Patent Publication Number: US-2007121811-A1

Title: Method for opt-in voice session recording in a communication device

Description:
FIELD OF THE DISCLOSURE  
      The present disclosure relates generally to communication devices, and more specifically to a method for opt-in voice session recording in a communication device.  
     BACKGROUND  
      Consumers today generally have no convenient way to record a phone conversation while the conversation is taking place. Privacy issues have in large part hindered manufactures from improving telephonic technology in this area. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram of a plurality of communication devices operating in a communication system according to teachings of the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram of the communication devices according to teachings of the present disclosure;  
       FIG. 3-4  depict a flowchart of a method operating in any one of the communication devices of the communication system according to teachings of the present disclosure; and  
       FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.  
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      Embodiments in accordance with the present disclosure provide a method for opt-in voice session recording in a communication device.  
      In a first embodiment of the present disclosure, a communication device has a transceiver for communicating with a second communication device, an audio system for exchanging audible signals with an end user of the communication device, and a controller for managing operations of the transceiver and the audio system. The controller can be programmed to establish a voice session with the second communication device, transmit to the second communication device a request to record the voice session, receive from the second communication device a grant to record the voice session, and record the voice session in response to the grant.  
      In a second embodiment of the present disclosure, a computer-readable storage medium has computer instructions for recording a voice session between the first communication device and a second communication in response to a grant to record received from the second communication device.  
      In a third embodiment of the present disclosure, a method operates in a first communication device according to the steps of communicating to an end user of a second communication device an option to grant recording of a voice session between the first and second communication devices, and recording the voice session in response to a grant received from the second communication device.  
       FIG. 1  is a block diagram  100  of a plurality of communication devices  104 ,  106  operating in a communication system  102  according to teachings of the present disclosure. Communication device  104 , for example, can represent a wireline telephony device capable of circuit-switched communications such as POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) over a wireline communication medium  105 . Alternatively, communication device  104  can represent a wireline telephony device capable of packet-switched communications such as VoIP (Voice over Internet Protocol). In another embodiment, communication device  104  can be a cordless phone having a base unit coupled to the wireline medium  105  for supporting either of POTS or VoIP services.  
      Communication device  106  can represent a wireless telephony device such as a cellular phone, multimode mode wireless phone, or other wireless communication device. Communication device  106  can thus support any of the common wireless technologies existing today or in a next generation such as cellular (e.g., GSM, GSM-GPRS, CDMA, CDMA-1X, EVDO, UMTS, etc.), WiFi, WiMax, Bluetooth™, or software defined radio (SDR), just to mention a few. The communication system  102  can be a hybrid communication system supporting combinations of the wireless and wireline communication technologies mentioned above.  
       FIG. 2  depicts a block diagram  200  of the communication devices  104  or  106  according to teachings of the present disclosure. The communication devices  104 ,  106  can each comprise a transceiver  202 , a user interface (UI) element  204 , and a controller  214  for controlling operations thereof. The transceiver  202  can use common technology for wireline or wireless communications to support the aforementioned technologies depending on the embodiment of the communication device.  
      The UI element  204  can include among other things common technology such as a keypad  206  (with, for example, depressible buttons and a navigation disk), an audio system  208  for exchanging audio messages with an end user, and a display  210  such as an LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) for conveying images to the end user. Each of components  206 - 210  can serve as a user interface for manipulating selectable options provided by the communication device  104 ,  106  and for conveying messages to the end user according to the present disclosure. The controller  214  can include a computing device such as a microprocessor, or digital signal processor (DSP) with associated storage devices such as RAM, ROM, DRAM, Flash, and other common memories. For portable or cordless applications, the communication device  104 ,  106  can also include a power supply  212  with technology for supplying energy to the components  202 - 214  of the communication device from one or more rechargeable batteries, and for recharging said batteries.  
       FIGS. 3-4  depict a flowchart of a method  300  operating in any one of the communication devices  104 ,  106  according to teachings of the present disclosure. Method  300  will be described within the context of recording voice messages exchanged between end users of first and second communication devices. As a point reference, method  300  will be described according to operations taking place in large part in the first communication device. For convenience also, the first communication device will be represented by communication device  104 , while the second communication device will be represent by communication device  106 . It will be appreciated that any combination of communication devices can be applied to the present disclosure (e.g., cell phone to cell phone, POTS to cell phone, VoIP to POTS, POTS to POTS, and so on).  
      Method  300  thus begins with step  302  where the controller  214  of the first communication device  104  receives instructions for terminating and granting permission to record a voice session when it takes place with other communication devices. This step can represent a provisioning step in which the end user of the first communication device  104  establishes a procedure so that an end user of the second communication device  106  can grant permission to record a voice session taking place therebetween. A grant can be represented by, for example, a combination of DTMF (Dual Tone Multi Frequency) keypad depressions (e.g., “#*8”), or a voice command (e.g., “I grant recording”) of the end user of the second communication device  106 , or a digital signature generated by the second communication device  106  from a trusted source (e.g., Verisign™). The instructions for terminating a recording of the voice session can be the same or a different keypad entry sequence, or a voice command such as, “Terminate recording”.  
      To support voice triggered recordings, the controller  214  of the first communication device  104  can operate common software applications to recognize voice patterns (such as those noted above) as well as for generating synthesized speech. It should also be noted that step  302  can take place at any time and not necessarily near in time to when a voice session is established (thus the reason for the dashed arrow directed at step  304 ).  
      In step  304 , the controller  214  can be programmed to establish a voice session between the first and second communication devices  104 ,  106 . The voice session can be initiated by either device. That is, the end user of the second communication device  106  can initiate by keypad  206  manipulations a circuit-switched call (e.g., over a cellular voice channel) or a packet-switched call (e.g., VoIP over a data channel such as GPRS) to first communication device  104 . Alternatively, the end use of the first communication device  104  can take similar action to establish a call with the end user of the second communication device  106 .  
      Once a voice session has been established between said communication devices  104 ,  106 , the controller  214  of the first communication device  104  proceeds to step  306  where it checks for a request to record the voice session. The request can come from the end user of the first communication device  104  manipulating a function of keypad  206  (e.g., a 1 second depression of a side key). While the controller  214  is waiting to detect a request to record, the voice session between the first and second communication devices  104 ,  106  proceeds unrecorded.  
      Upon detecting a request to record from the end user of the first communication device  104 , the controller  214  proceeds to one of two possible embodiments represented by steps  308 - 310 , and  312 - 314 , respectively. In a first embodiment, the controller  214  can proceed to step  308  where it transmits to the second communication device  106  a request to record the voice session. The controller  214  can also proceed to step  310  where it transmits the instructions established in step  302  for terminating and granting the request to record. The controller  214  can be programmed to present the request and the accompanying instructions by way of synthesized voice message, or as a text message which can be conveyed by display  210  of the second communication device  106 . Although shown separately, steps  308  and  310  can be integrated into one step in which the request includes the instructions.  
      Alternatively, the end user of the first communication device  104  can verbally communication in steps  312  and  314  the request to record along with instructions to the end user of the second communication device  106 . Once the end user of the second communication device understands these instructions, s/he can grant the request or reject it. The controller  214  can be programmed to detect said grant or rejection in step  316 . The grant as noted earlier can be communicated by any means such as, for example, a combination of keypad depressions, a verbal command, or digital signature.  
      To avoid a fraudulent grant, the controller  214  can be programmed to accept grants only from the end user of the second communication device  106 , and reject any emulations of said grant from the first communication device  104 . If the end user of the second communication device  106  submits a rejection, the controller  214  ceases to perform the steps to initiate a recording, and thus the voice session continues unrecorded. No response from the end user can also correspond to a rejection. If, on the other hand, a grant is submitted by the end user of the second communication device  106 , the controller  214  proceeds to step  318  of  FIG. 4 .  
      In step  318 , the controller  214  records the grant supplied by the end user of the second communication device  106  (i.e., the sequence of keypad depressions, verbal command, or digital signature). The controller  214  can be further programmed to record the caller identification (ID) of the end user of the second communication device  106  if available as a means for further identification. To avoid violating privacy rights, this step can serve as proof that the end user of the second communication device  106  consented to the recording.  
