Method and system for call tracing

• US 6,404,882 B2
• Filed: 06/04/2001
• Issued: 06/11/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Ameritech Services Incorporated (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Fellner, Paul W., Langdon, James F.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hong, Harry S.
• Application Number:
  US09/873,613
• Publication Number:
  US 20020041672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 372 Days
• Field of Search: 379/32.01, 379/32.02, 379/32.03, 379/32.04, 379/32.05, 379/127.01, 379/142.17, 379/219, 379/242, 379/245, 379/246, 379/247, 379/249, 379/900, 345/2.1, 340/FOR.312
• US Class Current: 379/247
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/06 Recording class or number of calling , i.e. A-party or called party , i.e. B-party
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/2281 Call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of malicious calls
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42144 by service provider
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04Q 3/0087 Network testing or monitoring arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 379/90 Internet, e.g. Internet phone, webphone, internet-based telephony

Abstract

The present invention is drawn to a call trace system and method that is simple to establish in a short amount of time. The call trace is implemented through a Web browser page which remotely programs central offices to trace calls to particular number. When a trace is established a message is sent back to the Web browser which displays the calling number, the called number and the central office detecting the call. Also, a page is sent to a pager which displays the traced information.

Claims

1. Apparatus for initiating a call trace comprising:

a processor;

a display unit; and

web browser program code operative to display on the display unit an initial web page to collect data to establish the call trace.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein the web browser program code comprises code operative to display on the initial web page:

a telephone number field; and

a submit button.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 therein the web browser program code comprises code responsive to actuation of the submit button to display a confirmation screen on the display unit.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein the web browser program code comprises code operative to display on the confirmation screen a telephone number to be traced from the telephone number field.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the web browser program code comprises code operative to receive a confirmation indication after display of the telephone number to be traced.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 wherein the web browser program code comprises:

code configured to display on the display unit a correct button;

code configured to detect actuation of the correct button; and

code configured to initiate the call trace in response to a detected actuation of the correct button.

7. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the web browser program code comprises:

code to display on the initial web page

a geographic location field.

8. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the web browser program code comprises:

code to display on the initial web page

a login field; and

a password field.

9. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein the web browser program code comprises:

code to display on the initial web page

a reset button.

10. Computer readable program code comprising:

first code operative to display an initial call trace web page;

second code operative to collect data to establish a call trace; and

third code operative to produce output signals associated with initiating the call trace.

11. The computer readable program code of claim 10 wherein the first code comprises:

a first code portion which produces a telephone number field on the initial call trace web page; and

a second code portion which produces an actuatable submit button on the initial call trace web page.

12. The computer readable program code of claim 11 wherein the first code comprises:

code responsive to actuation of the submit button to format the call trace using data from the telephone number field.

13. A method for initiating a call trace comprising:

displaying an initial call trace web page;

collecting data from a user of the initial call trace web page to establish a call trace; and

producing output signals associated with initiating the call trace.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein displaying the initial call trace web page comprises:

displaying a telephone number field; and

displaying a actuatable submit button.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

detecting actuation of the submit button;

in response to actuation of the submit button, initiating the call trace of a telephone number in the telephone number field.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein displaying the initial call trace web page comprises:

displaying a login field; and

displaying a password field.