Method and system for call tracing

• US 6,718,031 B2
• Filed: 06/11/2002
• Issued: 04/06/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fellner, Paul W., Langdon, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US10/167,282
• Publication Number:
  US 20030007607A1
• Time in Patent Office: 665 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/32.02, 379/32.03, 379/32.04, 379/32.05, 379/127.01, 379/142.17, 379/219, 379/242, 379/245, 379/246, 379/247, 379/249, 379/900, 379/FOR.102, 340/FOR.312, 345/2.1
• US Class Current: 379/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to a call trace system and method that is simple to establish in a short amount of time. The call trace is implemented through a Web browser page which remotely programs central offices to trace calls to particular number. When a trace is established a message is sent back to the Web browser which displays the calling number, the called number and the central office detecting the call. Also, a page is sent to a pager which displays the traced information.

Claims

1. A system for tracing calls, the system comprising:

a processor; and

computer program code for causing the processor to

receive a message identifying a telephone number to be traced,

transmit a command to a plurality of telephone central offices to establish a trace on the identified telephone number, and

transmit a trace found message to a display device when any one of the plurality of telephone central offices detects that the identified telephone number has been called.

2. The system for tracing calls of claim 1 further comprising:

computer program code for causing the processor to produce a log-on screen on the display.

3. The system for tracing calls of claim 2 wherein the log-on screen comprises:

a plurality of fields configured to receive input data including a field for specifying the identified telephone number.

4. Apparatus for initiating a trace of a call in a telecommunications network, the apparatus comprising:

user interface means for receiving and displaying information related to a telephone number to be traced;

network access means cooperating with the user interface means to establish a call trace at a plurality of central offices of the telecommunications network using the telephone number to be traced; and

processing means operable in conjunction with the user interface means and the network access means for controlling the apparatus.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the user interface means comprises:

initial page means for receipt of information related to the telephone number to be traced; and

a confirmation web page.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the user interface means comprises:

results page means for displaying results of the trace of the call.

7. A web page for use in conjunction with a processing device for initiating a trace of a call in a telecommunications network, the web rage comprising:

a telephone number field configured to receive information about a call trace; and

an actuator to initiate the trace of the call.

8. The web page of claim 7 wherein the actuator comprises:

a submit button.

9. The web page of claim 8 further comprising:

a login field; and

a password field.

10. The web page of claim 8 further comprising:

a reset button.

11. The web page of claim 8 wherein the telephone number field comprises:

a field to receive a telephone number on which a trace is to be placed.

12. The web page of claim 11 further comprising:

a display portion configured to display an indication of a number of calls linked to the telephone number on which a trace is to be placed.