System and method to discriminate call content type

• US 6,718,024 B1
• Filed: 05/17/2000
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: SecureLogix Corporation
• Original Assignee: SecureLogix Corporation
• Inventors: Applonie, Robert A., Pickens, Keith S., Beebe, Todd, Heilmann, Craig, Buntin, David, Schmid, Greg
• Primary Examiner(s): BUI, BING Q
• Application Number:
  US09/572,516
• Time in Patent Office: 1,420 Days
• Field of Search: 379/93.24, 379/156, 379/157, 379/188, 379/189, 379/196, 379/198, 379/93.09, 379/93.11, 379/93.02, 379/200
• US Class Current: 379/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0218 Distributed architectures, e.g. distributed firewalls
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0263 Rule management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/1408 by monitoring network traffic monitoring network traffic per se H04L43/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/22 Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing
• 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 3/42314 in private branch exchanges
• 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 7/0078 Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention

Abstract

A system and method for discriminating call content types for individual telephone lines at a plurality of user sites outside of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN) is described. The system includes: a database containing security rules for each of a plurality of extensions, the rules specifying actions to be taken based upon a call content type of the call on the extension, wherein the call content type is determined at the user sites outside the PSTN; and a line sensor within the user sites outside the PSTN for determining the call content type of the call. The line sensor continuously checks the call content type to determine if the call content type changes.

Claims

1. A telephony security system for discriminating call content for individual telephone lines leading to extensions at a plurality of user sites outside of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), comprising:

a database containing security rules for each of a plurality of extensions, said security rules specifying actions to be taken based upon a call content type of the call on the extension, wherein said call content type is determined at the user sites outside the PSTN; and

a line sensor within the user sites outside the PSTN for determining said call content type of the call.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said security rules include the actions of permitting or denying a call.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said sensor continuously checks the call content type to determine if the call content type changes from first call content type to a second call content type.

4. The system of claim 3 wherein said first call content type is fax and said second call content type is data.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein said line sensor determines said call content type of the call from a combination datastream created from a receiving portion and transmitting portion of the call.

6. The system of claim 1 further including a neural network that learns new call content types.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein said line sensor determines said call content type of the call by considering an application of the call.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein said call content type of the call by considering a protocol of the call.

9. A method of telephony security for discriminating call content type for individual lines leading to extensions at a plurality of user sites outside of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), said method comprising the steps of:

defining security rules in a database for each of a plurality of extensions, said security rules specifying actions to be taken based upon a call content type of the call on the extension;

deleting and sensing calls on the extensions to determine said call content type associated with each call, said step of detecting and sensing calls occurs within the user sites outside the PSTN; and

performing actions on selected calls based upon said call content type, in accordance with said security rules defined for each of a plurality of extensions, wherein said actions are performed on selected calls at the user sites outside the PSTN.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein said security rules include the actions of permitting or denying a call.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of detecting and sensing calls continuously checks said call content type to determine if said call content type changes from a first call content type to a second call content type.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein said first call content type is fax and said second call content type is data.

13. The method of claim 9 wherein said step of detecting and sensing calls is performed between a public branch exchange and the extension.

14. A telephony security system for discriminating call content for individual telephone lines leading to extensions at a plurality of user sites outside of a Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN), comprising:

a database containing security rules for each of a plurality of extensions, said security rules specifying actions to be taken based upon a call content type of the call on the extension, wherein said call content type is determined at the user sites outside the PSTN;

a line sensor within the user sites outside the PSTN for determining the call content type of the call; and

means for performing actions on selected calls based upon said call content type of the call, in accordance with said security rules,

wherein said actions are performed at the user sites outside the PSTN.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein said security rules include the actions of permitting or denying a call.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein said line sensor continuously checks said call content type to determine if said call content type changes from a first call content type to a second call content type.

17. The system of claim 16 wherein said first call content type is fax and said second call content type is data.

18. The system of claim 14 wherein said line sensor exists between a public branch exchange and the extension.