GB2524579A

GB2524579A - Caller identity

Info

Publication number: GB2524579A
Application number: GB1405598.2A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Dean Elwood
Original assignee: VOXYGEN Ltd
Current assignee: VOXYGEN Ltd
Priority date: 2014-03-28
Filing date: 2014-03-28
Publication date: 2015-09-30
Also published as: GB201405598D0

Abstract

A method of routing a call over a network comprising receiving a call request 52 from a calling party 6, said call request comprising information identifying the calling party 6 and generating a representative code 54 for said call based on said information. The call is then routed 56 to the called party 4 via a routing centre 8 along with the representative code 58 wherein the representative code is: reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network. Embodiments include handing a call at a called party, comprising receiving a call from a calling party with an associated representative code, checking whether the code is stored in a database, taking a first action if the code received is not stored and a second action if it is stored in the database. Thus, the anonymity of a calling party may be preserved while allowing a called party an increased level of control over their calls. The called party is able to maintain a record of the representative codes in order to potentially limit whom they answer the calls from.

Description

CALLER IDENTITY

This invention relates to a protocol for calling systems, more specifically a method of routing calls over a network.

Modern phones are usually equipped with a display that, if enabled by the appropriate Caller Identity' services from a telecommunications company or telco, for example on a public switched telephone network (PSTN), can display the telephone number of a caller. Alternatively, if allowed by the telco services, a caller can select not to reveal their number, meaning that the receiver gets no clues as to the caller's identity before picking up the call. This situation can be exploited unethically, for example when repeatedly making marketing calls to a list of subscribers or in boiler room' scams.

Even when the presentation of numbers is restricted to the called party, the calling party's number is often still known to the telco. It is therefore desirable to be able to use this information while maintaining some level of anonymity for the calling party.

When viewed from a first aspect, the invention provides a method of routing a call over a network, comprising: receiving a call request from a calling party, comprising information identifying the calling party; generating a representative code for said call based on said information; and routing the call to the called party via a routing centre along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

Thus it can be seen that the anonymity of a calling party may be preserved while allowing a called party an increased level of control over their calls. This is because the called party receives a representative code when called, instead of information directly identifying the calling party. The called party is therefore able to maintain their own record of these representative codes, with which they can associate further information in order potentially to limit whom they answer calls from.

When viewed from a second aspect, the invention provides a method of handling a call at a called party, comprising: said called party receiving said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; checking whether the representative code is stored in a database; taking a first action if the representative code received is not stored in said database; or taking a second action if the representative code is stored in the database; wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

This aspect of the invention extends to an apparatus for handling a call, arranged to: receive said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; check whether the representative code is stored in a database; take a first action if the representative code is not stored in said database; or take a second action if the representative code is stored in the database wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

Furthermore, this aspect of the invention extends to a computer software product for handling a call, comprising: instructions for receiving said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; instructions for checking whether the representative code is stored in a database; instructions for taking a first action if the representative code is not stored in said database; and instructions for taking a second action if the representative code is stored in said database; wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

In a set of embodiments, the call is a voice call. However, in an alternative set of embodiments the call is a video call.

The representative code may take any form, and may be produced in a number of different ways. However, in a set of embodiments, the representative code is generated using a mathematical algorithm. In a set of embodiments, the mathematical algorithm is a hash function, and the representative code is a hash code. A hash function is one which maps data of an arbitrary length to one of a fixed length which has no meaning to the called party and therefore can safely be displayed without identifying the calling party. However, since the code is reproducible, it may be used to recognise the same caller in the future.

The hash code may be formed from just the information identifying the calling party, but in a set of embodiments it formed from both the information identifying the calling party and information identifying the called party. By using both the caller and called in the hash code, it prevents the hash code from being shared between a number of called parties for construction of universal blacklists', as the same calling party will produce a different hash code for different called parties.

In a set of embodiments, the representative code is stored at the called party, forming a database of representative codes. In a set of embodiments, upon receiving a call at a called party, the called party can look up the representative code in the database. Furthermore, in a set of embodiments, the called party can assign further information to the representative code in the database, for example assigning a name to a represent the calling party. In a set of embodiments, any assigned further information can be recalled by the database and displayed upon receipt of a call at the called party.

In addition or alternatively, the further information may comprise a predetermined action to be carried out. In a set of embodiments, said predetermined action comprises playing a prerecorded voicemail message to the calling party.

