Method and apparatus for monitoring users of a communications system

• US 6,131,032 A
• Filed: 12/01/1997
• Issued: 10/10/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 12/01/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Hanger Solutions, LLC (IP Investments Group LLC)
• Original Assignee: Motorola, Inc. (Motorola Solutions, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patel, Pramodkumar
• Primary Examiner(s): Hunter, Daniel S.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Pablo N.
• Application Number:
  US08/980,562
• Time in Patent Office: 1,044 Days
• Field of Search: 455/422, 455/423, 455/424, 455/450, 455/455, 455/515, 455/517, 455/521, 455/26.1, 379/33, 379/59, 379/35, 379/7, 379/34
• US Class Current: 455/445
• 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 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/02 Protecting privacy or anonymity, e.g. protecting personally identifiable information [PII]
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/63 Location-dependent; Proximity-dependent
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method and apparatus for centralizing the administration of intercept lists includes a master intercept list (305) and an interface (510) which communicates with switches (410). Switches (410) may or may not include local intercept lists (415). When a user makes a call, a switch (410) queries the local intercept list (415) or the master intercept list (305). Information from the query is used to determine whether to intercept the call.

Claims

1. A method of operating a switch in a cellular communications system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving by the switch a call request from a calling party;

sending by the switch calling party information to a register, said register including information relating to monitoring criteria based upon physical location of a party to a call;

receiving by the switch intercept information from said register, said intercept information includes information regarding whether the call should be intercepted; and

routing said call request.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

responsive to said intercept information, routing said call request to an intercepting party.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said intercept information includes call intercept routing instructions.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said calling party information includes calling party location information.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of:

prior to said step of receiving intercept information, sending called party information to said register.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said called party information includes called party location information.

7. A method of operating a switch in a cellular communications system, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a call request for a call from a calling party;

sending called party information to a register, said register determining from an intercept list located within said register, based on said call party location information, whether said call request requires monitoring;

receiving intercept information from said register, said intercept information includes a field that specifies whether the call should be intercepted; and

routing said call request.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising the step of:

responsive to said intercept information, routing said call request to an intercepting party.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said intercept information includes call intercept routing instructions.

10. The method of claim 7 wherein said called party information includes called party location information.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising the step of prior to said step of receiving intercept information, sending calling party information to said register.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said calling party information includes calling party location information.

13. The method of claim 7 wherein said party to a call information includes calling party location information.

14. A method of operating a monitoring location register, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving call request information associated with a call, said call request information includes a calling party location or a called party location; and

responsive to said call request information, sending call intercept information.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said call intercept information includes a field specifying whether the call should be intercepted.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising the step of prior to said step of sending, searching a database of parties to retrieve said call intercept information.

17. A method of maintaining intercept lists comprising the steps of:

receiving intercept information into a master intercept list, said master intercept list being maintained within a monitoring location register; and

disbursing said intercept information to a plurality of switches wherein each of said plurality of switches includes a local intercept list.

18. A method of updating an intercept list comprising the steps of:

a switch receiving a user identification from a user;

said switch querying a monitoring location register with said user identification;

said monitoring location register sending an intercept list entry to said switch; and

said switch updating an intercept list included in said switch with said intercept list entry.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising the step of:

prior to said querying step, said switch receiving call request information from said user;

and wherein said querying step further comprises the step of querying said monitoring location register with said call request information.

20. The method of claim 18 where said user identification includes information relating to said user'"'"'s current location.

21. A monitor location register comprising:

a data storage device for storing user intercept information, said storage device including an intercept list, said intercept list including a plurality of intercept records, said intercept records including a location data field denoting physical locations in which a user named in user identification data may be monitored by a monitoring authority;

an input interface for receiving call request information; and

an output interface for sending said user intercept information.

22. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said intercept records include calling party location information.

23. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said intercept records include called party location information.

24. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said intercept records include a monitoring party identity.

25. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said intercept records include intercept call routing instructions.

26. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said input interface is for receiving call request information from a single switch.

27. The monitoring location register of claim 21 wherein said input interface is for receiving call request information from multiple switches.