Intermediary device initiated caller identification

Abstract

A method, system, and program for intermediary device initiated caller identification are provided. A trusted telephone network detects a call initiation connection from an origin device. The trusted telephone network then brokers a connection between the origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service. A voice utterance for a caller is received at the external server from the origin device. The server authenticates a caller identity associated with the voice utterance and transfer the authenticated caller identity to the trusted telephone network. The trusted telephone network then specifies services available for the call according to a caller profile for the authenticated caller identity.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A method for specifying telephone services for a particular caller, comprising: 
 detecting a call initiation condition from an origin device at a trusted telephone network;    brokering a connection between said origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    responsive to receiving, from said external server, an authenticated caller identity of a caller utilizing said origin device, specifying services available to said caller according to said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         2 . The method for specifying telephone services according to  claim 1 , wherein said server is accessible via a network outside said trusted telephone network.  
     
     
         3 . The method for specifying telephone services according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 retrieving a caller profile for said authenticated caller identity; and    specifying a selection of services from among a plurality of services that are offered for said call according to said caller profile.    
     
     
         4 . The method for specifying telephone services according to  claim 1 , wherein said authenticated caller identity is authenticated by a voice utterance of said caller.  
     
     
         5 . The method for specifying telephone services according to  claim 1 , wherein brokering a connection further comprises: 
 transmitting a request for said caller identity authentication service via a signal gateway to a network for accessing said external server;    transferring a prompt for a voice utterance, received from said external server via a media gateway, to said origin device;    transferring a voice utterance by said caller through said media gateway to said network for accessing said external server; and    receiving said authenticated caller identity via said signal gateway at said trusted telephone network.    
     
     
         6 . The method for specifying telephone services according to  claim 1 , wherein brokering a connection further comprises: 
 brokering a secure connection between said trusted telephone network and said external server.    
     
     
         7 . A system for specifying telephone services for a particular caller, comprising: 
 a trusted telephone network for providing service to an origin telephony device;    means for detecting a call initiation condition from said origin telephony device at said trusted telephone network;    means for brokering a connection between said origin device and a server external to said trusted telephone network to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    means responsive to receiving an authenticated caller identity of a caller utilizing said origin telephony device from said server, for specifying services available to said caller according to said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         8 . The system for specifying telephone services according to  claim 7 , wherein said server is accessible via a network external to trusted telephone network.  
     
     
         9 . The system for specifying telephone services according to  claim 7 , further comprising: 
 means for retrieving a caller profile for said authenticated caller identity; and    means for specifying a selection of services from among a plurality of services that are offered for said call according to said caller profile.    
     
     
         10 . The system for specifying telephone services according to  claim 7 , wherein said authenticated caller identity is authenticated by a voice utterance of said caller.  
     
     
         11 . The system for specifying telephone services according to  claim 7 , wherein said means for brokering a connection further comprises: 
 means for transmitting a request for said caller identity authentication service via a signal gateway to a network for accessing said server;    means for transferring a prompt for a voice utterance, received from said server via a media gateway, to said origin device;    means for transferring a voice utterance by said caller through said media gateway to said network for accessing said server; and    means for receiving said authenticated caller identity via said signal gateway at said trusted telephone network.    
     
     
         12 . A computer program product for specifying telephone services for a particular caller, comprising: 
 a recording medium;    means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a call initiation condition from an origin telephony device at a trusted telephone network;    means, recorded on said recording medium, for brokering a connection between said origin device and a server external to said trusted telephone network to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    means, recorded on said recording medium, for specifying services available to said caller according to an authenticated caller identity received from said server to identify a caller utilizing said origin telephony device.    
     
     
         13 . A method for informing a callee of a caller identity, comprising: 
 detecting a call initiation condition from an origin device at a trusted telephone network;    brokering a connection between said origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    responsive to receiving, from said external server, an authenticated caller identity of a caller utilizing said origin device, transferring said authenticated caller identity to a destination device, such that a callee receiving said call at said destination device is provided with an identity of a party originating said call.    
     
     
         14 . The method for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 filtering content of said authenticated caller identity before transfer to said destination device.    
     
     
         15 . The method for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to filtering preferences associated with said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         16 . The method for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to an identity of said callee.    
     
     
         17 . The method for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 14 , further comprising: 
 filtering said authenticated caller identity to block at least a portion of the content of said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         18 . The method for informing a caller of a callee identity according to  claim 13 , further comprising: 
 responsive to said authenticated caller identity indicating a lack of identity, automatically initiating recording of said call.    
     
     
         19 . A system for informing a callee of a caller identity, comprising: 
 a trusted telephone network for enabling telephone service;    means for detecting a call initiation condition from an origin device at said trusted telephone network;    means for brokering a connection between said origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    means responsive to receiving an authenticated caller identity of a caller utilizing said origin device from said external server, for transferring said authenticated caller identity to a destination device to identify said caller to a call.    
     
     
         20 . The system for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 means for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity before transfer to said destination device.    
     
     
         21 . The system for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to filtering preferences associated with said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         22 . The system for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to an identity of said callee.    
     
     
         23 . The system for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means for filtering said authenticated caller identity to block at least a portion of the content of said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         24 . The system for informing a caller of a callee identity according to  claim 19 , further comprising: 
 means responsive to said authenticated caller identity indicating a lack of identity, for automatically initiating recording of said call.    
     
     
         25 . A computer program product for informing a callee of a caller identity, comprising: 
 a recording medium;    means, recorded on said recording medium, for detecting a call initiation condition from an origin device at a trusted telephone network;    means, recorded on said recording medium, for brokering a connection between said origin device and an external server enabled to perform a caller identity authentication service; and    means, recorded on said recording medium, for transferring an authenticated caller identity received from said external server to a destination device to identify said caller utilizing said origin device.    
     
     
         26 . The computer program product for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity before transfer to said destination device.    
     
     
         27 . The computer program product for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to filtering preferences associated with said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         28 . The computer program product for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering content of said authenticated caller identity according to an identity of said callee.    
     
     
         29 . The computer program product for informing a callee of a caller identity according to  claim 20 , further comprising: 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for filtering said authenticated caller identity to block at least a portion of the content of said authenticated caller identity.    
     
     
         30 . The computer program product for informing a caller of a callee identity according to  claim 25 , further comprising: 
 means, recorded on said recording medium, for automatically initiating recording of said call when said authenticated caller identity indicates a lack of identity.    
     
     
         31 . A method for controlling caller identification, comprising: 
 receiving, from a trusted telephone network, an authenticated caller identity for a caller at a telephony device, wherein said caller identity is authenticated at a authentication service accessible via a network external to said trusted telephone network, wherein said trusted telephone network initiates said authentication service; and    controlling output of said authenticated caller identity from said telephony device, such that an individual with access to said telephony device is informed of the identity of said caller.    
     
     
         32 . A method for controlling a call, comprising: 
 receiving, at a telephony device, a secure communication channel via a trusted telephone network to an authentication service, wherein said trusted telephone network initiates said authentication service; and    facilitating, from said telephony device, communications between said authentication service and a caller, such that said authentication service is enabled to authenticate an identity of said caller.