      In step  320  the controller  214  begins to record the voice session, and records in step  322  a start time for recording process. In step  324 , the controller  214  transmits to the second communication device  106  an indication that the voice session is being recorded. The indication can be an audible notification conveyed according to any method. For example, the controller  214  can be programmed to periodically transmit during the voice session a low volume chirp or beep sound (e.g., every 15 seconds). This chirp or beep reminds the parties that the voice session is being recorded. Moreover, the controller  214  can be programmed so that said indication cannot be disabled by either of the end users of the first and second communication devices  104 ,  106  until recording is terminated in step  326 . Alternatively, the second communication device  106  can be programmed so that after the grant is submitted it emits the beep or chip just described until the recording session is terminated in step  326 . Either of the communication devices  104 ,  106  can also emit light or another form of notification for its users to recognize a recording session in progress.  
      In step  326 , the controller  214  checks for a request to terminate the recording session. Termination can occur according to any number of embodiments. For example, the end user of the second communication device  104  can submit a termination request according to the termination instructions given thereto in steps  310  or  314 . Termination can be triggered, for example, by the same keypad sequence to start the recording process, or a different keypad sequence. Termination can alternatively be invoked by a voice command. In yet another embodiment, the end user of the first communication device  104  can terminate the recording process by a keypad depression or other means to manipulate operations of the first communication device  104 . Alternatively, the first communication device  104  can terminate the recording process automatically when the voice session is terminated by either party.  
      The controller  214  will continue to record the voice session until a termination request is detected in step  326 . Upon detecting a termination request, the controller  214  proceeds to step  328  where it records the recording period, which can be measured by the difference between the termination time and the start time recorded in step  322 . In step  330 , the controller  214  can display to the end user of the first communication device  104  the caller ID of the recorded party, the start time and recording period of the recorded voice session.  
      At any time thereafter, the controller  214  can be directed in step  332  by the end user of the first communication device  104  by way of one or more manipulations of keypad  206  to playback the recorded message. In step  334 , the controller  214  playbacks the recorded message by way of audio system  208  as many times as the end user may desire. Step  332  can be represented by a selection of playback commands such as play, pause, forward, rewind, and accelerated version of these functions. These commands can be displayed graphically by way of display  210  as soft keys or other suitable representations.  
       FIG. 5  is a diagrammatic representation of a machine in the form of a computer system  400  within which a set of instructions, when executed, may cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed above. In some embodiments, the machine operates as a standalone device. In some embodiments, the machine may be connected (e.g., using a network) to other machines. In a networked deployment, the machine may operate in the capacity of a server or a client user machine in server-client user network environment, or as a peer machine in a peer-to-peer (or distributed) network environment. The machine may comprise a server computer, a client user computer, a personal computer (PC), a tablet PC, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, a control system, a network router, switch or bridge, or any machine capable of executing a set of instructions (sequential or otherwise) that specify actions to be taken by that machine. It will be understood that a device of the present disclosure includes broadly any electronic device that provides voice, video or data communication. Further, while a single machine is illustrated, the term “machine” shall also be taken to include any collection of machines that individually or jointly execute a set (or multiple sets) of instructions to perform any one or more of the methodologies discussed herein.  
      The computer system  400  may include a processor  402  (e.g., a central processing unit (CPU), a graphics processing unit (GPU, or both), a main memory  404  and a static memory  406 , which communicate with each other via a bus  408 . The computer system  400  may further include a video display unit  410  (e.g., a liquid crystal display (LCD), a flat panel, a solid state display, or a cathode ray tube (CRT)). The computer system  400  may include an input device  412  (e.g., a keyboard), a cursor control device  414  (e.g., a mouse), a disk drive unit  416 , a signal generation device  418  (e.g., a speaker or remote control) and a network interface device  420 .  
      The disk drive unit  416  may include a machine-readable medium  422  on which is stored one or more sets of instructions (e.g., software  424 ) embodying any one or more of the methodologies or functions described herein, including those methods illustrated above. The instructions  424  may also reside, completely or at least partially, within the main memory  404 , the static memory  406 , and/or within the processor  402  during execution thereof by the computer system  400 . The main memory  404  and the processor  402  also may constitute machine-readable media. Dedicated hardware implementations including, but not limited to, application specific integrated circuits, programmable logic arrays and other hardware devices can likewise be constructed to implement the methods described herein. Applications that may include the apparatus and systems of various embodiments broadly include a variety of electronic and computer systems. Some embodiments implement functions in two or more specific interconnected hardware modules or devices with related control and data signals communicated between and through the modules, or as portions of an application-specific integrated circuit. Thus, the example system is applicable to software, firmware, and hardware implementations.  
