Calling party identification authentication and routing in response thereto

• US 6,327,347 B1
• Filed: 12/11/1998
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: RPX Clearinghouse LLC (RPX Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nortel Networks Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Gutzmann, Douglas Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US09/209,681
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.01, 379/88.02, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/127
• US Class Current: 379/88.02
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2201/40 using speech recognition speech recognition per se G10L15/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• 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 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42042 Notifying the called party of information on the calling party details within substation equipment H04M1/57, signalling details H04Q3/72
• 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 3/5235 Dependent on call type or called number [DNIS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13072 Sequence circuits for call signaling, ACD systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13091 CLI, identification of calling line
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13095 PIN / Access code, authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13103 Memory
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13106 Microprocessor, CPU
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13141 Hunting for free outlet, circuit or channel
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/1322 PBX
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 2213/13378 Speech recognition, speech analysis
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/72 Finding out and indicating number of calling subscriber

Abstract

A method and system for indicating authentication of the identity of a calling party based on an intrinsic property of the calling party is disclosed. Representations of intrinsic properties of potential calling parties are gathered and stored as reference representations for use in comparisons with later acquired representations. When a later acquired representation matches an earlier acquired representation, authentication of the calling party is deemed to have occurred. Speedier authentication may be provided by using calling line identification information in conjunction with representation matches. When authentication occurs, a signal is produced to indicate same and such signal may be used in uniquely identifying the calling party or in routing the call, for example.

Claims

1. A method of providing a called party with calling party authentication, comprising:

a) detecting an intrinsic property of said calling party;

b) authenticating the identity of said calling party, based on said intrinsic property; and

c) providing an authentication signal to said called party in response to authentication of said calling party.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including accessing an information database of calling party information in response to authentication of the identity of said calling party.

3. A method as claimed in claim 2 further including representing at least some of said calling party information in said authentication signal.

4. A method as claimed in claim 3 wherein providing said authentication signal includes transmitting to said called party, encoded signals representing information associated with said calling party.

5. A method as claimed in claim 2 further including searching a database of intrinsic property profiles associated with respective said calling party information to locate an intrinsic property profile matching said intrinsic property of said caller.

6. A method as claimed in claim 5 further including searching voice profiles in said database of intrinsic property profiles.

7. A method as claimed in claim 6 further including receiving a voice utterance from said calling party.

8. A method as claimed in claim 7 further including employing a speaker recognizer for comparing said voice utterance to said voice profiles to recognize said calling party as a particular speaker.

9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein authentication of said calling party is provided in response to recognizing said calling party.

10. A method as claimed in claim 9 further including recognizing speech provided by said calling party prior to authenticating the identity of said calling party.

11. A method as claimed in claim 10 further including locating information relating to said calling party in response to speech recognized by said speech recognizer.

12. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including receiving a password from said calling party and searching said information database for said password.

13. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including detecting calling line identification of said calling party.

14. A method as claimed in claim 13 wherein authenticating includes authenticating the identity of said calling party on the basis of said intrinsic property and said calling line identification information.

15. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including establishing communications between said called party and said calling party.

16. A method as claimed in claim 15 further including establishing communications between said calling party and an intermediary between said calling party and said called party.

17. A method as claimed in claim 16 further including intercepting the establishment of a communications link between said calling party and said called party.

18. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including routing a call made by said calling party in response to authentication of the identity of said party.

19. A method as claimed in claim 2 further including routing a call made by said calling party in response to said calling party information.

20. A method as claimed in claim 1 further including routing a call made by said calling party in response to said authentication signal.

39. A system as claimed in claim 18 further including an automatic call direction system responsive to said authentication signal for routing a call made by said calling party in response to said authentication signal.

21. A system for providing a called party with calling party authentication, comprising:

a) a detector for detecting an intrinsic property of said calling party;

b) an authenticating processor for authenticating the identity of said calling party, based on said intrinsic property; and

c) a signal generator for generating an authentication signal for said called party in response to authentication of said calling party.

22. A system as claimed in claim 21 further including an information database of calling party information accessible by said authenticating processor.

23. A system as claimed in claim 22 wherein said signal generator is operable to represent at least some of said calling party information in said authentication signal.

24. A system as claimed in claim 23 further including a transmitter for transmitting said authentication signal to said called party as an encoded signal representing information associated with said calling party.

25. A system as claimed in claim 22 further including a database of intrinsic property profiles associated with respective said calling party information, said database of intrinsic property profiles being searchable by said authenticating processor.

26. A system as claimed in claim 25 wherein said intrinsic property profiles include voice profiles.

27. A system as claimed in claim 26 wherein said detector is operable to receive a voice utterance from said calling party.

28. A system as claimed in claim 27 wherein said authenticating processor includes a speaker recognizer for recognizing said calling party as a particular speaker by comparing said voice utterance to said voice profiles.

29. A system as claimed in claim 28 wherein said authenticating processor is programmed to provide authentication of said calling party in response to recognizing said calling party.

30. A system as claimed in claim 29 wherein said authenticating processor includes a speech recognizer for recognizing speech provided by said calling party prior to authenticating the identity of said calling party.

31. A system as claimed in claim 30 wherein said authenticating processor is programmed to locate information relating to said calling party in response to speech recognized by said speech recognizer.

32. A system as claimed in claim 21 wherein said detector is operable to receive a password from said calling party and said authenticating processor is operable to search said information database for said password.

33. A system as claimed in claim 21 further including a calling line identification information detector for detecting calling line identification of said calling party.

34. A system as claimed in claim 33 wherein said authenticating processor is programmed to authenticate the identity of said calling party on the basis of said intrinsic property and said calling line identification information.

35. A system as claimed in claim 21 further including a call processor for establishing communications between said called party and said calling party.

36. A system as claimed in claim 35 wherein said call processor is operable to establish communications between said calling party and an intermediary between said calling party and said called party.

37. A system as claimed in claim 36 wherein said intermediary includes said authenticating processor.

38. A system as claimed in claim 36 wherein said authenticating processor is programmed to intercept the establishment of a communications link between said calling party and said called party.