentially is a source of telephone spam based on a result of determining whether the combined weights exceed a threshold; and cause an alert indicating that the incoming call is or potentially is a source of telephone spam to be sent to a telephone associated with the second telephone number if it is determined that the incoming telephone is or potentially is from a source of telephone spam. - View Dependent Claims (23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification