IP Library Granted Patent US 12,284,314
Granted Patent B2
US 12,284,314 · App. 18/443,408 · Granted Apr 22, 2025

Methods and apparatus for call traffic anomaly mitigation

Inventors: Shaun J. Bharrat (Edison, NJ); John W. Hutchins (Groton, MA)
Assignee: Ribbon Communications Operating Company, Inc.
H04M3/436
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,284,314
App. No.
18/443,408
Granted
Apr 22, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and apparatus for call traffic anomaly mitigation are described herein. One or more embodiments include receiving a scoring request including a telephone number associated with a telephone call at a scoring device from a call processing entity, receiving a violator list of telephone numbers and their corresponding severity values at the scoring device from an anomaly analyzer, determining a severity value associated with the telephone number by performing a lookup operation in the violator list, performing a random simulation using the severity value as a probability to determine an indicator value, and inputting the indicator value into a model to determine a call reputation score.

Claims (44)

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions thereon that are executable by a processor for call traffic anomaly mitigation, comprising:

determining, by a scoring device, a severity value associated with a telephone number associated with a telephone call by performing a lookup operation in a violator list;

performing a random simulation, by the scoring device, using the severity value, during the random simulation, as an input to determine an indicator value;

the scoring device inputting the indicator value into a model derived from historical data to determine a call reputation score;

a call processing entity triggering a call treatment based on the call reputation score; and

increasing, by an anomaly analyzer, the severity value in response to determining the telephone call is anomalous.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise performing the random simulation using a uniform random distribution and the severity value as a threshold.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the call reputation score is a robocall score representing the likelihood that the telephone call is a robocall or a fraud score representing the likelihood that the telephone call is a fraudulent call.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise receiving an updated violator list of telephone numbers and their corresponding severity values.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4 , wherein the instructions further comprise receiving the updated violator list of telephone numbers and their corresponding severity values at periodic intervals or in response to external call traffic events.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 4 , wherein at least one of: the telephone numbers or the severity values of the updated violator list are different from telephone numbers and severity values of the violator list.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise determining the severity value associated with the telephone number is zero in response to the telephone number being absent from the violator list.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise obtaining the severity value associated with the telephone number in response to the telephone number being present on the violator list.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise inputting a model feature into the model to determine the call reputation score.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 , wherein the instructions further comprise transmitting the call reputation score to the call processing entity.

11. A method for call traffic anomaly mitigation, comprising:

determining, by a scoring device, a severity value associated with a telephone number associated with a telephone call by performing a lookup operation in a violator list;

performing a random simulation, by the scoring device, using the severity value, during the random simulation, as an input to determine an indicator value;

the scoring device inputting the indicator value into a model derived from historical data to determine a call reputation score;

transmitting the call reputation score to a call processing entity;

comparing the call reputation score to a call reputation score threshold at the call processing entity;

triggering a call treatment based on the call reputation score at the call processing entity; and

decreasing, by an anomaly analyzer device, the severity value in response to determining the telephone call is not anomalous.

12. The method of claim 11 , further comprising normally routing the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being equal to or less than the call reputation score threshold.

13. The method of claim 12 , further comprising querying a subscriber to determine whether the telephone number is an undesired call in response to normally routing the telephone call.

14. The method of claim 11 , further comprising modifying routing of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold.

15. A system for call traffic anomaly mitigation, comprising:

a scoring device including:

a memory; and

a processor coupled to the memory, wherein the processor is configured to:

determine a severity value associated with a telephone number associated with a telephone call by performing a lookup operation in a violator list;

perform a random simulation using the severity value, during the random simulation, as an input to determine an indicator value;

input the indicator value into a model derived from historical data to determine a call reputation score;

transmit the call reputation score to a call processing entity for call treatment;

compare the call reputation score to a call reputation score threshold at the call processing entity; and

trigger the call treatment based on the call reputation score at the call processing entity; and

an anomaly analyzer configured to:

increase the severity value in response to determining the telephone call is anomalous; and

decrease the severity value in response to determining the telephone call is not anomalous.

16. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify a route of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold by blocking the telephone call.

17. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify a route of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold by modifying a display name.

18. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify a route of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold by routing the telephone call to voicemail.

19. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify a route of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold by playing a voice challenge.

20. The system of claim 15 , wherein the processor is further configured to modify a route of the telephone call in response to the call reputation score being greater than the call reputation score threshold by routing the telephone call to an announcement server.

Assignments (2)
SHORT-FORM PATENTS SECURITY AGREEMENT Recorded Sep 5, 2024
From: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
To: HPS INVESTMENT PARTNERS, LLC, AS ADMINISTRATIVE AGENT
Reel/Frame 068857/0351 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 16, 2024
From: BHARRAT, SHAUN J.; HUTCHINS, JOHN W.
To: RIBBON COMMUNICATIONS OPERATING COMPANY, INC.
Reel/Frame 066478/0104 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 17510589 · Oct 26, 2021
Related Publication 20240187519A1 · Jun 6, 2024
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