CALL FORWARDING DETECTION IN VOICE OVER PACKET INTERCEPTION

• US 20170237852A1
• Filed: 08/28/2014
• Published: 08/17/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: BELLAVISTA, Tiziana, FASOLINO, Giuseppe, GIGLIO, Roberto, GIORDANO, Antonio, MARCHESANO, Luca, ORLANDINO, Arturo, SPADACCIO, Giovanna
• Granted Patent: US 10,542,134 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/306 intercepting packet switched data communications, e.g. Web, Internet or IMS communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1096 Supplementary features, e.g. call forwarding or call holding systems providing special services or facilities to telephony subscribers H04M3/42
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1104 Session initiation protocol [SIP]
• 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 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/80 Arrangements enabling lawful interception [LI]

Abstract

A mechanism for maintaining the same communication identity number when intercepted calls are forwarded is embodied in various methods, devices and media-storing software.

Claims

1. A method performed by a network operator that sends, to an agent, required information related to a target that communicates via a communication network managed by the network operator, the method comprising:

intercepting first messages carrying first information which indicates that the first messages are related to a first communication session engaging the target;

sending a first communication identity number, CIN, and the required information extracted from the first messages, to the agent;

intercepting a second message transmitted after the first messages and carrying second information, which partially differs from the first information and indicates engaging the target;

determining whether the second message is related to the first communication session, by comparing pieces of the first information with pieces of the second information; and

sending the first CIN and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent, if determined that the second message is related to the first communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a second CIN, which is different from the first CIN, and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent, if determined that the second message is not related to the first communication session.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

intercepting third messages transmitted after the second message and carrying the second information; and

sending the first CIN and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent if determined that the second message is related to the first communication session,

otherwise sending the second communication identity number and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first information and the second information indicate same call endpoints, one of which is the target.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the first information includes a first route-related information, and the second information includes a second route-related information and a previous route-related information, and

if the second route-related information is different from the first route-related information, but the previous route-related information is the same as the first route-related information, then the second message is related to the first communication session.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the required information includes at least intercept related information, IRI.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining is performed by a data processing unit including a processor.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an intercept request which identifies the target, a type of the required information, a period for interception, and one or more delivery addresses of the agent to which the required information to be delivered.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first messages and the second message are Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein, when the second message is related to the first communication session, the second information is different from the first information due to call forwarding.

11. An arrangement including a processor in a network operator configured to intercept messages transmitted to a target via a network managed by the network operator, the arrangement comprising:

a first module configured to intercept first messages carrying first information which indicates that the first messages are related to a first communication session engaging the target;

a second module configured to send a first communication identity number, CIN, and the required information extracted from the first messages, to an agent;

a third module configured to intercept a second message transmitted after the first messages and carrying second information which partially differs from first information;

a fourth module configured to determine whether the second message is related to the first communication session, by comparing pieces of the first information with pieces of the second information; and

a fifth module which is configured to send the first CIN and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent, if the fourth module determines that the second message is related to the first communication session.

12. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the fifth module is further configured to send a second CIN, which is different from the first CIN, and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent, if the fourth module determines that the second message is not related to the first communication session.

13. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising:

a sixth module configured to intercept third messages transmitted after the second message and carrying the second information; and

a seventh module configured

to send the first CIN and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent, if the fourth module has determined that the second message is related to the first communication session, and

to send a second CIN, which is different from the first CIN, and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent, if the fourth module has determined that the second message is not related to the first communication session.

14. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein

the first information and the second information indicate same call endpoints, one of which is the target,

the first information includes a first route-related information, and the second information includes a second route-related information and a previous route-related information,

if the second route-related information is different from the first route-related information, but the previous route-related information is the same as the first route-related information, then the fourth module determines that the second message is related to the first communication session.

15. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the required information includes at least intercept related information, IRI.

16. The arrangement of claim 11, further comprising:

a request receiving module configured to receive an intercept request identifying the target, a type of the required information, a period for interception, and one or more delivery addresses of the agent to which the required information to be delivered.

17. The arrangement of claim 11, wherein the first messages and the second message are Session Initiation Protocol, SIP, messages.

18. A computer-readable medium configured to store executable codes, which, when executed by a computer in a network operator managing a communication network, makes the computer perform a method comprising:

intercepting first messages carrying first information which indicates that the first messages are related to a first communication session engaging the target;

sending a first communication identity number, CIN, and the required information extracted from the first messages, to the agent;

intercepting a second message transmitted after the first messages and carrying second information, which partially differs from first information and indicates engaging the target;

determining whether the second message is related to the first communication session, by comparing pieces of the first information with pieces of the second information; and

if determined that the second message is related to the first communication session, sending the first CIN and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent,

otherwise sending a second CIN, which is different from the first CIN, and the required information extracted from the second message to the agent.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the method further comprises:

intercepting third messages transmitted after the second message and carrying the second information; and

sending the first CIN and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent if determined that the second message is related to the first communication session,

otherwise sending the second communication identity number and the required information extracted from the third messages to the agent.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein

the first information and the second information indicate same message source and message destination, one of the message source and the message destination being the target,

the first information includes a first route-related information, and the second information includes a second route-related information and a previous route-related information, and

if the second route-related information is different from the first route-related information, but the previous route-related information is the same as the first route-related information, then the second message is related to the first communication session.