Patent ID: 8731171

Claim:
A computer based method comprising: provisioning a virtual number based on number information received for the virtual number; receiving mapping information for the virtual number, the mapping information comprising authentication data for identifying at least one of an authorized operator of a given telephonic device and an authorized telephonic device; storing the virtual number in the mapping table in association with the authentication data; receiving authentication information from a target telephonic device in response to a request for administrating a controlled call with the virtual number, the controlled call established through the virtual number and enabling an operator device to monitor and control audio communications between a first contact device and a second contact device; authenticating the target telephonic device as the operator device based on agreement of the authentication information received from the target telephonic device and the authentication data stored in association with the virtual number in the mapping table; receiving, from the operator device, device information corresponding to the first contact device and the second contact device for setting up the controlled call, a first command to begin the controlled call, and a second command to end the controlled call; and transmitting, in response to receiving the first command, instructions for: establishing, through the virtual number, a connection enabling the audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device to begin the controlled call, the second contact device receiving device information associated with the first contact device when receiving a request to establish the connection such that the connection request appears to be from the first contact device; transmitting the audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device received over the connection to the operator device; and disabling audio communications from the operator device to the first contact device and the second contact device; and transmitting, in response to receiving the second command, instructions for terminating the connection enabling the audio communications between the first contact device and the second device to end the controlled call.