Method, apparatus and computer program for authorizing recording of a message

• US 6,778,639 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2002
• Issued: 08/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Gusler, Carl Phillip, Hamilton, Rick Allen II, Woods, Stephanie Elise
• Primary Examiner(s): Tsang, Fan
• Assistant Examiner(s): Gauthier, Gerald
• Application Number:
  US10/183,792
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001573A1
• Time in Patent Office: 783 Days
• Field of Search: 379/67.1, 379/88.25, 379/93.05, 379/93.07, 379/88.01, 379/68, 380/283, 709/231, 358/1.15
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/6505 storing speech in digital form
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/656 for recording conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/658 Means for redirecting recorded messages to other extensions or equipment
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/258 Service state indications
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656

Abstract

In a method form of the invention, a method for authorizing recording of a telephone communication includes determining if permission has been granted to record a telephone communication in a telephone call. A communication in the telephone call is recorded by a message-recording apparatus for a first caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to receiving permission for the recording from a second caller'"'"'s telephone. A key is associated with the recording. The key authorizes transferring the recording to another message-recording apparatus.

Claims

1. A method for authorizing recording of a telephone communication comprising the steps of:

determining if permission has been granted to record a telephone communication in a live telephone call between a first and second caller;

recording a communication in the telephone call, wherein the recording is by a message-recording apparatus for a telephone of the first caller responsive to receiving permission for the recording from a telephone of the second caller; and

associating a key with the recording; and

sending the key to another message-recording apparatus, wherein the key includes an authorization tag that authorizes transferring the recording to the other message-recording apparatus such that the other message recording apparatus will not record the message without the authorization tag.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second caller initiates the call and a request is sent by the first caller'"'"'s telephone to the second caller'"'"'s telephone for the permission to record.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the second caller initiates the call and the second caller'"'"'s telephone sends the permission to record before a request for the permission is sent by the first caller'"'"'s telephone.

4. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of:

generating a notice to the first caller by the first caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission being denied on behalf of the second caller.

5. The method of claim 2, comprising the step of:

generating a notice to the second caller by the second caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission to record.

6. The method of claim 1, comprising the step of:

sending the key for the recording responsive to the recording being transferred to the other message-recording apparatus.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the first message-recording apparatus determines, responsive to the presence or absence of the key, whether to permit transferring the message.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the second message-recording apparatus determines, responsive to the presence or absence of the key, whether to permit transferring the message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the key comprises at least one of the following:

an address of a telephone of at least one of the callers;

an address of the first message-recording apparatus;

a date; and

a time.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the transferring of the recording that is authorized limits the transferring.

11. A message-recording apparatus for recording of a telephone communication comprising:

a processor; and

a memory having instructions and being operable to communicate with the processor,

wherein the processor is operable with the instructions to determine if permission has been granted to record a telephone communication in a live telephone call between a first caller and a second caller, record the communication by a message-recording apparatus for a telephone of the first caller responsive to receiving permission from a telephone of the second caller, associate a key with the recording and send the key to another message-recording apparatus, wherein the key includes an authorization tag that authorizes transferring the recording to the other message-recording apparatus such that the other message recording apparatus will not record the message without the authorization tag.

12. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second caller initiates the call and a request is sent by the first caller'"'"'s telephone to the second caller'"'"'s telephone for permission to record.

13. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the second caller initiates the call and the second caller'"'"'s telephone sends permission to record before a request for the permission is sent by the first caller'"'"'s telephone.

14. The message-recording apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable with the instructions to generate a notice to the first caller by the first caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission being denied on behalf of the second caller.

15. The message-recording apparatus of claim 12, wherein the processor is operable with the instructions to generate a notice to the second caller by the second caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission to record.

16. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable with the instructions to send the key for the recording responsive to the recording being transferred to the other message-recording apparatus.

17. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is operable with the instructions to determine for the first message-recording apparatus, responsive to the presence or absence of the key, whether to permit transferring the message.

18. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the key comprises at least one of the following:

an address of a telephone of at least one of the callers;

an address of the first message-recording apparatus;

a date; and

a time.

19. The message-recording apparatus of claim 11, wherein the transferring of the recording that is authorized limits the transferring.

20. A computer program product for authorizing recording of a telephone communication, the computer program product comprising:

instructions for determining if permission has been granted to record a telephone communication in a liver telephone call between a first and second caller,

instructions for recording a communication in the telephone call, wherein the recording is by a message-recording apparatus for a telephone of the first caller responsive to receiving permission for the recording from a telephone of the second caller;

instructions for associating a key with the recording; and

instructions for sending the key to another message-recording apparatus, wherein the key includes an authorization tag that authorizes transferring the recording to the other message-recording apparatus such that the other message recording apparatus will not record the message without the authorization tag.

21. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the second caller initiates the call and the computer program product comprises instructions for sending a request by the first caller'"'"'s telephone to the second caller'"'"'s telephone for the permission to record.

22. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the second caller initiates the call and the computer program product comprises instructions for receiving the permission to record from the second caller'"'"'s telephone sends before a request for the permission is sent by the first caller'"'"'s telephone.

23. The computer program product of claim 21, comprising instructions for generating a notice to the first caller by the first caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission being denied on behalf of the second caller.

24. The computer program product of claim 21, comprising instructions for generating a notice to the second caller by the second caller'"'"'s telephone responsive to the request for permission to record.

25. The computer program product of claim 20, comprising instructions for sending the key for the recording responsive to the recording being transferred to the other message-recording apparatus.

26. The computer program product of claim 20, comprising instructions for determining by the first message-recording apparatus, responsive to the presence or absence of the key, whether to permit transferring the message.

27. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the key comprises at least one of the following:

an address of a telephone of at least one of the callers;

an address of the first message-recording apparatus;

a date; and

a time.

28. The computer program product of claim 20, wherein the transferring of the recording that is authorized limits the transferring.