System and method for recording telephonic communications

• US 6,668,044 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2000
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• 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): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Anwah, Olisa
• Application Number:
  US09/619,515
• Time in Patent Office: 1,252 Days
• Field of Search: 379/85, 379/156, 379/158, 379/202, 379/67, 379/207.01, 379/202.01, 379/207.02, 379/207.14, 379/207.15, 379/207.13, 379/92.03, 379/68, 379/88.25
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5018 Initiating a conference during a two-party conversation, i.e. three-party service or three-way call
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2207/18 wireless networks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• 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 telephone call upon demand by a party to the telephone call. The method includes the steps of receiving a request from a first party to record a telephone call between the first party and a second party, establishing a third-party connection with the first party and the second party, receiving the telephone call, and storing the content of the telephone call in memory for subsequent delivery or retrieval.

Claims

1. A method for recording a telephone call in progress between two or more parties in a central archiving facility upon demand by a party to the call, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a signal from involved in the telephone call seeking to invoke recordation of the call in progress;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the party seeking to invoke recordation of the call, wherein the party seeking to invoke recordation of the call is identified by a technique selected from the group consisting of speech recognition, caller ID, automatic number identification, dialed number indicating service,

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

d) commencing recordation of the telephone call in progress if recordation is permitted; and

e) 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 progress between two or more parties in a central archiving facility upon demand by a party to the call, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a signal from involved in the telephone call seeking to invoke recordation of the telephone call in progress;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the party seeking to invoke recordation of the telephone call, wherein the party seeking to invoke recordation of the call is identified by a technique selected from the group consisting of speech recognition, caller ID, automatic number identification, dialed number indicating service,

c) conducting a database query based upon the identity of the party seeking to invoke recordation 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 party seeking to invoke recordation;

e) commencing recordation of the telephone call in progress if recordation is permitted;

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

g) 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 progress between two or moreparties in a central archiving facility upon demand by a party to the call, comprising the steps of:

a) receiving a signal from involved in the telephone call seeking to invoke recordation of the telephone call in progress;

b) receiving information regarding the identity of the party seeking to invoke recordation of the telephone call, wherein the party seeking to invoke recordation of the call is identified by a technique selected from the group consisting of speech recognition, caller ID, automatic number identification, dialed number indicating service,

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

e) commencing recordation of the telephone call in progress if recordation is permitted;

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

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

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

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 call 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.