US 7,003,080 B1Granted

Methods and apparatus for reducing data capture and storage requirements for call and transaction related message monitoring and fraud detection

AssigneeVerizon Services Corp.

InventorsArthur Doskow, Harry A. Hetz, George Robert Hasenauer, Erik George Gebhardt, Joseph Vecchioli

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Abstract

Systems for monitoring, storage, and analysis of information in signaling messages, communicated from originating networks to a destination network through one or more intermediate networks are described. Correlation and comparison between signaling messages of interest sent from an origination network to signaling messages received by the destination network allows for the detection of inconsistent information, e.g., information fields in a communicated message that have been altered, either intentionally or unintentionally, by an intermediate carrier. The introduction of an additional communications path over which notification messages are forwarded from signaling monitoring equipment in the origination network to signaling monitoring equipment in the destination network allows for a significant reduction in the memory storage requirements at the destination network and in the amount of processing required to match, compare, and evaluate signaling messages. In addition, the reduction in stored messages and processing time allows the monitoring system to operate in near-real time allowing for fraud detection while a call is still in progress.

Claims25

Dependent claims

A method of monitoring at least one telephone call-related signaling message in a communications system including a source network and a destination network coupled together by an intermediate network, first and second communications paths extending between said source and destination network, the first and second communications paths being different, the method comprising:

monitoring a first telephone call-related signaling message originating from said source network that is directed to said destination network via the second communications path;
creating a copy of at least a portion of said first telephone call-related signaling message;
sending a notification message from said source network to said destination network using said first communications path, indicating to the destination network that a message of interest, containing information supplied by the source network, is being communicated to said destination network;
sending said first telephone call-related signaling message to said destination network through said intermediate network using said second communications path;
operating said destination network to receive said notification message;
receiving from said intermediate network a telephone call-related signaling message corresponding to the first telephone call-related signaling message;
and in response to said received notification message sending at least a portion of said received telephone call-related signaling message corresponding to the first telephone call-related signaling message to a long-term storage device.

4 more elements

A communication system comprising:

a source network;
and
a destination network including a second message monitoring device, the source network being coupled to said destination network by first and second communications paths extending between said source and destination networks, the first and second communications paths being different, said second communications path traversing at least a portion of an intermediate communications network which is included in at least a portion of said second communications path;
wherein the source network includes:
i) a first message monitoring device for monitoring at least a first telephone call-related signaling message originating from said source network that is directed towards said destination network;
ii) a means for creating a copy of at least a portion of said first telephone call-related signaling message;
and
iii) means for sending a notification message from said source network to said destination network using said first communications path, indicating to the destination network that a corresponding call-related signaling message of interest is being communicated to said destination network based on a call-related signaling message sent from said source network;
and
iv) means for communicating at least a portion of said first telephone call-related signaling message to said destination network through said intermediate network using said second communications path;
and
wherein the destination network includes:
i) means for receiving said notification message;
ii) means for receiving from said intermediate network a telephone call-related signaling message corresponding to the first telephone call-related signaling message originated by said source network;
and
iii) message storage control means, responsive to said received notification message, for copying and sending at least a portion of said received telephone call-related signaling message corresponding to the first telephone call-related signaling message to a long-term storage device.

13 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 10/948,515Filed 23 Sep 2004
Granted: 21 Feb 2006
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification26 codes

H04M 3/2281
Arrangements for supervision, monitoring or testing: call monitoring, e.g. for law enforcement purposes; Call tracing; Detection or prevention of…
H04L 63/14
Network architectures or network communication protocols for network security: for detecting or protecting against malicious traffic
H04M 15/41
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: billing…
H04M 15/58
Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless…: based on…