Alternatively, said predetermined action comprises rejecting the call. In addition or alternatively, said predetermined action comprises listing the calling party as a nuisance call. This may be listed in the called party's database, but alternatively or additionally it may be listed with the routing centre.

In addition or alternatively, the predetermined action comprises alerting the routing centre to the call. This may be, for example, in order to track and manage incoming calls from a nuisance caller. In addition or alternatively, the predetermined action comprises recording the call. Alternatively, the predetermined action comprises forwarding the call.

In a set of embodiments, the predetermined action comprises processing the call with interactive voice response technology (IVR). This may be implemented on board the called device, or may be implemented outside the called device. IVR can be used to play pre-recorded or dynamically generated responses to the called party.

The representative code could be generated at the routing centre. However, this is not essential and in a set of embodiments the representative code is generated by the calling party. Thus when viewed from a third aspect the invention provides a method of making a call, comprising: a calling device selecting a called party; said calling device generating a representative code for said call based on information identifying the called party; and routing said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

This allows representative codes to be generated in a calling device. The called party or the network carrying the call may be configured not to accept any call not accompanied by a representative code.

Furthermore, this aspect of the invention extends to an apparatus for making a call, arranged to: select a called party; generate a representative code for said call based on information identifying the calling device; and route said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

The invention also extends to a computer software product for making a call, comprising: instructions for selecting a called party; instructions for generating a representative code for said call based on information identifying the calling device; and instructions for routing said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.

A number of embodiments of the present invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Fig. 1 shows a schematic of an embodiment of the invention using a routing centre; Fig. 2 shows an exemplary hash function, as could be used to generate representative codes; and Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of a method of the embodiment of Fig. 1.

Fig. 1 shows a schematic of a system 2 employing a call routing method in which a called party 4 cannot identify a calling party 6 directly, but is instead provided with a representative code to recognise them by in the future. A calling party 6 is connected over a call channel 12 to a routing centre 8, which contains coding software 10. The routing centre 8 is further connected to the called party 4 over a call channel 12 and an information channel 14. The information channel 14 is typically a virtual construct in the sense that the data is sent as part of the same transmission as the call data. It could for example be placed in a packet header or a separate timeslot. The called party 4 includes a database 16 in which representative codes can be stored.

In use, a calling party 6 sends a call request to a routing centre 8. The call may be a telephone call, for example made over public switched telephone networks (PSTN) or global system for mobile communication networks (GSM), or alternatively it may be made over the Internet, for example using transmission control protocol/internet protocol (TCP/IP) to connect the calling and called parties.

The relevant routing centre 8 can then process the call request, using coding software to generate a representative code based on the identity of the calling party 6 and of the called party 4. This may be using a hash code, as demonstrated in Fig. 3. By generating a representative code based on both the calling party 6 and called party 4, it prevents the representative code being shared between multiple called parties, for example by placing it on a blacklist of unwanted callers.

Once a representative code has been produced by the coding software 10, both this code and the call request are transferred to the called party 4. The call request is transferred over the call channel 12, while the representative code is transferred over the information channel 14. As mentioned above this may, for example, be separated from the call data using multiplexing. The called device 18 then checks whether the representative code is stored in the database 16. If the code is not found, it is added to the database 16, along with any further information added by the user, for example a name identifying the caller.

If the code is found in the database 16, then the database 16 will recall any additional information stored with the code, and the called device 18 will carry out any necessary actions. For example, the user may set up a voicemail message for nuisance callers, such that every call that has been registered as nuisance is redirected to this voicemail, rather than being put through to the user. It may also make a record with the routing centre 8 by sending a message along the information channel 14, in order to monitor the level of nuisance calls being received. However, the database 16 may simply store a name associated with the representative code, which is displayed to the user on the called device lSso they can recognise the calling party 6.

Fig. 2 shows an exemplary system for producing a representative code. A series of inputs 40 and outputs 42 are connected through a coding system 44. This coding system 44 takes an input from 40 and maps it to an output in 42, in a way that the output 42 cannot be traced back to the input 40. This prevents a called party 4, 28 from being able to identify the calling party 6, 22, and also prevents them from being able to dial the calling party 6, 22 directly. As is represented by the different types of labelling in Fig. 2, the outputs 42 are of a different form to the inputs 40, and therefore cannot be used on a calling line 12, 34.

Fig. 3 shows a flow chart of an embodiment of the invention, in which a central routing centre 8 such as a telco is used. The three parties in the call are shown as separate columns in the flowchart. A calling party 6 selects a called party 4 that they wish to contact (step 50). This may be for example by typing a number into a phone, selecting it from a phone book, or by selecting a called party 4 from a website. The details for this called party 4 are then sent to the routing centre 8 along with details of the calling party 6 (step 52). The routing centre 8 produces a representative code (step 54) from the details of the calling and called parties, which, as explained previously, allows the called party 4 more control over whom they receive calls from, while preventing them from identifying or calling the calling party 6 directly. The routing centre 8 can then connect the called party 4 to the calling party 6 (step 56), and transfer the representative code to the called party (step 58). Once the called party 4 has received the representative code (step 60), they can take a predetermined action according to the representative code received (step 62). This may be to allow the call, to reject it outright, or to take a different action such as recording the call when answered or redirecting it to a pre-recorded voicemail. The called party 4 can also save the representative code into a database, allowing the called party 4 to add additional information, such as the name of the caller, for future reference. This is because the representative code is reproducible, so a call between the same calling party 6 and called party 4 will always produce the same representative code. a

Claims

Claims: 1. A method of routing a call over a network, comprising: receiving a call request from a calling party, comprising information identifying the calling party; generating a representative code for said call based on said information; and routing the call to the called party via a routing centre along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.
2. A method of handling a call at a called party, comprising: 14') 15 said called party receiving said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; CV) checking whether the representative code is stored in a database; 0 taking a first action if the representative code received is not stored in said 0 database; or CV) 20 taking a second action if the representative code is stored in the database; wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the call is a voice call.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1 or 2 wherein the call is a video call.
5. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the representative code is generated using a mathematical algorithm.
6. A method as claimed in claim 5 wherein the mathematical algorithm is a hash function, and the representative code is a hash code.
7. A method as claimed in claim 6 wherein the hash code is formed from both the information identifying the calling party and information identifying the called party.
8. A method as claimed in any preceding claim comprising storing the representative code at the called party, forming a database of representative codes.
9. A method as claimed in claim 8 wherein upon receiving a call at a called party, the called party looks up the representative code in the database.
10. A method as claimed in claim 8 or 9 wherein the called party assigns further information to the representative code in the database.
11. A method as claimed in claim 10 wherein said assigned further information 14') 15 is recalled by the database and displayed upon receipt of a call at the called party.

CV)
12. A method as claimed in claim 10 or 11 wherein the further information 0 comprises a predetermined action to be carried out.

CV) 20
13. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said predetermined action comprises playing a prerecorded voicemail message to the calling party.
14. A method as claimed in claim 12 wherein said predetermined action comprises rejecting the call.
15. A method as claimed in claim 12, 13 or 14 wherein said predetermined action comprises listing the calling party as a nuisance call.
16. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 15 wherein the predetermined action comprises alerting the routing centre to the call.
17. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the predetermined action comprises recording the call.
18. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 16 wherein the predetermined action comprises forwarding the call.
19. A method as claimed in any of claims 12 to 18 wherein the predetermined action comprises processing the call with interactive voice response technology (I VP).
20. A method as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the representative code is generated by the calling party.
21. An apparatus for handling a call over a network, arranged to: receive said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; check whether the representative code is stored in a database; take a first action if the representative code is not stored in said database; or 14') 15 take a second action if the representative code is stored in the database wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot CV) be used itself to place a call over the network.

0
22. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the call is a voice call.

