Patent ID: 6735291
Filing Date: 2004-05-11
Classification: H04L,H04M

Abstract:
A virtual private switched telecommunications network system for providing encrypted transport of a call across a public switched telephone network from a first enterprise location to a second enterprise location, said network system being located between one or more end-user stations within the first enterprise location and one or more end-user stations within the second enterprise location, said network system comprising:at least one security rule in a database at the first enterprise location, said at least one security rule specifying at least one action to be performed based on at least one attribute of an incoming or an outgoing call to/from the first enterprise location; at least one security rule in a database at the second enterprise location, said at least one security rule specifying at least one action to be performed based on at least one attribute of an incoming or outgoing call to/from the second enterprise location; and at least one first telephony appliance associated with said database at the first enterprise location within the first enterprise location; at least one second telephony appliance associated with said database at the second enterprise location within the second enterprise location; said at least one first telephony appliance and said at least one second telephony appliance including means for determining said at least one attribute of an incoming or outgoing call, said at least one attribute of the incoming or outgoing call being selected from a group including: call direction, call source number, call destination number, call type, call date, call time, and call duration, said call type attribute being defined as one of voice, fax, or data transfer (modem); and said at least one first telephony appliance and said at least one second telephony appliance each further including means for individually performing said at least one action specified in the at least one security rule defined in its associated database, said at least one action being based upon said at least one determined attribute of the incoming or outgoing call, said at least one action being selected from a group including: allowing the call, denying the call, conducting the call in encrypted mode, sending a tone, sending a message, logging the call, generating a report, and providing an alert.