Granting privileges to a telecommunications terminal based on the relationship of a first signal to a second signal

• US 20060210039A1
• Filed: 03/15/2005
• Published: 09/21/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Technology Corporation Miami Lakes FLA US
• Inventors: Krishnan, P., Kappes, Martin
• Granted Patent: US 7,949,114 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/189
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/18 using different networks or channels, e.g. using out of band channels cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for key distribution involving distinctive intermediate devices or communication paths H04L9/0827; cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for authentication using a plurality of channels H04L9/3215
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2535 adapted for voice communication over an Internet Protocol [IP] network Voice over Internet Protocol (VoIP) network equipment and services H04M7/006; implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP] H04L69/16
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/0078 Security; Fraud detection; Fraud prevention

Abstract

A method and apparatus are disclosed that enable a data-processing system, such as a server, to determine whether or not to grant a telecommunications terminal one or more privileges, without some of the disadvantages of the prior art. Specifically, in accordance with the illustrative embodiments of the present invention, a call-processing server transmits, to a first terminal, a first signal for verifying a second terminal, such as one that has been designated by a user. The user is then required to transmit a second signal to the call-processing server via the second terminal. The call-processing server then examines the received second signal with respect to the first signal and determines whether or not to grant the second terminal a privilege (e.g., handling calls on behalf of the user, etc.), based on the relationship between the first and second signals.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to a first telecommunications terminal;

receiving at a server a second signal from a second telecommunications terminal; and

determining whether or not to grant a privilege to said second telecommunications terminal based on the relationship of said first signal to said second signal;

wherein said first telecommunications terminal and said second telecommunications terminal are physically distinct.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal is received from said second telecommunications terminal as part of a session with said second telecommunications terminal that is initiated by said server.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein said first signal is transmitted into a signaling channel and said second signal is received via a media channel.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said first telecommunications terminal is a signaling endpoint and said second telecommunications terminal is a media endpoint.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said first signal is less easily read by machine than said second signal.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said second signal is conveyed via dual tone multi-frequency signaling.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said privilege is to place and receive calls.

8. A method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to a first telecommunications terminal via a first communications channel;

receiving at a server a second signal from a second telecommunications terminal via a second communications channel; and

determining whether or not to grant a privilege to said second telecommunications terminal based on the relationship of said first signal to said second signal;

wherein said first signal is less easily read by machine than said second signal.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein said first signal is transmitted to said first telecommunications terminal as part of a session with said first telecommunications terminal that is initiated by said server.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein said first signal is transmitted into a media channel and said second signal is received via a signaling channel.

11. The method of claim 8 wherein said first telecommunications terminal is a media endpoint and said second telecommunications terminal is a signaling endpoint.

12. The method of claim 8 wherein said first telecommunications terminal and said second telecommunications terminal are physically distinct.

13. The method of claim 8 wherein said privilege is to place and receive calls.

14. A method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to a first address;

receiving at a server a second signal from a second address; and

determining whether or not to grant a privilege to a telecommunications terminal that is associated with said second address, based on the relationship of said first signal to said second signal;

wherein said second signal is received from said second address as part of a session with said second telecommunications terminal that is initiated by said server.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said first address and said second address are associated with physically distinct telecommunications terminals.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein said first signal is transmitted into a signaling channel and said second signal is received via a media channel.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein said first address is associated with a signaling endpoint and said second address is associated with a media endpoint.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein said first signal is less easily read by machine than said second signal.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein said second address comprises a telephone number.

20. The method of claim 14 wherein said privilege is to place and receive calls.

21. A method comprising:

transmitting a first signal to a first telecommunications terminal;

receiving at a server a second signal from a second telecommunications terminal; and

determining whether or not to grant a privilege to said first telecommunications terminal based on the relationship of said first signal to said second signal;

wherein said first telecommunications terminal and said second telecommunications terminal are physically distinct.

22. The method of claim 21 wherein said first signal is less easily read by machine than said second signal.

23. The method of claim 21 wherein said privilege is to place and receive calls.