Method and apparatus for facilitating law enforcement agency monitoring of cellular telephone calls

• US 5,974,309 A
• Filed: 05/03/1996
• Issued: 10/26/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 05/03/1996
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Original Assignee: Telefonaktiebolaget LM Ericsson
• Inventors: Foti, George
• Primary Examiner(s): Chin, Wellington
• Assistant Examiner(s): Woldetatios, Yemane
• Application Number:
  US08/642,482
• Time in Patent Office: 1,271 Days
• Field of Search: 455/412, 455/408, 455/415, 455/13.1, 455/430, 455/432, 455/436, 455/564, 455/565, 455/567, 455/572, 455/414, 379/127, 379/112, 379/115, 379/142, 379/188, 379/189, 379/196, 379/198, 379/201, 379/207, 379/222, 379/221, 379/225, 379/230
• US Class Current: 455/412.1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/00 Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for secret or secure communication H04L9/00; network architectures or network communication protocols for wireless network security H04W12/00; security arrangements for protecting computers or computer systems against unauthorised activity G06F21/00
• 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: H04M 2203/1091 Fixed mobile conversion
• 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 7/00 Arrangements for interconnection between switching centres
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/00 Supervisory, monitoring or testing arrangements

Abstract

Billing identification numbers supplied to law enforcement agencies for monitored cellular calls are used to retrieve toll tickets generated by the cellular network. By processing the toll tickets, an identification may be made by the agency of the A-party to and routing of the monitored cellular call. Calling line identification (CLI) information is supplied to the monitoring law enforcement agency for each monitored call. The CLI information identifies the directory number of the A-party to the monitored cellular call when the A-party comprises another cellular subscriber. In those situations where the A-party comprises a wireline subscriber in a public switched telephone network (PSTN), the CLI information delivered to the monitoring law enforcement agency comprises either the calling line identification (CLI) information obtained over an integrated services user part (ISUP) trunk connection (identifying the wireline A-party), or converted A-number identification (ANI) information obtained over a non-ISUP trunk connection (identifying routing and switching information useful in tracing the call).

Claims

1. A method for obtaining A-number identification information for a law enforcement agency monitored cellular telephone call, comprising the steps of:

outputting information contained within a calling line identification field transmitted through a cellular telephone network in connection with the monitored cellular telephone call;

processing the calling line identification information to obtain an identification of the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call, and

transmitting a use authorization parameter for indicating that the information contained in the calling line identification field is to be used solely for law enforcement monitoring.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the calling line identification information includes the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the calling line identification information includes routing and switching information, and the step of processing further includes the step of processing the routing and switching information to trace the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call originates within the cellular telephone network.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call originates in a public switched telephone network external to the cellular telephone network.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried in the public switched telephone network by integrated services user part trunk connections supporting transmission of calling line identification information, further including the step of passing the calling line identification information through from the public switched telephone network to the cellular telephone network.

7. The method of claim 5 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried in the public switched telephone network by at least one non-integrated services user part trunk connection supporting transmission of A-number identification information, further including the step of translating the transmitted A-number identification information associated with the monitored call into the calling line identification information transmitted through the cellular telephone network.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the translated A-number identification information includes routing and switching information, and the step of processing further includes the step of processing the routing and switching information to trace the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

9. In a telephone network including a cellular telephone network connected to a public switched telephone network, a system for monitoring cellular telephone calls, comprising:

a tap connected to a certain one of a plurality of interconnected cellular network switching nodes involved in the handling of a law enforcement agency monitored cellular telephone call;

a tape recorder connected to the tap for recording a conversation comprising the monitored cellular telephone call;

a local printer connected to the certain cellular network switching node; and

means associated with the certain switching node for outputting to the local printer information contained within a calling line identification field transmitted through the cellular network in association with the monitored cellular telephone call, the information contained in the calling line identification being useful in obtaining an identification of the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call, and for outputting a use authorization parameter for indicating that the information contained in the calling line identification field is to be used solely for law enforcement monitoring.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the means further outputs to the local printer a B-number identification for the monitored cellular telephone call in addition to the calling line identification information.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the calling line identification information includes the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the calling line identification information includes routing and switching information useful in tracing the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call originates within the cellular telephone network.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call originates in the public switched telephone network.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried in the public switched telephone network in whole by integrated services user part trunk connections supporting transmission of calling line identification information, an originating one of the cellular network switching nodes passing the calling line identification information through to the cellular network for output to the printer.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried in the public switched telephone network in part by non-integrated services user part trunk connections supporting transmission of A-number identification information, the system further including means associated with an originating one of the cellular network switching nodes for translating the transmitted A-number identification information into the calling line identification information transmitted through to the cellular network.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein the translated A-number identification information includes routing and switching information useful in tracing the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

18. A method for obtaining A-number identification information for a law enforcement agency monitored cellular telephone call, wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried by at least one non-integrated services user part trunk connection supporting transmission of A-number identification information, comprising the steps of:

receiving at a cellular telephone network A-number identification information associated with the monitored call, said A-number identification information transmitted over said at least one non-integrated services user part trunk connection;

translating the transmitted A-number identification information associated with the monitored call into calling line identification information;

transmitting the calling line identification information through the cellular telephone network in a calling line identification field and including a use authorization parameter for indicating that the information contained in the calling line identification field is to be used for law enforcement monitoring;

outputting information contained within a calling line identification field transmitted through the cellular telephone network to the law enforcement agency in connection with the monitored cellular telephone call; and

processing the calling line identification information to obtain an identification of the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein the calling line identification information includes the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein the calling line identification information includes routing and switching information, and the step of processing further includes the step of processing the routing and switching information to trace the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein the monitored cellular telephone call originates in a public switched telephone network external to the cellular telephone network.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein the translated A-number identification information includes routing and switching information, and the step of processing further includes the step of processing the routing and switching information to trace the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

23. In a telephone network including a cellular telephone network connected to a public switched telephone network, a system for monitoring cellular telephone calls originating in the public switched telephone network wherein the monitored cellular telephone call is carried in the public switched telephone network in part by at least one non-integrated services user part trunk connection supporting transmission of A-number identification information, comprising:

a plurality of interconnected cellular network switching nodes, wherein an originating one of the cellular network switching nodes receives A-number identification information transmitted by said at least one non-integrated services user part trunk connection and translates the A-number identification information into calling line identification information carried through the cellular network in a calling line identification field and including a use authorization parameter for indicating that the information contained in the calling line identification field is to be used for law enforcement monitoring;

a tap connected to a certain one of the plurality of interconnected cellular network switching nodes involved in the handling of a law enforcement agency monitored cellular telephone call;

a tape recorder connected to the tap for recording a conversation comprising the monitored cellular telephone call;

a local printer connected to the certain cellular network switching node; and

means associated with the certain switching node for outputting to the local printer information contained within a calling line identification field transmitted through the cellular network in association with the monitored cellular telephone call, the information contained in the calling line identification being useful in obtaining an identification of the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

24. The system of claim 23 wherein the means further outputs to the local printer a B-number identification for the monitored cellular telephone call in addition to the calling line identification information.

25. The system of claim 23 wherein the calling line identification information includes the A-number for the monitored cellular telephone call.

26. The system of claim 23 wherein the calling line identification information includes routing and switching information useful in tracing the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.

27. The system of claim 23 wherein the translated A-number identification information includes routing and switching information useful in tracing the monitored cellular telephone call back to the A-number.