System and method for on-demand recording

Abstract

Disclosed is a system and method for on-demand recording of telephone, computer, or video signals. Once a connection is established, the communication signals are sent through an intermediary device, which duplicates the signals. The signals are then stored in memory until a triggering event occurs during the connection. If the triggering event occurs, then the signals in memory are stored for playback. If the triggering event does not occur prior to the termination of the connection, the signals in memory are erased.

1 . A method of on-demand recording of a telephone call conversation, comprising: 
 transmitting voice data of a telephone call conversation between a plurality of communication devices; and    recording the transmitted voice data in response to a triggering event occurring during the telephone call conversation, including recording a portion of the voice data that was transmitted between the plurality of communication devices prior to the occurrence of the triggering event.    
   
   
       2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein: 
 transmitting the voice data between the plurality of communication devices includes transmitting the voice data through an intermediary device; and    recording the transmitted voice data includes recording the transmitted voice data in the intermediary device.    
   
   
       3 . The method of  claim 2  further comprising establishing a connection via which the voice data is transmitted through the intermediary device and between the plurality of communication devices, wherein establishing the connection is at least partially performed by the intermediary device.  
   
   
       4 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the intermediary device is a private branch exchange (PBX).  
   
   
       5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein: 
 the portion of the voice data that was transmitted between the plurality of communication devices prior to the occurrence of the triggering event is a first portion of the voice data that was transmitted between the plurality of communications devices;    a second portion of the voice data was transmitted between the plurality of communication devices after the occurrence of the triggering event; and    recording the transmitted voice data in response to the triggering event includes recording the first and second portions of the transmitted voice data in response to the occurrence of the triggering event.    
   
   
       6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the first and second portions of the transmitted voice data recorded in response to the occurrence of the triggering event collectively comprise the substantial entirety of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications devices during the telephone call conversation.  
   
   
       7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein transmitting the voice data between the plurality of communication devices includes performing a first save of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications devices irrespective of the occurrence or absence of the triggering event during the telephone call conversation, and wherein recording the transmitted voice data in response to the triggering event occurring during the telephone call conversation includes performing a second save of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications after the conclusion of the telephone call conversation.  
   
   
       8 . The method of  claim 7  wherein performing the first save includes saving substantially all of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications devices as the voice data is transmitted between the plurality of communications devices, and wherein performing the second save includes saving substantially all of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications after the conclusion of the telephone call conversation.  
   
   
       9 . The method of  claim 7  wherein transmitting the voice data between the plurality of communications devices includes transmitting the voice data through an intermediary device, and wherein performing the first and second save each include saving the transmitted voice data in a memory of the intermediary device.  
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9  wherein performing the first save includes saving the transmitted voice data in a first memory of the intermediary device, and wherein performing the second save includes saving the transmitted voice data in a second memory of the intermediary device.  
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 7  wherein transmitting the voice data between the plurality of communication devices includes performing the first save of the voice data transmitted between the plurality of communications devices, and further comprising discarding the first-saved voice data if the telephone call conversation concludes in the absence of the triggering event.  
   
   
       12 . An apparatus for on-demand recording of data communicated during each of a plurality of data communication sessions, comprising: 
 a switch configured to switch the data communicated during the plurality of data communication sessions, collectively;    a first memory configured to temporarily store a plurality of session data sets each corresponding to one of the plurality of data communication sessions, wherein each of the plurality of session data sets is temporarily stored at least until the conclusion of the corresponding one of the plurality of data communication sessions;    a receiver configured to receive each of a plurality of save requests each corresponding to one of the plurality of data communication sessions, including receiving each of the plurality of save requests during the corresponding one of the plurality of data communication sessions from one of an originating communication device and a terminating communication device of the corresponding one of the plurality of data communication sessions; and    a second memory configured to record ones of the plurality of session data sets each corresponding to one of the plurality of save requests received by the receiver.    
   
   
       13 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the apparatus is a private branch exchange (PBX).  
   
   
       14 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the originating and terminating communication devices are telephones.  
   
   
       15 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the switch is connected to a plurality of line cards each configured to send and receive data corresponding to multiple ones of the plurality of data communication sessions.  
   
   
       16 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of data communications sessions includes a plurality of telephone call conversations between the originating and terminating communication devices.  
   
   
       17 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein the plurality of data communications sessions includes a plurality of VoIP communication sessions.  
   
   
       18 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first and second memories are integrally housed with the switch and the receiver.  
   
   
       19 . The apparatus of  claim 12  wherein at least one of the first and second memories is housed separate from the switch and the receiver but connected at least indirectly to at least one of the switch and the receiver via a network.  
   
   
       20 . The apparatus of  claim 12  the second memory is configured to record at least two of the plurality of session data sets corresponding to simultaneously occurring ones of the plurality of data communication sessions.