Establishing communication paths to law enforcement agencies
View Patent ↗A call is set up between a first communication device ( 101 ) and a second communication device ( 115 ) on a first communication path ( 117 ), via an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network ( 105 ). A second communication path ( 203 ) is established from the ATM network ( 105 ) to a law enforcement agency ( 201 ), which second communication path comprises audio sourced by the first communication device ( 101 ) on the first communication path ( 117 ). A third communication path ( 205 ) is established from the ATM network ( 105 ) to the law enforcement agency ( 201 ), which third communication path ( 205 ) comprises audio sourced by the second communication device ( 115 ) on the first communication path ( 117 ). The audio sourced by the first communication device ( 101 ) and the audio sourced by the second communication device ( 115 ) are replicated by an ATM switch ( 107 ) in the ATM network ( 105 ).
1. A method comprising the steps of:
setting up a call on a first communication path, via an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, between a first communication device and a second communication device;
establishing a second communication path from the ATM network to a law enforcement agency, the second communication path comprises audio sourced by the first communication device on the first communication path;
establishing a third communication path from the ATM network to the law enforcement agency, the third communication path comprises audio sourced by the second communication device on the first communication path;
wherein the audio sourced by the first communication device and the audio sourced by the second communication device are replicated by an ATM switch in the ATM network, and
wherein when the call is placed on hold by the first communication device, disengaging the law enforcement agency from the third communication path.
2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the step of setting up further comprises the step of instructing the ATM switch to replicate the audio sourced on the first path.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the second communication path and the third communication path are unidirectional paths sourced by the ATM switch.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the steps of establishing are performed unobtrusively to the first communication path.
5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of sending the audio replicated by the ATM switch to a second law enforcement agency.
6. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of tearing down a path between the ATM network and a first access gateway that serves the first communication device once the second communication path and the third communication path are established.
7. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of, when the call is placed on hold by the first communication device, disengaging the law enforcement agency from the third communication path by an instruction sent from a first access gateway to the ATM switch.
8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the step of, when the call is retrieved from hold by the first communication device, re-engaging the law enforcement agency from the third communication path by an instruction sent from a first access gateway to the ATM switch.
9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising the steps of, when the first communication device places a call to a third communication device:
setting up a fourth communication path, via the ATM network, between the first communication device and the third communication device;
establishing a fifth communication path from the ATM network to a law enforcement agency, the fifth communication path comprises audio sourced by the first communication device on the fourth communication path;
establishing a sixth communication path from the ATM network to the law enforcement agency, the sixth communication path comprises audio sourced by the third communication device on the fourth communication path;
wherein the audio sourced by the first communication device and the audio sourced by the third communication device are replicated by a second ATM switch in the ATM network.
10. A method comprising the steps of:
setting up a first call, via an asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) network, between a first communication device and a second communication device;
establishing a first communication path from the ATM network to a law enforcement agency, the first communication path comprises audio sourced by the first communication device during the call;
establishing a second communication path from the ATM network to the law enforcement agency, the second communication path comprises audio sourced by the second communication device during the call;
when the first call is placed on hold by the first communication device and the first communication device places a second call to a third communication device, performing the steps of:
setting up the second call, via the ATM network, between the first communication device and the third communication device;
establishing a third communication path from the ATM network to the law enforcement agency, the third communication path comprises audio sourced by the first communication device during the second call;
establishing a fourth communication path from the ATM network to the law enforcement agency, the fourth communication path comprises audio sourced by the third communication device during the call;
wherein the audio sourced by the first communication device, the second communication device, and the third communication device is replicated by one or more ATM switches.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein the step of setting up further comprises the step of instructing the ATM switch to replicate the audio sourced on the first path.
12. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of sending the audio replicated by the ATM switch to a second law enforcement agency.
13. The method of claim 10 , further comprising the step of, when the first call is placed on hold by the first communication device, disengaging the law enforcement agency from the second communication path.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the first communication path, the second communication path, the third communication path, and the fourth communication path are unidirectional communication paths.
15. An access gateway comprising a processor arranged and constructed to set up a call path between at least two communication devices, including a first communication device and a second communication device, via one or more asynchronous transfer mode (ATM) switches and to instruct one of the one or more ATM switches to replicate audio sourced by at least one of the at least two communication devices and to route the replicated audio to at least one law enforcement agency, and when the call is placed on hold by the first communication device, the access gateway discontinues sending replicated audio to the law enforcement agency.
16. The access gateway of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further arranged and constructed to establish at least one unidirectional path to the at least one law enforcement agency.
17. The access gateway of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further arranged and constructed to tear down at least a part of the call path once replicated audio is routed to the at least one law enforcement agency.
18. The access gateway of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further arranged and constructed to establish a call between the first communication device and a third communication device via the one or more ATM switches and to instruct one of the one or more ATM switches to replicate audio sourced by at least one of the at least two communication devices, including the third communication device, and to route the replicated audio to at least one law enforcement agency.