Clip-on fraud prevention method and apparatus

• US 6,396,916 B2
• Filed: 12/10/1997
• Issued: 05/28/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 12/10/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: MCI Communications Corporation (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Jordan, David
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Foster, Roland G.
• Application Number:
  US08/987,935
• Publication Number:
  US 20010050984A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,630 Days
• Field of Search: 379/91.01,91.02,93.02,93.03,93.04,357,188,189,357.01-357.05 340/825.34 380/23,28
• US Class Current: 379/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/90 using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/016 Billing using Intelligent Networks [IN] or Advanced Intelligent Networks [AIN]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords

Abstract

Fraud prevention in a telecommunications network using call initiation equipment including intelligence capable of authentication is described. In order to initiate a call via a telecommunications network, the call initiation equipment sends authentication data to an adjunct platform. The adjunct platform uses the authentication data to determine if the call initiation equipment is authorized to use the customer wireline that interconnects the call initiation equipment to the telecommunications network.

Claims

1. A communications device for establishing a call over a customer wireline disposed between a customer and a central office switch, the device comprising:

a call initiation device coupled to the customer wireline, the call initiation device being operative to transmit an origination request signal, whereby the call initiation device notifies the central office switch of its request for authentication; and

an authentication circuit confuted to the call initiation device, the authentication circuit being operative to generate authentication data by processing a validation request received from the central office switch, and transmit the authentication data in response to the validation request without customer intervention.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a telephone.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a computer.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the communications device includes a wireless telephone.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer wireline includes at least one metallic cable.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer wireline includes at least one fiber optic cable.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the customer wireline includes a frequency assignment of a radio frequency signal.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication circuit includes a state machine.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the authentication circuit includes a microprocessor.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor includes a memory for storing the authentication data in a look-up table.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the microprocessor performs an algorithm to derive the authentication data.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the algorithm performed by the microprocessor is a secure hash algorithm.

13. The system of claim 11, wherein the algorithm performed by the microprocessor is a Message Digest algorithm.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the authentication data includes a customer wireline identification number.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein the authentication data includes an authentication identification number.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the call initiation device and the processor are disposed within an equipment housing.

16. A communications device for establishing a call over a customer wireline disposed between a customer and a central office switch, the device comprising:

a call initiation device coupled to the customer wireline, the call initiation device being operative to transmit an origination request signal, and receive a validation request transmitted from the central office in response to the origination request signal; and

a processor coupled to the call initiation device, the processor being operative to generate an authentication identification number in response to the validation request, assemble and transmit a digital transmission including the authentication identification number and a customer wireline identification number corresponding to,the customer wireline, whereby the processor generates, assembles, and transmits in response to the validation request without customer intervention.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the communications device does not include a card reading apparatus.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor includes a state machine.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the processor includes a microprocessor.

21. A telecommunications network for preventing clip-on fraud, the telecommunications network including a customer wireline connecting a communications device and a central office switch, the telecommunications network comprising:

a call initiation device disposed within the communications device, the call initiation device being operative to transmit an origination request signal;

a validation request generator coupled to the central office, the validation request generator being operative to issue a random challenge validation request in response to the origination request signal;

an authentication unit disposed within the communications device and coupled to the call initiation device, the authentication unit being operative to transmit a digital transmission in response to the validation request without customer intervention, the digital transmission including an authentication identification number and a customer wireline identification number; and

an authentication evaluation element coupled to the central office, the authentication evaluation element being operative to compare the digital transmission to authentication data corresponding to the random challenge validation request.

22. A method for authenticating a communications device, the communications device being coupled to a central office switch by a customer wireline disposed between a customer and the central office switch, the method comprising the steps of:

a) transmitting an origination request signal;

,

b) transmitting a validation request from the central office to the communications device in response to the origination request signal;

c) generating a digital authentication data processing the validation request message; and

d) transmitting the digital authentication data to the central office, whereby steps c), and d) are performed without human assistance.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein the validation request is a random challenge.

24. A The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting an access allowed signal from the central office to the communications device in response to the digital authentication data; and

providing access to the customer wireline, whereby communications between the central office and the communications device are established.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein the step of providing includes providing dial tone to the communications device.

26. The method of claim 22, further comprising the steps of:

transmitting an access denied signal from the central office to the communications device in response to the digital authentication data; and

generating an alarm signal, whereby the central office notifies a network authority of an access denied condition.

27. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of generating digital authentication data includes performing a secure hash algorithm.

28. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of generating digital authentication data includes performing a message digest algorithm.

29. The method of claim 22, wherein the step of generating digital authentication data includes assembling an authentication identification number and a customer identification wireline number.

30. A method for preventing clip-on fraud in a telecommunications network, the telecommunications network including a customer wireline coupling a communications device with a central office switch, the method comprising the steps of:

transmitting an origination request signal, wherein the central office is notified of a request for authentication;

generating a random challenge validation number in response to the origination request signal;

generating an authentication identification number by processing the random challenge validation number;

transmitting the authentication identification number and a customer wireline identification number from the call initiation device to the central office without customer assistance; and

comparing the digital transmission to authentication data corresponding to the random challenge validation number to thereby determine if the call initiation is authorized by the customer.