      In accordance with various embodiments of the present disclosure, the methods described herein are intended for operation as software programs running on a computer processor. Furthermore, software implementations can include, but not limited to, distributed processing or component/object distributed processing, parallel processing, or virtual machine processing can also be constructed to implement the methods described herein.  
      The present disclosure contemplates a machine readable medium containing instructions  424 , or that which receives and executes instructions  424  from a propagated signal so that a device connected to a network environment  426  can send or receive voice, video or data, and to communicate over the network  426  using the instructions  424 . The instructions  424  may further be transmitted or received over a network  426  via the network interface device  420 .  
      While the machine-readable medium  422  is shown in an example embodiment to be a single medium, the term “machine-readable medium” should be taken to include a single medium or multiple media (e.g., a centralized or distributed database, and/or associated caches and servers) that store the one or more sets of instructions. The term “machine-readable medium” shall also be taken to include any medium that is capable of storing, encoding or carrying a set of instructions for execution by the machine and that cause the machine to perform any one or more of the methodologies of the present disclosure.  
      The term “machine-readable medium” shall accordingly be taken to include, but not be limited to: solid-state memories such as a memory card or other package that houses one or more read-only (non-volatile) memories, random access memories, or other re-writable (volatile) memories; magneto-optical or optical medium such as a disk or tape; and carrier wave signals such as a signal embodying computer instructions in a transmission medium; and/or a digital file attachment to e-mail or other self-contained information archive or set of archives is considered a distribution medium equivalent to a tangible storage medium. Accordingly, the disclosure is considered to include any one or more of a machine-readable medium or a distribution medium, as listed herein and including art-recognized equivalents and successor media, in which the software implementations herein are stored.  
      Although the present specification describes components and functions implemented in the embodiments with reference to particular standards and protocols, the disclosure is not limited to such standards and protocols. Each of the standards for Internet and other packet switched network transmission (e.g., TCP/IP, UDP/IP, HTML, HTTP) represent examples of the state of the art. Such standards are periodically superseded by faster or more efficient equivalents having essentially the same functions. Accordingly, replacement standards and protocols having the same functions are considered equivalents.  
      The illustrations of embodiments described herein are intended to provide a general understanding of the structure of various embodiments, and they are not intended to serve as a complete description of all the elements and features of apparatus and systems that might make use of the structures described herein. Many other embodiments will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description. Other embodiments may be utilized and derived therefrom, such that structural and logical substitutions and changes may be made without departing from the scope of this disclosure. Figures are also merely representational and may not be drawn to scale. Certain proportions thereof may be exaggerated, while others may be minimized. Accordingly, the specification and drawings are to be regarded in an illustrative rather than a restrictive sense.  
      Such embodiments of the inventive subject matter may be referred to herein, individually and/or collectively, by the term “invention” merely for convenience and without intending to voluntarily limit the scope of this application to any single invention or inventive concept if more than one is in fact disclosed. Thus, although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it should be appreciated that any arrangement calculated to achieve the same purpose may be substituted for the specific embodiments shown. This disclosure is intended to cover any and all adaptations or variations of various embodiments. Combinations of the above embodiments, and other embodiments not specifically described herein, will be apparent to those of skill in the art upon reviewing the above description.  
      The Abstract of the Disclosure is provided to comply with 37 C.F.R. §1.72(b), requiring an abstract that will allow the reader to quickly ascertain the nature of the technical disclosure. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims. In addition, in the foregoing Detailed Description, it can be seen that various features are grouped together in a single embodiment for the purpose of streamlining the disclosure. This method of disclosure is not to be interpreted as reflecting an intention that the claimed embodiments require more features than are expressly recited in each claim. Rather, as the following claims reflect, inventive subject matter lies in less than all features of a single disclosed embodiment. Thus the following claims are hereby incorporated into the Detailed Description, with each claim standing on its own as a separately claimed subject matter.