Patent Publication Number: US-2013252588-A1

Title: Computerized System and Method of Recording Communications Between Parties Using Telecommunications Devices

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION 
     This application claims the benefit of provisional patent application No. 61/293,407, filed Jan. 8, 2010, which is hereby incorporated by reference. 
    
    
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The field of the invention relates generally to monitoring of telecommunications devices. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Telecommunications devices, such as cell phones or smart phones, have become commonplace and often necessary fixtures of everyday life. Often these devices are issued by employers to employees for use in carrying on business or to children by parents. As such, monitoring of the usage of such devices is often necessary to ensure that the devices are not being misused and/or to ensure the safety of the user. However, comprehensive monitoring of telecommunications devices, as well as assembling data relating to such monitoring, remains a challenge. Furthermore, the second party to conversations with monitored devices may not be aware that such monitoring is taking place. 
     Accordingly, the subject application discloses a computerized system and method for addressing these difficulties. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY AND ADVANTAGES 
     The application provides a method of recording communications between a first party using a first telecommunications device and a second party utilizing a second telecommunications device and notifies the second party to the recording of the communication. The method includes the step of receiving a request at the first telecommunications device to initiate the communications between the parties. The method further includes the step of receiving an identifier uniquely identifying the second communications device at the first telecommunications device. A warning message is automatically sent to the second communications device that the communications are being recorded in response to receiving the identifier uniquely identifying the second communications device. The method further includes recording the communications between the first and second communications devices. 
     By providing a warning message to the second communications device, the second party is duly warned that their communications, e.g., text messages and/or telephone conversations, should not be considered private and may be monitored by a third party. Furthermore, automatically providing this warning upon the identification of the second communications device assists in compliance with potential or existing laws and/or regulations governing recording of telecommunications. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages of the disclosed subject matter will be readily appreciated, as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings wherein: 
         FIG. 1  is a block diagram showing one embodiment of a computerized system for recording communications between a first party and a second party; 
         FIG. 2  is display view of a web browser showing a usage statistics graph for a first telecommunications device; 
         FIG. 3  is a display view of the web browser showing detailed usage logs for the first telecommunications device; and 
         FIG. 4  is a flow chart showing one embodiment of a method for recording communications between the first party and the second party. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     Referring to the Figures, wherein like numerals indicate like parts throughout the several views, a method of recording communications between a first party and a second party utilizing a computerized system  10  and notifying at least one of the parties to the recording of the communication utilizing the computerized system  10  is shown herein. 
     The system  10  includes a first telecommunications device  12  utilized by the first party. The first telecommunications device  12  is capable of sending and/or receiving character-based messages and/or audible conversations. The term “character-based messages” includes, but is not limited to, text messages, such as short message service (SMS) messages. The term “audible conversations” includes, but is not limited to, common and ubiquitous telephone conversation. 
     The first telecommunications device  12  is preferably a mobile phone (not separately numbered). The mobile phone is often referred to as a cellular phone, cell phone, smart phone, and/or wireless phone, as realized by those skilled in the art. Alternatively, the first telecommunications device  12  may be implemented as other suitable devices, such as a pager, personal computer, laptop, tablet computer, book reader, or other device capable of sending and/or receiving character-based messages and/or audible conversations. 
     The first telecommunications device  12  preferably has computing capabilities. Specifically, the first telecommunications device  12  includes a processor (not shown). The processor may be a microprocessor, microcontroller, application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) or other device capable of performing numerical calculations and execute software programs as is well known to those skilled in the art. 
     The first telecommunications device  12  may operate on a mobile phone network  14 . The mobile phone network  14  is often referred to as a cellular phone network or cell phone network as well known to those skilled in the art. The first telecommunications device  12  and mobile phone network  14  may utilize any analog and/or digital cellular technology, including, but not limited to, GSM, GPRS, CDMA, EV-DO, EDGE, 3GSM, DECT, TDMA, and iDEN. 
     Alternatively, the first telecommunications device  12  may communicate via a network  19  such as the Internet. For example, the first telecommunications device  12  may be implemented as an IP phone or a mobile phone having WiFi connectivity. Of course, those skilled in the art will realize other suitable techniques for facilitating communications between the first telecommunications device  12  and other telecommunication devices. 
     Multiple first telecommunications devices  12  may be utilized by multiple parties and included in the system  10 . However, for purposes of readability, typically only one first telecommunications device  12  used by a single first party will be described herein. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a software application (not shown) resides on the first telecommunications device and is executed by the processor on the first telecommunications device  12 . The application may be loaded onto the first telecommunications device  12  via over-the-air (OTA) techniques or other techniques known to those skilled in the art. The application captures transactional data streams (or simply “transactional data”) and transmits these transactional data streams as described in greater detail below. The transactional data may be stored in on-board memory (not separately shown) of the processor or in other data storage devices in communications with the processor. 
     The second party utilizes a second telecommunications device  16 . The second telecommunications device  16  may be a mobile phone, a landline phone, or any other suitable device capable of sending and/or receiving character-based messages and/or audible conversations. Of course, multiple second telecommunications devices  16  may be utilized by multiple parties. However, for purposes of readability, typically only one second telecommunications device  16  will be described herein. 
     The system  10  of the illustrated embodiment includes a server computer  18  in communication with the first telecommunications device  12 . Communications between the server computer  18  and the first telecommunications device  12  may be accomplished via the telecommunications network  14  or another network  19 , such as the Internet, as well known to those skilled in the art. 
     Specifically, the server computer  18  of the illustrated embodiment is implemented as an application server  20  and a data store  22 . Of course, multiple server computers  18  with one or more application servers  20  and data stores  22  may alternatively be implemented as realized by those skilled in the art. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, a monitoring acknowledgement request is sent to the first telecommunications device  12  from the server computer  18  in response to the application being loaded onto the first telecommunications device  12 . 
     This request is typically implemented as a character-based message. The system  10  may require confirmation of receipt of the monitoring acknowledgement request by the first party prior to allowing functionality of the first telecommunications device  12 . For example, the request may ask, “do you understand that any use of this device, including all voice conversations and text messages, may be recorded and utilized by others?” The system  10  then requires that a confirmation message be sent back to the server computer  18 . For example, the confirmation message may be the word “Yes” or simply the letter “Y”. 
     The software application being executed on the first telecommunications device  12  streams the transactional data from the first telecommunications device  12  to the server computer  18 . The data captured by the application on the first telecommunications device  12 , and collected by the server computer  18 , includes, but is not limited to, call records (both inbound and outbound), text messaging data (inbound/outbound transactions as well as message content), and multi-media messaging data (inbound/outbound transactions as well as message content). Typically, most data traffic is from the first telecommunications device  12  to the server computer  18 . However, the download of the software application to the first telecommunications device  12  as well as commands to remotely lock and wipe the first telecommunications device  12  will be sent from the server computer  18  to the first telecommunications device  12 . 
     The “call records” may include data representing all or part of an audible conversation between the first telecommunications device  12  and the second telecommunications device  16 . As such, both the first telecommunications device  12  and the server computer  18  a recording component (not separately numbered) for recording the communications between the first and second parties. 
     In the illustrated embodiment, the application server  20  receives the transmissions of the transactional data from the first telecommunications device  12  and aggregates this transactional data into flat files. These flat files are then collected and pushed to the data store  22  using a mediator  24 , also referred to as a mediation bridge (not separately numbered). The mediator  24  ensures that all the collected files are backed-up, archived, and distributed to the data store  22  and that the original files on the application server  20  are destroyed. 
     The data store  22  enriches the transaction records with subscriber profile information that is stored and maintained as master records for each of the subscribers (i.e., the first user). The enriched data sets are then made available to data consumers through an exposed application programming interface (API) layer to facilitate data viewing, interaction with the data sets and also data integrations to third-party applications. 
