Technique for controlling fraudulent use of a telecommunication service including information assistance

• US 20050026594A1
• Filed: 07/31/2003
• Published: 02/03/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 07/31/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Grape Technology Group Incorporated (KGB)
• Original Assignee: Metro One Telecommunications, Inc.
• Inventors: Miller, John S., Timmins, Timothy A.
• Granted Patent: US 7,127,233 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/410
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/47 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6027 Fraud preventions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0148 Fraud detection or prevention means
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/20 with means for interrupting existing connections; with means for breaking-in on conversations
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/38 Graded-service arrangements, i.e. some subscribers prevented from establishing certain connections queuing arrangements H04Q3/64
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/382 using authorisation codes or passwords
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42059 Making use of the calling party identifier
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

The phone number used by a caller accessing a telecommunication service is derived. For example, this phone number may be used to look up in a first database the name of the user registered with the service, and in a second database the name of the subscriber assigned the phone number. If the two names correspond, the caller is provided with the telecommunication service. Otherwise, a fraud has been detected and various consequences may be visited upon the caller or the user. Some of these consequences include denying use of the service, charging the caller extra for use of the service, etc.

Claims

1. A method for use by a provider of a telecommunication service, including information assistance, to detect fraudulent use of the telecommunication service, the method comprising:

receiving from a caller a call, which includes at least one information assistance request;

deriving, from signals associated with the call, a telephone number from which the call originates;

based on the telephone number, obtaining from a first database first data concerning a party registered with the service;

based on the telephone number, obtaining from a second database second data concerning a party to which the telephone number is assigned; and

determining fraudulent use of the service if the first data does not correspond to the second data.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes the name of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes the name of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein the first data includes a type of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes a type of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

4. The method according to claim 3, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a business user.

5. The method according to claim 3, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a residential user.

6. The method according to claim 3, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a wireless communications user.

7. The method according to claim 3, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a governmental user.

8. The method according to claim 1, further comprising penalizing a selected one of the caller and the party registered with the service when the fraudulent use of the service is determined.

9. The method according to claim 8, wherein the penalizing comprises denying the caller the service.

10. The method according to claim 8, wherein the penalizing comprises providing service to the caller at a rate different from that given to the party registered with the service.

11. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information assistance request comprises a request for connecting the caller to a desired destination party.

12. The method according to claim 1, wherein the information assistance request is received after the caller generates a signal to invoke information assistance.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein the signal is generated by the caller'"'"'s pressing one or more predetermined keys on a telephonic device.

14. The method according to claim 1, wherein the telephone number is used to identify a profile containing preferences for handling the call.

15. A method for use by a provider of a telecommunication service, including information assistance, the method comprising:

defining a class of service, a party registered with the service being afforded the class of service based on at least one attribute of the party;

receiving from a caller a call, which includes at least one information assistance request;

deriving, from signals associated with the call, a telephone number from which the call originates;

obtaining from a first database the attribute which is associated with the telephone number;

based on the telephone number, obtaining from a second database data concerning a party to which the telephone number is assigned; and

determining fraudulent use of the class of service when the data does not correspond to the attribute.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein the selected class of service is accorded a discount on a rate of the telecommunication service.

17. The method according to claim 15, wherein the attribute includes the name of the party registered with the service, and the data includes the name of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

18. The method according to claim 15, wherein the attribute includes a type of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes a type of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

19. The method according to claim 18, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a business user.

20. The method according to claim 18, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a residential user.

21. The method according to claim 18, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a wireless communications user.

22. The method according to claim 18, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a governmental user.

23. The method according to claim 15, further comprising penalizing a selected one of the caller and the party registered with the service when fraudulent use of the class of service is determined.

24. The method according to claim 23, wherein the penalizing comprises denying the caller the service.

25. The method according to claim 23, wherein the penalizing comprises providing service to the caller at a rate different from that accorded to the class of service.

26. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information assistance request comprises a request for connecting the caller to a desired destination party.

27. The method according to claim 15, wherein the information assistance request is received after the caller generates a signal to invoke information assistance.

28. The method according to claim 27, wherein the signal is generated by the caller'"'"'s pressing one or more predetermined keys on a telephonic device.

29. The method according to claim 15, wherein the telephone number is used to identify a profile containing preferences for handling the call.

30. A system for use by a provider of a telecommunication service, including information assistance, to detect fraudulent use of the telecommunication service, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving from a caller a call, which includes at least one information assistance request;

a device for deriving, from signals associated with the call, a telephone number from which the call originates, first data concerning a party registered with the service being obtained from a first database based on the telephone number;

a server for obtaining, based on the telephone number, from a second database second data concerning a party to which the telephone number is assigned; and

a processor for determining fraudulent use of the service if the first data does not correspond to the second data.

31. The system according to claim 30, wherein the first data includes the name of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes the name of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

32. The system according to claim 30, wherein the first data includes a type of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes a type of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

33. The system according to claim 32, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a business user.

34. The system according to claim 32, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a residential user.

35. The system according to claim 32, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a wireless communications user.

36. The system according to claim 32, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a governmental user.

37. The system according to claim 30, wherein a selected one of the caller and the party registered with the service is penalized when the fraudulent use of the service is determined.

38. The system according to claim 37, wherein the caller is denied the service when the fraudulent use of the service is determined.

39. The system according to claim 37, wherein the caller is provided with the service at a rate different from that given to the party registered with the service when the fraudulent use of the service is determined.

40. The system according to claim 30, wherein the information assistance request comprises a request for connecting the caller to a desired destination party.

41. The system according to claim 30, wherein the information assistance request is received after the caller generates a signal to invoke information assistance.

42. The system according to claim 41, wherein the signal is generated by the caller'"'"'s pressing one or more predetermined keys on a telephonic device.

43. The system according to claim 30, wherein the telephone number is used to identify a profile containing preferences for handling the call.

44. A system for use by a provider of a telecommunication service, including information assistance, a party registered with the service being afforded a class of service based on at least one attribute of the party, the system comprising:

an interface for receiving from a caller a call, which includes at least one information assistance request;

a device for deriving, from signals associated with the call, a telephone number from which the call originates, the attribute which is associated with the telephone number being obtained from a first database;

a server for obtaining, based on the telephone number, from a second database data concerning a party to which the telephone number is assigned; and

a processor for determining fraudulent use of the class of service when the data does not correspond to the attribute.

45. The system according to claim 44, wherein the selected class of service is accorded a discount on a rate of the telecommunication service.

46. The system according to claim 44, wherein the attribute includes the name of the party registered with the service, and the data includes the name of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

47. The system according to claim 44, wherein the attribute includes a type of the party registered with the service, and the second data includes a type of the party to which the telephone number is assigned.

48. The system according to claim 47, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a business user.

49. The system according to claim 47, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a residential user.

50. The system according to claim 47, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a wireless communications user.

51. The system according to claim 47, wherein the type of the party registered with the service includes a governmental user.

52. The system according to claim 44, wherein a selected one of the caller and the party registered with the service is penalized when fraudulent use of the class of service is determined.

53. The system according to claim 52, wherein the caller is denied the service when the fraudulent use of the class of service is determined.

54. The system according to claim 52, wherein the caller is provided with the service at a rate different from that accorded to the class of service.

55. The system according to claim 44, wherein the information assistance request comprises a request for connecting the caller to a desired destination party.

56. The system according to claim 44, wherein the information assistance request is received after the caller generates a signal to invoke information assistance.

57. The system according to claim 56, wherein the signal is generated by the caller'"'"'s pressing one or more predetermined keys on a telephonic device.

58. The system according to claim 44, wherein the telephone number is used to identify a profile containing preferences for handling the call.