Conversation recording with real-time notification for users of communication terminals

• US 7,813,481 B1
• Filed: 02/18/2005
• Issued: 10/12/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Evora, Robert Z., Hursey, John T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Phan; Joseph T
• Application Number:
  US11/060,399
• Time in Patent Office: 2,062 Days
• Field of Search: 379/88.22, 379/85, 379/202.01
• US Class Current: 379/68
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72433 for voice messaging, e.g. dictaphones for answering incoming calls H04M1/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42221 Conversation recording systems at the subscriber's set H04M1/656
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

A recording device provides conversation recording with real-time notification between users of communication terminals engaged in a conversation. The recording device provides a recording start notification to a second communication terminal in response to receiving an initiate recording request from a first communication terminal, and initiates recording of the conversation. The recording device terminates recording of the conversation in response to receiving a terminate recording request from the first communication terminal, provides a recording stop notification to the second communication terminal, and saves the recorded conversation to a file in a file storage medium. The recording start and recording stop notifications can be either audible or electronic notifications. The first communication terminal may be muted prior to providing a notification, and un-muted subsequent to the notification. The recording device may obtain permission from the second communication terminal to record the conversation.

Claims

1. A system for recording a conversation between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal, said system comprising:

a communication network;

a first communication terminal in communication with said communication network;

a second communication terminal in communication with said first communication terminal through said communication network, whereby said user of said first communication terminal and said user of said second communication terminal can have a conversation; and

a remote notification and recording platform bridged on to said conversation that;

provides an audible recording start notification to said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal indicating that recording of the conversation is about to be initiated;

initiates recording of said conversation;

sends a call leg restriction command to said first communication terminal and to said second communication terminal following initiating recording of the conversation by the recording device which prevents said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal from establishing other call legs while the recording is active;

terminates recording of said conversation in response to receiving a terminate recording request from said first communication terminal;

provides an audible recording stop notification to said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal indicating that recording of the conversation has terminated;

offers the users of said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal an opportunity, via DTMF dialing, to enter their numbers to receive an electronic notification that recording of the conversation has initiated;

sends an electronic recording start notification to those parties that entered numbers that recording of the conversation has initiated, said initiate notification including an indication of the date and time that the recording was initiated; and

sends an electronic recording stop notification to those parties that entered numbers that recording of the conversation has terminated, said terminate notification including an indication of the date and time that the recording was terminated.

2. The system for recording a conversation of claim 1, wherein said remote notification and recording platform further obtains permission from said second communication terminal to record the conversation.

3. The system for recording a conversation of claim 1, further having a file storage medium in communication with said remote notification and recording platform, wherein said remote notification and recording platform further saves the recording of the conversation to a file in said file storage medium, said file also containing identifying numbers of all known parties, an indication of the date and time that the recording was initiated, and an indication of the duration of the recording.

4. A method of operation of a remote notification and recording platform for recording a conversation between a first communication terminal and a second communication terminal, said remote notification and recording platform being bridged to said conversation by said first communication terminal, said method comprising:

providing an audible recording start notification to said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal indicating that recording of the conversation is about to be initiated;

initiating recording of said conversation;

sending a call leg restriction command to said first communication terminal and to said second communication terminal following initiating recording of the conversation by the recording device which prevents said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal from establishing other call legs while the recording is active;

terminating recording of said conversation in response to receiving a terminate recording request from said first communication terminal;

providing an audible recording stop notification to said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal indicating that recording of the conversation has terminated;

offering the users of said first communication terminal and said second communication terminal an opportunity, via DTMF dialing, to enter their numbers to receive an electronic notification that recording of the conversation has initiated;

sending an electronic recording start notification to those parties that entered numbers that recording of the conversation has initiated, said initiate notification including an indication of the date and time that the recording was initiated; and

sending an electronic recording stop notification to those parties that entered numbers that recording of the conversation has terminated, said terminate notification including an indication of the date and time that the recording was terminated.

5. The method of operation of a recording device of claim 4, further including obtaining permission to record the conversation from said second communication terminal prior to said step of initiating recording of the conversation.

6. The method of operation of a remote notification and recording platform of claim 4, wherein said electronic recording start notification and said electronic recording stop notification are SMPP messages.

7. The method of operation of a remote notification and recording platform of claim 4, further including saving the recorded conversation to a file, said file also containing identifying numbers of all known parties, an indication of the date and time that the recording was initiated, and an indication of the duration of the recording.