US 7,460,484 B2 · Lawful intercept of traffic connections

Abstract

Apparatus and method are provided for dynamically establishing lawful interception taps within connection-oriented communication networks. Taps are established automatically upon establishment of a main connection by embedding collection identifier information within connection setup messages as a new form of information element. The collection identifier information includes information enabling a tap function within an interception node to establish a connection, such as an SPVC or an SVC, to a monitoring station. The collection identifier information may include any of a forward direction ATM address, a backward direction ATM address for use in bi-directional communications, a forward direction end point and a backward direction end point for use in establishing SPVC tap connections, and a connection identifier for use in establishing SVC tap connections. Tap connections can be established either during or after establishment of the main connection.

Claims6

Dependent claims

A method of establishing taps within a connection-oriented communication network which carries a main connection originating at a source node, the method comprising the following steps:

generating a Surveillance Information Element (SIE) at the source node, the SIE including collection identifier information that specifies the location of a monitoring station;
inserting the SIE into a setup request;
launching the setup request to begin establishment of the main connection;
determining whether the setup request includes the SIE at an interception node;
extracting the collection identifier information from the SIE when the SIE is present;
launching a first switched tap connection between an interception point, located at an interception node separate from the source node, and the monitoring station;
creating a first tap for copying traffic from the main connection onto the first switched tap connection;
and
continuing to establish the main connection once the first tap is created, using a setup request that does not include collection identifier information.

6 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Lawful intercept of traffic connections

Life of this patent

Lawful intercept of traffic connections

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims6