Intermediary device initiated caller identification

• US 9,088,645 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2001
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Brown, Michael Wayne, McIntyre, Joseph Herbert, Paolini, Michael A., Weaver, James Mark, Winters, Scott Lee
• Primary Examiner(s): Elahee, Md S
• Application Number:
  US10/015,281
• Publication Number:
  US 20030108160A1
• Time in Patent Office: 4,969 Days
• Field of Search: 379 8801- 8804, 379/88.11, 379/88.12, 379/88.18, 379/88.2, 379/88.21, 379/88.23, 379/88.24, 379/88.26, 379/45, 379/67.1, 379/93.17, 379/88.19, 379/88.25, 379/265.13, 709/225, 709/229, 380/275, 370/352, 340/5.84, 705/18
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42 Systems providing special services or facilities to subscribers specially adapted for wireless communication networks H04W4/00
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42068 where the identifier is used to access a profile

Abstract

A method, system, and program for intermediary device initiated caller identification are provided. A trusted telephone network detects a call initiation connection from an origin device. The trusted telephone network then brokers a connection between the origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service. A voice utterance for a caller is received at the external server from the origin device. The server authenticates a caller identity associated with the voice utterance and transfer the authenticated caller identity to the trusted telephone network. The trusted telephone network then specifies services available for the call according to a caller profile for the authenticated caller identity.

Claims

1. A method for externally identifying a particular incoming caller, said method comprising:

receiving, at a server external to a trusted telephone network, a request for a caller identity authentication service from said trusted telephone network in response to said trusted telephone network receiving an indication of an incoming call from the particular incoming caller;

prompting said caller to provide identifying information;

receiving, from said trusted telephone network, a voice utterance of said caller at said server through a PBX; and

identifying a caller identity associated with said voice utterance at said server, such that said caller identity is transmittable within said trusted telephone network as an authenticated identity of said caller for said call to reach the PBX;

transferring said caller identity to said trusted telephone network through a secure channel;

wherein the PBX transfers the authenticated identity to a destination device.

2. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, wherein receiving the voice utterance further comprises:

receiving, at the server, said voice utterance through a secure channel between said server and said trusted telephone network.

3. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 2, wherein the prompting of said caller to provide the identifying information includes a request for a full name of the caller to be spoken resulting in said voice utterance;

and

wherein the prompting is performed by the trusted telephone network in response to receiving the indication of said incoming call.

4. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, wherein identifying a caller identity further comprises:

extracting speech characteristics from said voice utterance; and

comparing said speech characteristics with a plurality of voice samples stored for identifying a plurality of callers.

5. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, wherein said trusted telephone network comprises at least one public switching telephone network.

6. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, wherein said trusted telephone network comprises a private switching system.

7. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing said server from said trusted telephone network through an Internet connection.

8. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, further comprising:

accessing said server from said trusted telephone network through a private network connection.

9. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, further comprising:

transferring said caller identity to said trusted telephone network through a secure channel in response to the identifying of the caller identity.

10. The method for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 1, wherein the destination device is a callee telephony device.

11. A system for externally identifying a particular incoming caller, said system comprising:

a server system communicatively connected to a trusted telephone network by an external network, the server being configured to receive a request for a caller identity authentication service from said trusted telephone network in response to said trusted telephone network receiving an indication of an incoming call from the particular incoming caller;

means for prompting said caller to provide identifying information;

means for receiving, from said trusted telephone network, a voice utterance of the caller at said server system through a PBX;

means for identifying a caller identity associated with said voice utterance, such that said caller identity is transmittable within said trusted telephone network as an authenticated identity of said caller for said call to reach the PBX; and

means for transmitting said caller identity to said trusted telephone network as an authenticated identity of said caller for said call;

wherein the PBX transfers the authenticated identity to a destination device.

12. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said means for receiving the voice utterance further comprises:

means for receiving, at the server, said voice utterance through a secure channel between said server system and said trusted telephone network.

13. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 12, further comprising:

means for receiving, at said server system, the request for the caller identity authentication service from said trusted telephone network;

wherein the means for prompting said caller to provide identifying information is configured to request a full name of the caller to be spoken resulting in said voice utterance; and

wherein the prompting is performed by the trusted telephone network in response to receiving the indication of said incoming call.

14. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said means for identifying a caller identity further comprises:

means for extracting speech characteristics from said voice utterance; and

means for comparing said speech characteristics with a plurality of voice samples stored for identifying a plurality of callers.

15. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said trusted telephone network comprises at least one public switching telephone network.

16. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said trusted telephone network comprises a private switching system.

17. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said external network is the Internet.

18. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein said external network is a private network.

19. The system for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 11, wherein the destination device is a callee telephony device.

20. A computer program product for externally identifying a particular incoming caller, said computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer readable recording medium having stored thereon computer readable instructions which, upon being executed, cause activities to be performed comprising:

receiving, at a server external to a trusted telephone network, a request for a caller identity authentication service from said trusted telephone network in response to said trusted telephone network receiving an indication of an incoming call from the particular incoming caller;

prompting said caller to provide identifying information;

receiving, through a PBX from said trusted telephone network, a voice utterance of said caller at said server system, the server system being communicatively connected to the trusted telephone network via an external network;

identifying a caller identity associated with said voice utterance, such that said caller identity is transmittable within said trusted telephone network as an authenticated identity of said caller for said call to reach the PBX; and

transmitting said caller identity to said trusted telephone network as an authenticated identity of said caller for said call;

wherein the PBX transfers the authenticated identity to a destination device.

21. The computer program product for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 20, said activities further comprising:

receiving, at the server, said voice utterance through a secure channel between said server system and said trusted telephone network.

22. The computer program product for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 21, wherein the means, recorded on said recording medium, for prompting said caller to provide identifying information is configured to request a full name of the caller to be spoken resulting in said voice utterance;

and

wherein the prompting is performed by the trusted telephone network in response to receiving the indication of said incoming call.

23. The computer program product for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 20, said activities further comprising:

extracting speech characteristics from said voice utterance; and

comparing said speech characteristics with a plurality of voice samples stored for identifying a plurality of callers.

24. The computer program product for externally identifying a particular caller according to claim 20, wherein the destination device is a callee telephony device.