Method and apparatus for monitoring service usage in a communications network
AssigneeAT&T Intellectual Property II, L.P.
InventorsMarian Croak, Hossein Eslambolchi
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for detecting abnormal calling activity in a communications network is described. In one embodiment, usage data associated with at least one phone number is obtained from the communications network. The usage data is subsequently processed to determine if abnormal calling activity associated with the at least one phone number is exhibited.
Claims14
A method for detecting abnormal calling activity in a communications network, comprising:
- obtaining usage data associated with a phone number from said communications network;
- processing said usage data to determine if abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is exhibited;
- contacting a credit bureau to acquire credit history data if said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is determined to be exhibited;
- and
- generating an alarm notification to indicate detection of said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number if said credit history data indicates unauthorized activity.
An apparatus for detecting abnormal calling activity in a communications network, comprising:
- means for obtaining usage data associated with a phone number from said communications network;
- means for processing said usage data to determine if abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is exhibited;
- means for contacting a credit bureau to acquire credit history data if said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is determined to be exhibited;
- and
- means for generating an alarm notification to indicate detection of said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number if said credit history data indicates unauthorized activity.
A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of instructions, the plurality of instructions including instructions which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform the steps of a method for detecting abnormal calling activity in a communications network, comprising:
- obtaining usage data associated with a phone number from said communications network;
- processing said usage data to determine if abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is exhibited;
- contacting a credit bureau to acquire credit history data if said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number is determined to be exhibited;
- and
- generating an alarm notification to indicate detection of said abnormal calling activity associated with said phone number if said credit history data indicates unauthorized activity.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.