Methods and apparatus for wiretapping IP-based telephone lines
First Claim
1. A method of monitoring IP telephone calls routed over at least a portion of an IP network, the method comprising:
- maintaining, in a memory, a list of telephone numbers to be monitored;
determining during registration of an IP telephony device if the IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored by determining if said list includes a telephone number corresponding to said IP telephony device;
in response to determining that said IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored, obtaining information identifying the edge router through which said IP telephony device is coupled to the IP network;
transmitting a monitor command with an IP address being used by said IP telephony device to the identified edge router; and
operating the identified edge router to forward packets including the IP address transmitted with said monitor command to a monitoring station, by operating the identified edge router to duplicate packets including the IP address transmitted with the monitor command and forwarding the duplicated packets to said monitoring station.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
Methods and apparatus for wiretapping IP telephone calls are described. At the time an IP telephone registers its current IP address and telephone number with a soft switch responsible for routing calls to the IP telephony device a list of telephone numbers to be monitored is checked. If the number being registered is to be monitored, information identifying the edge router through which the IP telephony device connects to the IP network is obtained. The edge router is then sent a monitor message with the IP address corresponding to the telephone number to be monitored. IP packets including the specified IP address are then forwarded by the identified edge router to a monitoring station. Packet forwarding may involve packet duplication with the original packets being allowed to continue on to their original destination and the duplicated packets being forwarded or, alternatively, a simple packet redirection operation.
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Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method of monitoring IP telephone calls routed over at least a portion of an IP network, the method comprising:
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maintaining, in a memory, a list of telephone numbers to be monitored; determining during registration of an IP telephony device if the IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored by determining if said list includes a telephone number corresponding to said IP telephony device; in response to determining that said IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored, obtaining information identifying the edge router through which said IP telephony device is coupled to the IP network; transmitting a monitor command with an IP address being used by said IP telephony device to the identified edge router; and operating the identified edge router to forward packets including the IP address transmitted with said monitor command to a monitoring station, by operating the identified edge router to duplicate packets including the IP address transmitted with the monitor command and forwarding the duplicated packets to said monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6)
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7. A method of monitoring IP telephone calls routed over at least a portion of an IP network, the method comprising:
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operating a processor to determine if an IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored; in response to determining that said IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored, obtaining information identifying the edge router through which said IP telephony device is coupled to the IP network; transmitting a monitor command with an IP address being used by said IP telephony device to the identified edge router; and operating the identified edge router to forward packets including the IP address transmitted with said monitor command to a monitoring station, by operating the identified edge router to duplicate packets including the IP address transmitted with the monitor command and forwarding the duplicated packets to said monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (8)
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9. An apparatus for use in monitoring IP telephone calls routed over at least a portion of an IP network, the apparatus comprising:
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a processor for determining during registration of an IP telephony device if the IP telephony device is to be monitored by determining if a telephone number on a list of telephone numbers to be monitored corresponds to said IP telephony device; means for obtaining information identifying the edge router through which said IP telephony device is coupled to the IP network; means for transmitting a monitor command with an IP address being used by said IP telephony device to the identified edge router when it is determined that the IP telephony device corresponds to a telephone number to be monitored; and means for operating the identified edge router to forward packets including the IP address transmitted with said monitor command to a monitoring station, by operating the identified edge router to duplicate packets including the IP address transmitted with the monitor command and forwarding the duplicated packets to said monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12)
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13. A method of monitoring IP communications routed over at least a portion of an IP network, the method comprising:
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operating a processor to determine, during registration of an IP communications device, if the IP communications device is to be monitored by determining if a telephone number on a list of telephone numbers to be monitored corresponds to said IP communications device; in response to determining that the IP communications device is to be monitored, obtaining information identifying the edge router through which said IP communications device to be monitored is coupled to the IP network; transmitting a monitor command with an IP address being used by said IP communications device to be monitored to the identified edge router; and operating the identified edge router to forward packets including the IP address transmitted with said monitor command to a monitoring station, by operating the identified edge router to duplicate packets including the IP address transmitted with the monitor command and forwarding the duplicated packets to said monitoring station. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification