IP Library Granted Patent US 9,191,502
Granted Patent B2
US 9,191,502 · App. 12/872,578 · Granted Nov 17, 2015

Conversation recording with real-time notification for users of communication terminals

Inventors: John T. Hursey (Lawrenceville, GA); Robert Z. Evora (Douglasville, GA)
Assignee: AT&T Mobility II LLC
H04M3/42221
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,191,502
App. No.
12/872,578
Granted
Nov 17, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

A recording device provides conversation recording with real-time notification between users of communication terminals engaged in a conversation. The recording device provides a recording start notification to a second communication terminal in response to receiving an initiate recording request from a first communication terminal, and initiates recording of the conversation. The recording device terminates recording of the conversation in response to receiving a terminate recording request from the first communication terminal, provides a recording stop notification to the second communication terminal, and saves the recorded conversation to a file in a file storage medium. The recording start and recording stop notifications can be either audible or electronic notifications. The first communication terminal may be muted prior to providing a notification, and un-muted subsequent to the notification. The recording device may obtain permission from the second communication terminal to record the conversation.

Claims (37)

1. A first communication terminal comprising:

a recording device; and

a computer readable medium storing instructions that, when executed, cause the recording device to perform operations comprising

receiving an initiate recording request to initiate a recording of a conversation between a first user of the first communication terminal and a second user of a second communication terminal,

providing, to the second communication terminal in response to receiving the initiate recording request, a first recording start notification indicating, to the second communication terminal, that the recording has been initiated, the first recording start notification comprising first timing information associated with initiation of the recording,

providing, to the second communication terminal, a second recording start notification comprising an audible message indicating, to the second communication terminal, that the recording has been initiated,

before providing the second recording start notification to the second communication terminal, muting a microphone of the first communication terminal to eliminate, for the second user of the second communication terminal, interference received from the microphone of the first communication terminal,

after providing the second recording start notification to the second communication terminal, unmuting the microphone of the first communication terminal to allow the conversation to resume, and

recording the conversation.

2. The first communication terminal of claim 1 , further comprising a touchpad comprising a key, wherein the initiate recording request is received, by the recording device, via selection of the key of the touchpad.

3. The first communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the first recording start notification further comprises an identifier of the first communication terminal.

4. The first communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise providing, to the second communication terminal, a permission request prompting the second user of the second communication terminal to authorize the recording of the conversation.

5. The first communication terminal of claim 4 , wherein the permission request is an electronic message.

6. The first communication terminal of claim 4 , wherein the operations further comprise receiving, in response to the permission request, a permission acknowledgement from the second communication terminal, the permission acknowledgement authorizing the recording of the conversation.

7. The first communication terminal of claim 6 , wherein the permission acknowledgement from the second communication terminal is one of an electronic message or an audible response.

8. The first communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise sending, to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal, a call leg restriction command for preventing the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal from establishing other call legs while the conversation is recorded.

9. The first communication terminal of claim 1 , wherein the operations further comprise:

receiving a terminate recording request;

in response to receiving the terminate recording request, terminating the recording of the conversation; and

saving the recording of the conversation to a file.

10. The first communication terminal of claim 9 , wherein the operations further comprises providing, to the second communication terminal, a recording stop notification comprising second timing information associated with termination of the recording.

11. The first communication terminal of claim 9 , wherein the file contains a first identifier of the first communication terminal, a second identifier of the second communication terminal, a duration of the recording of the conversation, and the recording of the conversation.

12. A method comprising:

receiving, at a recording device of a first communication terminal, an initiate recording request to initiate a recording of a conversation between a first user of the first communication terminal and a second user of a second communication terminal;

providing, by the recording device to the second communication terminal in response to receiving the initiate recording request, a first recording start notification indicating, to the second communication terminal, that the recording has been initiated, the first recording start notification comprising first timing information associated with initiation of the recording;

providing, to the second communication terminal, a second recording start notification comprising an audible message indicating, to the second communication terminal, that the recording has been initiated;

before providing the second recording start notification to the second communication terminal, muting a microphone of the first communication terminal to eliminate, for the second user of the second communication terminal, interference received from the microphone of the first communication terminal;

after providing the second recording start notification to the second communication terminal, unmuting the microphone of the first communication terminal to allow the conversation to resume; and

recording, by the recording device, the conversation.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the first recording start notification further comprises an identifier of the first communication terminal.

14. The method of claim 12 , further comprising sending, to the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal, a call leg restriction command for preventing the first communication terminal and the second communication terminal from establishing other call legs while the conversation is recorded.

15. The method of claim 12 , further comprising:

receiving a terminate recording request; and

in response to receiving the terminate recording request,

terminating the recording of the conversation,

saving the recording of the conversation to a file, and

providing, to the second communication terminal, a recording stop notification comprising second timing information associated with termination of the recording.

Assignments (4)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, LLC
To: AT&T MOBILITY II, LLC
Reel/Frame 034642/0540 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: AT&T MOBILITY II, LLC
To: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 034642/0548 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ASSIGNEE AND THE RECORDED DOCUMENT PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 025750 FRAME 0852. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 16, 2014
From: HURSEY, JOHN T.; EVORA, ROBERT Z.
To: CINGULAR WIRELESS II, LLC
Reel/Frame 034648/0629 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 7, 2011
From: HURSEY, JOHN T.; EVORA, ROBERT Z.
To: AT&T MOBILITY II LLC
Reel/Frame 025750/0852 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 11060399 · Feb 18, 2005
Related Publication 20100332220A1 · Dec 30, 2010