System for interception of digital cellular phone communication

• US 6,405,030 B1
• Filed: 05/20/1999
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/20/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Peter Suprunov
• Original Assignee: Peter Suprunov
• Inventors: Suprunov, Peter
• Primary Examiner(s): Trost, William
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran, Congvan
• Application Number:
  US09/315,749
• Time in Patent Office: 1,118 Days
• Field of Search: 455/419, 455/410, 455/411, 455/412, 455/414, 455/424, 455/560, 455/418, 455/416, 455/417, 455/420, 379/201, 379/202, 379/210, 379/211, 379/213, 379/34, 379/35
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls

Abstract

A system for interception of digital cellular phone communication which is required by Communication Assistance for Law Enforcement Agency CALEA. The system includes a plurality of wide area networks which control the transmission of voice, data, file and other types of messages in a reconfigured exchange area, each area network including a plurality of air interface Base Station (BS) controlled by a central regional service point Mobile Switch Center (MSC) which is connected to an activator unit. The activator is a computer based system controlled by microprocessor and having database for permanently and temporarily storing predetermined cellular phone subscribers information and messages from and intendant for selected end users. The activator communicates with other wide area network via a physical communication network which provides communication links between the networks and the end users whether wireless or wired.

Claims

1. An interception system, comprising:

a cellular phone including registration identification means capable of remote communication via a cellular network connected to an activating interception device;

said activating interception device operable for transmitting an activation message to said cellular phone including registration identification means for activating said cellular phone interception procedure;

said activation message including information rerouting remote communication through at least one listening point or at least one intercepting phone such that initiation of remote communications by said cellular phone including registration identification means with an intended recipient causes transmission of said remote cellular communication through at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said cellular network comprises a digital cellular network.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein said digital cellular network includes a base station and a mobile switching center.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein said digital cellular network includes a direct link between said activating device and said cellular phone via a radio frequency transmitter and receiver interface.

5. The system according to claim 1, wherein said identification means includes a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) smart card.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said activating device includes manual means for initiating said activation message to said registration identification means for enabling or disabling interception.

7. A method for intercepting communication between a cellular phone and an intended recipient over a communication network, said method comprising:

registering said cellular phone with said communication network;

said registered cellular phone transmitting a message to said cellular communication network including a portion of said message connecting to at least one listening point or at least one intercepting phone and a portion of said message indicative of an activation signal enabling interception;

storing said message corresponding to at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone and said activation signal in memory within said cellular phone;

initiating communication at said cellular phone to said intended recipient over said communication network through at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone;

checking said second portion of said message in memory to determine whether said interception is enabled;

retrieving from memory said portion of identification means associated with at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone and

utilizing at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone to establish communication between said cellular phone and said intended recipient phone number.

8. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of disabling said interception by sending a message as part of said registration process wherein said second portion of said message is indicative of an activation signal disabling interception.

9. The method according claim 7, wherein the step of utilizing at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone to establish communication between said cellular phone to an interceptor through at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone consists of rerouting reception to at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone in place of the phone number of said intended recipient'"'"'s phone number.

10. The method according claim 7, wherein the step of:

utilizing at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone to establish communications between said cellular phone and at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone comprises establishing a conference call between the user of said cellular phone, said intended recipient phone number and at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone.

11. The method according to claim 7, wherein said communications network comprised a digital cellular network.

12. The method according to claim 7, further comprising the step of providing a simulated RF interface for generating a high powered control signal to said cellular phone to cause said cellular phone to initiate registration.

13. An interception system for enabling digital cellular communication between a target cell phone and an intended recipient phone to be directed to at least one said listening point or at least one intercepting phone, said system comprising;

activation means for providing a signal indicative of a third party phone number corresponding at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone;

communication means responsive to said signal for transmitting said third party phone number to said target cell phone;

memory means for storing said third party phone number; and

means responsive to a communication signal indicative of a request to establish communication with said intended recipient phone for retrieving said third party phone number and initiating communication to at least one said listening point or at least one said intercepting phone.

14. The interception system according to claim 13, wherein said communication means comprises a direct communications link.

15. The interception system according to claim 13, wherein said communication means comprises an indirect communications link.

16. The interception system according to claim 14, wherein said direct communications link comprises an RF simulator coupled to an activator and said target phone.

17. The interception system according to claim 15, wherein said indirect communications link comprises an MCS and base station coupled between an activator and said target phone.

18. The interception system according to claim 16, wherein said RF simulator and activator are a mobile unit.

19. The interception system according to claim 13, wherein said activation means further provides a second signal indicative of a call forward mode or a conference call mode associated with said target phone.

20. The interception system according to claim 13, wherein said signal from said activation means is provided during registration of said target cellular phone with a cellular network.