     The data store  22  also allows for the configuration of multiple compliance policies of which any one or more can be deployed against any line of business, logical group or individual subscriber (i.e., the first user). The system  10  uses an inheritance model to “inherit” compliance policies (or compliance business rules) and apply these against groups and subscribers, where such groups and subscribers may be assigned multiple compliance policies. This enables advanced configuration of the business rules (both for data recording and data viewing). 
     The data store  22  enriches the transaction records with subscriber profile information that is maintained as master records for the first user. The enriched data sets are then made available to data consumers through an exposed API layer to facilitate data viewing, interaction with the data sets and also data integrations to third party applications. 
     The data store  22  also allows for the configuration of multiple compliance policies of which any one or more can be deployed against any line of business, logical group or individual subscriber (i.e., the first user). The system  10  uses an inheritance model to “inherit” compliance policies (or compliance business rules) and apply these against groups and subscribers, where such groups and subscribers may be assigned multiple compliance policies. This enables advanced configuration of the business rules (both for data recording and data viewing). 
     The system  10  includes at least one interface  25  for relaying the content of the data store  22  to a separate storage system  26 , to a consumer (not numbered), or other applicable device (not shown). The content may be presented to the consumer in a plurality of forms using any number of techniques known to those skilled in the art. In one instance, the content may be presented via a computer  28 . Specifically, a web browser  28  running on the computer  28 , as shown in  FIGS. 2 and 3 .  FIG. 2  shows a graph (not numbered) displaying usage of the first telecommunications device  12 , while  FIG. 3  shows a detailed listing of telephone calls made and text messages exchanged using the first telecommunications device  12 . 
     Furthermore, the system  10  may store a list of persons and/or organizations to which the first user is not permitted to contact. For example, the list, e.g., a “black list”, may include the phone numbers of business competitors, former employees, etc. An alert may be sent to a third party, e.g., the computer  28 , when communication between the first telecommunications device  12  and a person and/or organizations on the list. 
     Also, the system  10  may provide a convenient display of all communications between the first telecommunications device  12  and other telecommunications devices, such as a person or organization on the list. For instance, the system  10  may display a timeline (not shown) of each individual communications which allows the consumer to see exactly what form of communication was utilized along with the content of each communication. In one example, the system  10  may display, on one “screen” of the computer  28 , a phone call received on a first day of a month, a text message sent on a second day of a month, an email received on a third day of a month, and a data file transmitted on a fourth day of a month. 
     Referring again to  FIG. 1 , the system  10  preferably includes a plurality of firewalls  30   a,    30   b,    30   c  to prevent unauthorized or malicious transfer of data, i.e., “hacking”, from the server computer  18 . For instance, in the illustrated embodiment, a first firewall  30   a  is implemented between the first telecommunications device  12  and the application server  20  to prevent access of data from the first telecommunications device  12 . Also in the illustrated embodiment, a second firewall  30   b  is implemented between the data store  22  and the separate storage system  26  and a third firewall  26   c  is implemented between the data store  22  and the consumers via the interface  24 . 
     The method described below may utilize the system  10  illustrated herein and described above, or may utilize other suitable hardware and software solutions. Specifically, the method includes the step of receiving a request at the first telecommunications device  12  to initiate the communications between the parties. The request to initiate the communications may be implemented in numerous ways. The request may be made by receiving a character-based message from the second telecommunications device  16  at the first telecommunications device  12 . As one example, the second user sends a text message to the first user. The request may also be made by receiving an audible conversation request from the second telecommunications device  16  at the first telecommunications device  12 . As an example, the second user places a phone call to the first user. Furthermore, the request may be made by receiving an input from the first user at the first telecommunications device  12  to initiate communications with the second party  16 . That is, the first user simply places a phone call or sends a text message to the second user by entering the phone number of the second user or by another selection process known to those skilled in the art. 
     The method continues with the step of receiving an identifier uniquely identifying the second party at the first telecommunications device  12 . This identifier is typically the telephone number (or “phone number”) of the second telecommunications device  16 . However, the identifier may be any other suitable identifier, such as, but certainly not limited to, the International Mobile Equipment Identifier (IMEI) number, an electronic serial number (ESN), or a Subscriber Identity Module (SIM card) number. 
