Intercepting a communication session in a telecommunication network

• US 8,175,277 B2
• Filed: 04/28/2005
• Issued: 05/08/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Bell, Robert T., Kandasamy, Subbiah, Wing, Daniel G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Shan, April
• Application Number:
  US11/116,644
• Publication Number:
  US 20060245595A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,567 Days
• Field of Search: 380/286, 380/278, 380/283, 713/168, 713/201, 713/171, 726/14
• US Class Current: 380/278
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 2209/60 Digital content management, e.g. content distribution
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/0442 wherein the sending and receiving network entities apply asymmetric encryption, i.e. different keys for encryption and decryption cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for public-key encryption H04L9/30
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/061 for key exchange, e.g. in peer-to-peer networks cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key agreement H04L9/0838
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/102 Entity profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/30 for supporting lawful interception, monitoring or retaining of communications or communication related information circuit switched telephony call monitoring H04M3/2281
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/306 intercepting packet switched data communications, e.g. Web, Internet or IMS communications
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/0827 involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths network architectures or network communication protocols using different networks H04L63/18
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/083 involving central third party, e.g. key distribution center [KDC] or trusted third party [TTP]

Abstract

Intercepting a secure communication session includes distributing a key from a key distribution point to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint. A secure channel is established between the key distribution point and an intercepting point. The intercepting endpoint may be determined to be authorized to intercept the secure communication session. The key is provided to the intercepting endpoint only if the intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session, where the key provides the intercepting endpoint with access to intercept the secure communication session.

Claims

1. A method for intercepting a secure communication session, comprising:

distributing one or more keys from a key distribution point to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the keys comprising a media session key for accessing a media stream and a control session key for accessing a control stream;

establishing a secure channel between the key distribution point and a first intercepting endpoint using an authentication protocol;

determining, by one or more hardware processors of the key distribution point, that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that an interception rule stored in memory authorizes the first intercepting endpoint for the control session key but not the media session key;

determining, by one or more hardware processors, that the first intercepting endpoint is restricted from receiving a caller identity corresponding to the first endpoint; and

in response to determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, transmitting, from the key distribution point to the first intercepting endpoint, only the control session key but not the media session key and not the caller identity to the first intercepting endpoint, the key providing the first intercepting endpoint with access to intercept the secure communication session.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

determining that a second interception rule authorizes a second intercepting endpoint for the media session key but not the control session key;

providing the media session key but not the control session key to the second intercepting endpoint.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session further comprises determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint to intercept a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint; and

providing the key to the first intercepting endpoint further comprises providing the key that allows the first intercepting endpoint to intercept the secure communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session further comprises determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint access on specified dates; and

providing the key to the first intercepting endpoint further comprises providing the key only if the first intercepting endpoint is requesting access on the specified dates.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording information describing the interception of the secure communication session.

6. A system for intercepting a secure communication session, comprising:

one or more hardware processors executing a key manager operable to distribute one or more keys in order to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the keys comprising a media session key for accessing a media stream and a control session key for accessing a control stream; and

the one or more hardware processors executing an interception manager coupled to the key manager and operable to;

establish a secure channel between the key manager and a first intercepting endpoint using an authentication protocol;

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that an interception rule stored in memory authorizes the first intercepting endpoint for the control session key but not the media session key;

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is restricted from receiving a caller identity corresponding to the first endpoint; and

in response to determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, transmit, from the key manager to the first intercepting endpoint, only the control session key but not the media session key and not the caller identity to the first intercepting endpoint, the key providing the first intercepting endpoint with access to intercept the secure communication session.

7. The system of claim 6, the one or more hardware processors executing the interception manager further operable to:

determine that a second interception rule authorizes a second intercepting endpoint for the media session key but not the control session key;

provide the media session key but not the control session key to the second intercepting endpoint.

8. The system of claim 6, the one or more hardware processors executing the interception manager further operable to:

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint to intercept a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint; and

provide the key to the first intercepting endpoint by providing the key that allows the first intercepting endpoint to intercept the secure communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

9. The system of claim 6, the one or more hardware processors executing the interception manager further operable to:

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint access on specified dates; and

provide the key to the first intercepting endpoint by providing the key only if the first intercepting endpoint is requesting access on the specified dates.

10. The system of claim 6, the one or more hardware processors executing the interception manager further operable to record information describing the interception of the secure communication session.

11. A non-transitory computer storage medium comprising software logic for intercepting a secure communication session, the software logic when executed by one or more processors operable to:

distribute one or more keys from a key distribution point to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the keys comprising a media session key for accessing a media stream and a control session key for accessing a control stream;

establish a secure channel between the key distribution point and a first intercepting endpoint using an authentication protocol;

determine, by one or more processors of the key distribution point, that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that an interception rule stored in memory authorizes the first intercepting endpoint for the control session key but not the media session key;

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is restricted from receiving a caller identity corresponding to the first endpoint; and

in response to determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, transmit, from the key distribution point to the first intercepting endpoint, only the control session key but not the media session key and not the caller identity to the first intercepting endpoint, the key providing the first intercepting endpoint with access to intercept the secure communication session.

12. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, the software logic further operable to:

determine that a second interception rule authorizes a second intercepting endpoint for the media session key but not the control session key;

providing the media session key but not the control session key to the second intercepting endpoint.

13. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, the software logic further operable to:

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint to intercept a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint; and

provide the key to the first intercepting endpoint by providing the key that allows the first intercepting endpoint to intercept the secure communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint.

14. The non-transitory computer storage medium logic of claim 11, the software logic further operable to:

determine that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session by determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint access on specified dates; and

provide the key to the first intercepting endpoint by providing the key only if the first intercepting endpoint is requesting access on the specified dates.

15. The non-transitory computer storage medium of claim 11, the software logic further operable to record information describing the interception of the secure communication session.

16. A method for intercepting a secure communication session, comprising:

distributing one or more keys from a key distribution point to establish a secure communication session between a first endpoint and a second endpoint, the keys comprising a media session key for accessing a media stream and a control session key for accessing a control stream, the call session communicating a media stream;

establishing a secure channel between the key distribution point and a first intercepting endpoint using an authentication protocol;

determining, by one or more hardware processors of the key distribution point, that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized to intercept the secure communication session, the first intercepting endpoint determined to be authorized by;

accessing an interception rule stored in memory, the interception rule corresponding to the first intercepting endpoint, the interception rule defining whether the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, the interception rule defining one or more conditions under which the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, the interception rule defining a time period during which the first intercepting endpoint is authorized;

determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized if the first intercepting endpoint satisfies the interception rule; and

determining that the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint for the control session key but not the media session key;

determining that the first intercepting endpoint is restricted from receiving a caller identity corresponding to the first endpoint; and

providing only the control session key but not the media session key and not the caller identity to the first intercepting endpoint,

providing the media session key but not the control session key to a second intercepting endpoint if a second interception rule authorizes the second intercepting endpoint for the media session key but not the control session key;

in response to determining that the first intercepting endpoint is authorized, transmitting, from the key distribution point to the first intercepting endpoint, the key that allows the first intercepting endpoint to intercept the secure communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint if the interception rule authorizes the first intercepting endpoint to intercept a communication session between the first endpoint and the second endpoint;

providing the key only if the first intercepting endpoint is requesting access on dates authorized by the intercepting rule; and

recording information describing the interception of the secure communication session.