Methods and Apparatus for Defending Against Telephone-Based Robotic Attacks Using Contextual-Based Degradation

• US 20090003548A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Arlington Technologies, LLC (Dominion Harbor Enterprises, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Avaya Incorporated
• Inventors: Bentley, Jon, Wang, Sui-Yu, Lopresti, Daniel, Baird, Henry
• Granted Patent: US 8,005,197 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 379/88.180
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/1079 of unsolicited session attempts, e.g. SPIT
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/352 In-call/conference information service
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/493 Interactive information services, e.g. directory enquiries ; Arrangements therefor, e.g. interactive voice response [IVR] systems or voice portals

Abstract

Methods and apparatus are provided fox defending against telephone-based robotic attacks. An interactive voice response method is provided for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller associated with a call. The method comprises the steps of obtaining a script to present to the caller, the script including the one or more menu options; combining at least one of the one or more menu options with a background audio signal, wherein the background audio signal is selected based on a context of the call; and presenting the combination of the at least one of the one or mole menu options and the background audio signal to the caller. The context of the call includes comprises one or more of an identity of a called party associated with the call and a time period of the call. The background audio signal can optionally be obtained from a library of background signals.

Claims

1. An interactive voice response method for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller associated with a call, said method comprising:

obtaining a script to present to said caller;

said script including said one or more menu options;

combining at least one of said one or more menu options with a background audio signal, wherein said background audio signal is selected based on a context of said call; and

presenting said combination of said at least one of said one or more menu options and said background audio signal to said caller.

2. The method of claim 1, where said context of said call includes comprises one or more of an identity of a called party associated with said call and a time period of said call.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said background audio signal is obtained from a library of background signals.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said background audio signal is a musical selection having one or more of variable instrument, pitch, tempo and starting point.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said background audio signal is an audio signal related to an enterprise that performs said interactive voice response method.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said method is performed only if one or more predefined criteria defining an attack are satisfied.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of providing a training period for said user to learn said background audio signal.

8. An interactive voice response system for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller associated with a call, said system comprising:

a memory; and

at least one processor, coupled to the memory, operative to;

obtain a script to present to said caller, said script including said one or more menu options;

combine at least one of said one or more menu options with a background audio signal, wherein said background audio signal is selected based on a context of said call; and

present said combination of said at least one of said one or mote menu options and said background audio signal to said caller.

9. The system of claim 8, where said context of said call includes comprises one or more of an identity of a called party associated with said call and a time period of said call.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein said background audio signal is obtained from a library of background signals

11. The system of claim 8, wherein said background audio signal is a musical selection having one or mote of variable instrument, pitch, tempo and starting point.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein said background audio signal is an audio signal related to an enterprise that performs said interactive voice response system.

13. The system of claim 8, wherein said background audio signal is combined with said combine at least one of said one or more menu options only if one or more predefined criteria defining an attack ate satisfied.

14. The system of claim 8, wherein said processor is further configured to provide a training period for said user to learn said background audio signal.

15. An article of manufacture for interactive voice response for presenting a menu having one or more menu options to a caller associated with a call, comprising a machine readable medium containing one or more programs which when executed implement the steps of:

obtaining a script to present to said caller, said script including said one or more menu options;

combining at least one of said one or more menu options with a background audio signal, wherein said background audio signal is selected based on a context of said call; and

presenting said combination of said at least one of said one or more menu options and said background audio signal to said caller.

16. The article of manufacture of claim 15, where said context of said call includes comprises one or mote of an identity of a called party associated with said call and a time period of said call.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said background audio signal is a musical selection having one or more of variable instrument, pitch, tempo and starting point.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said background audio signal is an audio signal related to an enterprise that performs said interactive voice response method.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 15, wherein said method is performed only if one or more predefined criteria defining an attack are satisfied.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 15, further comprising the step of providing a training period for said user to learn said background audio signal.