CV) 20
23. An apparatus as claimed in claim 21 wherein the call is a video call.
24. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 21 to 23 wherein the representative code is generated using a mathematical algorithm.
25. An apparatus as claimed in claim 24 wherein the mathematical algorithm is a hash function, and the representative code is a hash code.
26. An apparatus as claimed in claim 25 wherein the hash code is formed from both the information identifying the calling party and information identifying the called party.
27. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 21 to 26 arranged to store the representative code at the called party, forming a database of representative codes.
28. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 wherein upon receiving a call at a called party, the called party is arranged to look up the representative code in the database.
29. An apparatus as claimed in claim 27 or 28 wherein the called party is arranged to assign further information to the representative code in the database.
30. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 wherein said assigned further information is arranged to be recalled by the database and displayed upon receipt of a call at the called party.
31. An apparatus as claimed in claim 29 or 30 wherein the further information comprises a predetermined action to be carried out.14') 15
32. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein said predetermined action comprises playing a prerecorded voicemail message to the calling party.CO0
33. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31 wherein said predetermined action 0 comprises rejecting the call. CO 2034. An apparatus as claimed in claim 31, 32 or 33 wherein said predetermined action comprises listing the calling party as a nuisance call.35. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 31 to 34 wherein the predetermined action comprises alerting the routing centre to the call.36. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 31 to 35 wherein the predetermined action comprises recording the call.37. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 31 to 35 wherein the predetermined action comprises forwarding the call.38. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 31 to 37 wherein the predetermined action comprises processing the call with interactive voice response technology (IVR).39. An apparatus as claimed in any of claims 21 to 38 wherein the representative code is generated by the calling party.40. A computer software product for handling a call over a network, comprising: instructions for receiving said call from a calling party with an associated representative code; instructions for checking whether the representative code is stored in a database; instructions for taking a first action if the representative code is not stored in said database; and instructions for taking a second action if the representative code is stored in said database; wherein the representative code doesn't identify the calling party and cannot 14') 15 be used itself to place a call over the network.CV) 41. A computer software product as claimed in claim 40 wherein the call is a 0 voice call.CV) 20 42. A computer software product as claimed in claim 40 wherein the call is a video call.43. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 40 to 42 wherein the representative code is generated using a mathematical algorithm.44. A computer software product as claimed in claim 43 wherein the mathematical algorithm is a hash function, and the representative code is a hash code.45. A computer software product as claimed in claim 44 wherein the hash code is formed from both the information identifying the calling party and information identifying the called party.46. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 40 to 45 comprising instructions for storing the representative code at the called party, forming a database of representative codes.47. A computer software product as claimed in claim 46 comprising instructions for the called party to look up the representative code in the database upon receiving a call.48. A computer software product as claimed in claim 46 or 47 comprising instructions for the called party to assign further information to the representative code in the database.49. A computer software product as claimed in claim 48 comprising instructions for said assigned further information to be recalled by the database and displayed 14') 15 upon receipt of a call at the called party.CV) 50. A computer software product as claimed in claim 48 or 49 wherein the 0 further information comprises a predetermined action to be carried out.CV) 20 51. A computer software product as claimed in claim 50 wherein said predetermined action comprises playing a prerecorded voicemail message to the calling party.52. A computer software product as claimed in claim 50 wherein said predetermined action comprises rejecting the call.53. A computer software product as claimed in claim 50, 51 or 52 wherein said predetermined action comprises listing the calling party as a nuisance call.54. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 50 to 53 wherein the predetermined action comprises alerting the routing centre to the call.55. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 50 to 54 wherein the predetermined action comprises recording the call.56. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 50 to 54 wherein the predetermined action comprises forwarding the call.57. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 50 to 56 wherein the predetermined action comprises processing the call with interactive voice response technology (IVR).58. A computer software product as claimed in any of claims 40 to 57 wherein the representative code is generated by the calling party.59. A method of making a call over a network, comprising: a calling device selecting a called party; said calling device generating a representative code for said call based on information identifying the called party; and 14') 15 routing said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, CV) irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a 0 call over the network.CV) 20 60. A method as claimed in claim 59 wherein the representative code is generated in the calling device.61. A method as claimed in claim 59 or 60 wherein the called party or the network carrying the call are configured not to accept any call not accompanied by a representative code.62. An apparatus for making a call over a network, arranged to: select a called party; generate a representative code for said call based on information identifying the calling device; and route said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.63. An apparatus as claimed in claim 62 wherein the representative code is generated in the calling device.64. An apparatus as claimed in claim 62 or 63 wherein the called party or the network carrying the call are configured not to accept any call not accompanied by a representative code.65. A computer software product for making a call over a network, comprising: instructions for selecting a called party; instructions for generating a representative code for said call based on information identifying the calling device; and instructions for routing said call to the called party along with the representative code; wherein the representative code is reproducible using the same information, 14') 15 irreversible, does not identify the calling party and cannot be used itself to place a call over the network.CO0 66. A computer software product as claimed in claim 65 wherein the 0 representative code is generated in the calling device. CO 2067. A computer software product as claimed in claim 65 or 66 wherein the called party or the network carrying the call are configured not to accept any call not accompanied by a representative code.68. A method substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.69. An apparatus as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.70. A computer software product as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.