System and method for recording telephonic communications

• US 6,661,879 B1
• Filed: 11/10/2000
• Issued: 12/09/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Amcom Software, Inc. (Spok Holdings, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Xtend Communications Corp. (Spok Holdings, Inc.)
• Inventors: Charland, Robert M., Schwartz, William I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hoosain, Allan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US09/711,280
• Time in Patent Office: 1,124 Days
• Field of Search: 379/74, 379/85, 379/93.21, 379/100.05, 379/67.1, 455/412, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/882.3, 455/88.23, 455/88.25
• US Class Current: 379/88.25
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party-service or three-way-call computer conference organisation arrangements H04L12/1818
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2242/22 Automatic class or number identification arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42204 Arrangements at the exchange for service or number selection by voice at the terminal H04M1/27
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/533 Voice mail systems
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A system and method are disclosed for recording a wireless telephone call upon demand comprising the steps of initiating a telephone call from a telephone device with at least one receiving party, and establishing a third-party connection with a central archive to facilitate recordation of the content of the telephone call by the central archive by performing at least one of the steps of depressing a dedicated function key on the telephone device, selecting an appropriate option from a menu displayed on the telephone device, entering a code on the telephone device represented by a sequence of keystrokes, and uttering a recognized voice command.

Claims

1. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility upon demand by a calling party, comprising the steps of:

a) seizing a telephone call from a calling party;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the calling party;

c) determining whether recordation of the telephone call by the central archiving facility is permitted based upon the identity of the calling party;

d) answering the call at the central archiving facility provided that recordation of the telephone call is permitted;

e) commencing recordation of the telephone call when the calling party, using a conference feature of the originating telephone set, dials an intended recipient of the telephone call to conduct a conversation; and

f) monitoring the telephone call to detect the end of the call.

2. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of determining whether the content of the telephone call should be encrypted.

3. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 2, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call.

4. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 3, further comprising the step of delivering the encrypted content of the telephone call based upon delivery instructions stored in a database.

5. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 3, further comprising the step of storing the encrypted content of the telephone call at the central archiving facility.

6. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of delivering the content of the telephone call based upon delivery instructions stored in a database.

7. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of storing the content of the telephone call at the central archiving facility.

8. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of generating a tone during the telephone conversation to indicate that the conversation is being recorded.

9. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of certifying that the content of the telephone conversation is authentic and has not been altered.

10. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 1, further comprising the step of terminating the telephone call if recordation of the telephone call is not permitted.

11. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility upon demand by a calling party, comprising the steps of:

a) seizing a telephone call from a calling party;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the calling party;

c) conducting a database query based upon the identity of the calling party to obtain information including delivery instructions and a delivery address;

d) determining whether recordation of the telephone call by the central archiving facility is permitted based upon the identity of the calling party;

e) answering the call at the central archiving facility provided that recordation of the telephone call is permitted;

f) commencing recordation of the telephone call when the calling party dials the intended recipient of the telephone call to conduct a conversation;

g) monitoring the telephone call to detect the end of the call; and

h) delivering the content of the telephone call to a delivery address based upon the delivery instructions obtained during the database query upon detecting that the telephone call has ended.

12. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 11, further comprising the step of determining whether the content of the telephone call should be encrypted based upon information obtained during the database query.

13. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 11, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone call.

14. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 11, further comprising the step of storing the content of the telephone call at the central archiving facility.

15. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 11, further comprising the step of terminating the telephone call if recordation of the telephone call is not permitted.

16. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility upon demand by a calling party, comprising the steps of:

a) seizing a telephone call from a calling party;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the calling party;

c) determining whether recordation of the telephone call by the central archiving facility is permitted based upon the identity of the calling party;

e) answering the call at the central archiving facility provided that recordation of the telephone call is permitted;

f) commencing recordation of the telephone call when the calling party dials the intended recipient of the telephone call to conduct a conversation;

g) monitoring the telephone call to detect the end of the call;

h) determining whether the content of the telephone call should be encrypted based upon information obtained during a database query; and

i) delivering the content of the telephone call to a delivery address based upon delivery instructions obtained during the database query.

17. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 16, further comprising the step of encrypting the content of the telephone cal provided that encryption is required.

18. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 16, further comprising the step of storing the content of the telephone call at the central archiving facility.

19. A method for recording a telephone call in a central archiving facility according to claim 16, further comprising the step of terminating the telephone call if recordation of the telephone call is not permitted.