     The method includes automatically sending a warning message to the second party. This warning message preferably indicates that the communications are being recorded. That is, the second party is warned that anything that they say, send, text, hear, or otherwise transmit or receive may be recorded by a third party. Specifically, the warning message is sent to the second telecommunications device  16 , such that it may be received by the second party. 
     The warning message may be a character-based message, an audible message, or implemented using another appropriate technique as known to those skilled in the art. In the illustrated embodiment, the warning message is sent as a character-based message when the request to initiate communication is by receipt of a character-based message at the first telecommunications device  12  or by sending a character-based message from the first telecommunications device  12 . The character-based message may be stored on the first telecommunications device  12  and transmitted to the second transmission device, at least in part via the mobile phone network  14 . Alternatively, the character-based message may be stored remotely from the first telecommunications device  12 . For example, the character-based message may be stored by and sent from the server computer  18  to the second telecommunications device  16 . Furthermore, the first user may be notified, e.g., with a character-based message, that the warning message has been sent to the second telecommunications device  16 . 
     Also in the illustrated embodiment, the warning message is sent as an audible message when the request to initiate communication is by receiving an audible conversation request from the second telecommunications device  16  at the first telecommunications device  12  or by initiating an audible conversation request at the first telecommunications device  12  to the second telecommunications device  16 . Said plainly, when a telephone call is received or is being sent, the warning message is an audible message, i.e., a voice message., that is played to the second telecommunications device  16  stating that all conversations utilizing the first telecommunications device  12  will be recorded. The audible message may be stored and sent by the first telecommunications device  12  to the second telecommunications device  16 . Alternatively, the first and second telecommunications devices  12 ,  16  may be connected to a third entity (not separately numbered), such as the server computer  18 , in a conference call fashion to play the audible message to the second user using the second telecommunications device  16 . Of course, the first user, using the first telecommunications device  12 , may also listen to the audible message based on the particular configuration of the system  10 . 
     In one embodiment, the warning message is sent to the second telecommunications device  16  in response to receiving the identifier uniquely identifying the second telecommunications device  16 . That is, the receipt of the identifier triggers the warning message to be sent. In another embodiment, the system  10  verifies whether or not a warning message has previously been sent to the second party, i.e., whether or not a warning message has already been sent to the second telecommunications device  16 . If a warning message has not already been sent, then the warning message is sent; but if the warning message has already been sent, then the warning message need not be sent again. That is, the warning message is sent in response to determining that the second telecommunications device  16  has not previously been sent a warning message. 
     The conversations between the parties, i.e., the character-based messages and audible conversations, are recorded by the server computer  18  as described above. Specifically, in the illustrated embodiment, the first communication device  12  transmits data corresponding to the communications between the parties to the server computer  18  for collection by the application storage  20  and storage by the data store  22 . 
     The system  10  may require confirmation of receipt of the warning message by the second party prior to recording of the conversation and in order to initiate recording of the conversation. Said another way, the warning message may include a request to confirm acceptance of the warning message. For example, the warning message may ask, “do you understand that your current conversation with this party may be recorded and future conversations may also be recorded?” When the warning message is sent via character-based message, the system  10  may request that a confirmation message be sent back to the first communications device  12  or other originator of the warning message. The confirmation message may be the word “Yes” or simply the letter “Y” Likewise, when the warning message is an audible message, the system  10  may request that the second party say the word “Yes” or press a specific number on a keypad (not shown) of the second telecommunications device  16 . 
     The system  10  may also include a storage unit (not separately numbered) for storing the warning message to be sent to the second telecommunications device  16 . The storage unit may be implemented as the processor of the first telecommunications device  12 , the server computer  18 , or other suitable component for storing data and/or audible messages. 
     The present invention has been described herein in an illustrative manner, and it is to be understood that the terminology which has been used is intended to be in the nature of words of description rather than of limitation. Obviously, many modifications and variations of the invention are possible in light of the above teachings. The invention may be practiced otherwise than as specifically described within the scope of the appended claims.