Telephonic communications – Diagnostic testing – malfunction indication – or electrical... – Monitoring
Reexamination Certificate
2001-11-30
2004-10-19
Foster, Roland G. (Department: 2645)
Telephonic communications
Diagnostic testing, malfunction indication, or electrical...
Monitoring
C379S207100
Reexamination Certificate
active
06807253
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates to a caller identification (ID) function in a cross switch, and more particularly to a switching apparatus having a function for processing a malicious call.
2. Description of the Related Art
In accordance with developments of communication techniques and manufacturing techniques for associated equipment, communication means have been made inexpensively available to many people. Currently, at least one communication means is available for each individual.
Recently, prank or malicious calls have been frequently made using the above mentioned communication means. In order to prevent such prank or malicious calls, various prank call discouraging devices have been proposed.
However, the proposed prank call discouraging devices only have an effect of temporarily preventing attempts to make a prank call because they are configured to simply generate a deafening sound or a strange sound offensive to the ear.
For this reason, the demand for techniques capable of permanently preventing prank calls has been greatly increased. To meet this demand, a CID technique has been proposed. Also, prank call interception techniques using the CID technique have been proposed.
Now, a procedure for processing a malicious call in a conventional cross switch will be described with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
FIG. 1
is a diagram illustrating a connection configuration of a conventional cross switch.
FIG. 2
is a flow chart illustrating a procedure for processing a malicious call in the conventional cross switch.
Referring to
FIG. 1
, a cross switch
10
is illustrated which has a CID function, receives a plurality of subscribers, and establishes a communication path for each subscriber. A plurality of subscriber terminals are connected to the cross switch
10
. Each of the subscriber terminals can communicate with a desired one of other subscriber terminals by calling the counterpart subscriber terminal. In
FIG. 1
, only two subscriber terminals
20
and
25
are shown. For the convenience and simplicity of description, the subscriber terminal
25
is referred to as a “calling subscriber terminal”, whereas the subscriber terminal
20
is referred to as a “target or called subscriber terminal”. To the cross switch
10
, an operating terminal unit
30
is connected which monitors and controls the establishment of communication paths and the condition of communications through the established communication paths.
The procedure of processing a malicious call in the above mentioned connection configuration of the conventional cross switch will be described with reference to FIG.
2
.
As mentioned above, a plurality of terminals are subscribed to the cross switch
10
, which can trace or identify the CID of a caller in accordance with its CID function. When one subscriber terminal, that is, the calling subscriber terminal
25
calls a desired one of other subscriber terminals, that is, the target subscriber terminal
20
, by dialing the telephone number of the target subscriber terminal
20
, a dial signal from the calling subscriber terminal
25
is inputted to the cross switch
10
in accordance with the dialing operation.
In response to the dial signal, the cross switch
10
performs a switching operation to establish a communication path for connecting the calling subscriber terminal
25
and the target subscriber terminal
20
. When the target subscriber terminal
20
receives an incoming call from the cross switch
10
via the established communication path, it generates a ring signal. In response to the ring signal, the user of the called subscriber terminal
20
hooks off the called subscriber terminal
20
. Thus, the called subscriber terminal
20
can communicate with the calling subscriber terminal
25
via the established communication path. At this time, the malicious call processing procedure is begun, as shown in FIG.
2
.
Referring to
FIG. 2
, the malicious call processing procedure involves:
a first step S
10
of performing, by the called subscriber terminal
20
, a communication with the calling subscriber terminal
25
in accordance with an off-hook of the called subscriber terminal
20
made in response to an incoming call received via an established communication path;
a second step S
20
of, while in the process of communication, determining by the user of the called subscriber terminal
20
whether or not the call from the calling subscriber terminal
25
is a prank or malicious call;
a third step S
30
of if it is determined at second step S
20
that the call from the calling subscriber terminal
25
is a prank or malicious call, then generating a hook flash input in accordance with a manipulation of a hook flash button provided at the called subscriber terminal
20
;
a fourth step S
40
of identifying or tracing the CID of the calling subscriber terminal
25
by the cross switch
10
, based on the hook flash input applied from the called subscriber terminal
20
to the cross switch
10
; and
a fifth step S
50
of determining whether or not the communication has been completed, and returning to first step S
10
when the communication is continued, while proceeding to an end step when the communication has been completed.
The above mentioned malicious call processing method will be described in more detail, with reference to
FIGS. 1 and 2
.
When the target subscriber terminal
20
subscribed to the cross switch
10
having a function for tracing the CID of a caller is called, and then communicated with the calling subscriber terminal
25
in accordance with an off-hook of its handset (Step S
10
), the user of the called subscriber terminal
20
determines whether or not the call from the calling subscriber terminal
25
is a prank or malicious call (Step S
20
).
When it is determined at second step S
20
that the call from the calling subscriber terminal
25
is a prank or malicious call, the user manipulates the hook flash button provided at the called subscriber terminal
20
, so as to generate a hook flash input (Step S
30
). The hook flash input from the called subscriber terminal
20
is sent to the cross switch
10
which, in turn, recognizes the hook flash input.
The cross switch
10
recognizes the hook flash input as a command for tracing the CID of the caller. In response to the hook flash input, the cross switch
10
collects the intrinsic number of the calling subscriber terminal
25
and information about the established communication path in association with the malicious call, and outputs the collected information, as malicious call information, to the operating terminal unit
30
.
The operating terminal unit
30
stores the malicious call information, and identifies the stored CID of the caller or performs a desired process at the request of the user of the called subscriber terminal
20
.
However, the above mentioned conventional technique has a problem in that it is impossible to trace and identify the CID of the malicious caller in a real time fashion.
Furthermore, there is a problem in that it is impossible to record or store the call speech of the malicious caller, or to allow a third party to directly hear the call speech of the malicious caller.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Therefore, an object of the invention is to provide a switching apparatus having a function for processing a malicious call, and an operating method of the switching apparatus, which are capable of outputting, via a designated path, the CID of a caller generating a malicious call, and allowing a third party to hear, record, or store the call speech of the malicious caller.
In accordance with one aspect, the present invention provides a switching apparatus for receiving a plurality of subscribers, and establishing a communication path between calling and called ones of the subscribers in accordance with a switching operation thereof, the switching apparatus having a function for processing a malicious call, comprising: a cross switch internally provided with a caller identification (CID) processor adapted to
Fleshner & Kim LLP
Foster Roland G.
LG Electronics Inc.
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