Systems and methods for graphically displaying and analyzing call treatment operations

• US 7,961,860 B1
• Filed: 11/22/2006
• Issued: 06/14/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Original Assignee: Securus Technologies Incorporated (Securus Special Investments LLC)
• Inventors: McFarlen, Christopher R.
• Primary Examiner(s): ADDY, THJUAN KNOWLIN
• Application Number:
  US11/562,842
• Time in Patent Office: 1,665 Days
• Field of Search: 379/188, 379/168, 379/201.01, 379/201.04
• US Class Current: 379/188
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/5027 Dropping a party from a conference conducting a computer conference, e.g. admission detection H04L12/1822
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/6054 Biometric subscriber identification
• 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 3/385 using speech signals
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/568 audio processing specific to telephonic conferencing, e.g. spatial distribution, mixing of participants echo suppression in two-way loud-speaking telephone systems H04M9/02; sound field processing per se H04S7/30

Abstract

A system and method for graphically demonstrating a call-processing operation include receiving data representing signals in a telephone call and data from an event-detecting algorithm, the data from the event-detecting algorithm describing an operation of the algorithm on the telephone call, and generating a graphical display including a waveform based on the data representing signals in the telephone call and a graph of the operation of the event-detection algorithm.

Claims

1. A method for graphically demonstrating a call-processing operation, said method comprising:

receiving data representing signals in a telephone call and data from an event-detecting algorithm, said data from said event-detecting algorithm describing an operation of said algorithm on said telephone call;

generating a graphical display including a waveform based on said data representing signals in said telephone call and a graph of said operation of said event-detection algorithm, said graphical display further including one or more parameters used by said algorithm to analyze said telephone call depicted in relation to said waveform.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said receiving and said generating are performed by a single device.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein one or both of said data representing signals in a telephone call and said data from said event-detecting algorithm are recorded data.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said graphical display includes:

graphically indicating one or more modes of said telephone call.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said data from said event-detecting algorithm identifies an occurrence of one or more events in said telephone call, and wherein said generating said graphical display includes:

graphically indicating said plurality of events in said telephone call.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein said plurality of events in said call include one or more of:

a hang-up event; and

a three-way event.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said generating said graphical display includes:

presenting a user interface to manipulate said one or more parameters used by said algorithm to analyze said telephone call.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

receiving user input from the user interface to change at least one of said parameters used by said algorithm; and

applying said changed parameters to said algorithm.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein said one or more parameters includes at least one of:

an amplitude threshold for a particular frequency;

silence threshold; and

silence duration.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein generating said graphical display includes:

scrolling said waveform and said graph of said operation of said event-detection algorithm across a screen at a rate approximating real-time operation of said algorithm.

11. A system for processing telephone calls, said system comprising:

a processing unit connected to a telephone line, said unit operable to perform an analyzing algorithm on signals on said telephone line and to output data based on a result of said analyzing algorithm; and

a graphical display system connected to said processing unit for receiving said data, said graphical display system operable to display a representation of said signals on said telephone line and a representation of said result of said analyzing algorithm, said graphical display further including one or more parameters used by said algorithm to analyze said telephone call depicted in relation to said representation of said signals.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein said telephone line is connected to a device operable to output known test signals and said processing unit is further operable to receive said known test signals and to adjust said one or more parameters to optimize accuracy of identifying said one or more events.

13. The system of claim 11 wherein said one or more parameters include one or more of:

an amplitude threshold for a particular frequency;

silence threshold; and

silence duration.

14. The system of claim 11 wherein said graphical display system is operable to accept user input setting said one or more parameters in said processing unit.

15. The system of claim 11 wherein said one or more events include at least one of:

a three-way event; and

a hang-up event.

16. The system of claim 11 wherein said processing unit is included in a private branch exchange of an institution.

17. The system of claim 11 wherein said unit samples and digitizes said signals before performing said analyzing algorithm.

18. The system of claim 11 wherein said analyzing unit is further operable to compare occurrences in said signal with a plurality of predefined telephone call modes and to identify said mode of a telephone call based thereon.

19. The system of claim 11 wherein said representation of said signals on said telephone line is a waveform scrolling across a screen, and wherein said representation of said result of said analyzing algorithm includes graphical indications of one or more events in a telephone call and one or more modes of said telephone call.

23. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

receiving user input through said second unit, said user input specifying said one or more parameters for detecting three-way call attempts; and

applying said one or more parameters to said first unit.

20. A method for demonstrating three-way call detection, said method comprising:

providing a first unit operable to analyze signals on a telephone line and to detect three-way call attempts on said telephone line;

providing a second unit operable to monitor said first unit and to render a graphical display of said telephone signals and one or more parameters used by said first unit to analyze said signals, said one or more parameters depicted in relation to said graphical display of said telephone signals;

operating said first and second units by receiving said signals on said telephone line, said signals including an event indicative of a three-way call attempt, said first unit detecting said event and said second unit presenting said graphical display showing said detection in a graphical manner.

21. The method of claim 20 wherein said operating said first and second units comprises:

checking said signals for a human voice for a predetermined time period after identifying a hook flash; and

after detecting signals representing a human voice, setting a flag in said graphical display that informs a user of said three-way call attempt.

22. The method of claim 21 further comprising logging said three-way call attempt.

24. The method of claim 20 wherein said first unit is operable to detect a mode of said telephone call, and wherein said second unit is operable to render a graphical display of said mode.

26. The system of claim 24, wherein said second means further comprise:

means for receiving user input specifying parameters for said algorithm and applying said parameters to said algorithm; and

means for displaying said one or more parameters in relation to said view of said signals.

27. The system of claim 24 wherein said first means includes means for identifying three-way call attempts.

28. The system of claim 24 further comprising:

means for identifying at least one event in said telephone call as a hook flash;

means responding to said hook flash as a three-way call attempt by disconnecting said telephone call.

29. The system of claim 27 wherein said means for responding to said hook flash as a three-way call attempt further comprises:

means for checking for signals representing a human voice for a predetermined time period after identifying said at least one event in said telephone call as a hook flash; and

means for, after detecting signals representing a human voice, setting a flag that informs a user of said three-way call attempt.

30. The system of claim 27 wherein said means for responding to said hook flash as a three-way call attempt further comprises:

means for checking for a Dual Tone Multi Frequency (DTMF) signal in said telephone call; and

means for determining that said DTMF signal is not present in said telephone call, wherein said responding is in response to said determining.

31. The system of claim 29 further comprising means for logging said hook flash as a three-way call attempt.

25. A system for monitoring and controlling telephone use, said system comprising:

first means for analyzing signals in a telephone call and identifying events and modes of said telephone call through use of an algorithm;

second means for receiving data from said first means, creating a graphical display that demonstrates operation of said algorithm, and rendering a view of said signals versus time.