Controlled recorded 3-way calling

Abstract

Agencies issue recording devices to personnel for administrating and monitoring controlled calls during the course of their duties. To provide flexible capabilities to agencies, a virtual number is provisioned and configured to enable an operator to administrate controlled calls without dedicated recording devices. Using the virtual number, the operator may setup a controlled call between a victim and a baddie. The victim is contacted via the virtual number by the operator and optionally informed about the controlled call process. In turn, the baddie is contacted using number information of the victim's phone and connected with the victim. Call audio between the victim and baddie is transmitted to the operator. When necessary, the operator may terminate the call remotely from the telephonic device the operator used to setup the call.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer based method comprising:
 receiving authentication information in response to one or more of a request from a telephonic device to communicate with a virtual number and a telephonic device connecting to the virtual number, the virtual number for administrating a controlled call between a first contact device and a second contact device where an operator device monitors, and has control over, audio communications between the contact devices, the authentication information including one or more of a transmitting number of the telephonic device or a personal identification number (PIN) identifying the telephonic device or user of the telephonic device;   authenticating the telephonic device as the operator device based on agreement of the authentication information and an authentication number and stored in association with the virtual number in a mapping table;   in response to authenticating the telephonic device as the operator device, transmitting instructions for at least one of connecting the operator device with the virtual number, enabling the operator device to administrate the controlled call with the virtual number, and record an audio message for describing a context of the controlled call;   receiving device information corresponding to the first contact device for setting up the controlled call, the device information including a transmitting number of the first contact device, wherein receiving device information further includes one or more of determining number information about the transmitting number of the first contact device and transmitting instructions for determining number information for about the transmitting number of the first contact device;   in response to receiving device information corresponding to the first contact device, transmitting instructions for connecting the operator device with the first contact device through the virtual number, the instructions further enabling audio communications between the first contact device and the operator device, and wherein the instructions for connecting the operator device with the first contact device through the virtual number cause the first contact device to receive number information for the virtual number;   in response to receiving at least one of device information corresponding to the second contact device and a command for beginning the controlled call, transmitting instructions for connecting the first contact device with the second contact device, the instructions further enabling one or more of audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, recording of the audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, the operator device to receive the audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, the operator device to control the audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, and disabling of audio communications from the operator device to the contact devices, wherein the instructions for connecting the first contact device with the second contact device cause the second contact device to receive number information for the first contact device, and wherein the connection to the second contact device is established through the virtual number; and   in response to receiving information corresponding to disabling audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, transmitting instructions for at least one of terminating the connection of the second contact device and providing, to a storage location, a recording of one or more of audio communications between the first contact device and the second contact device, audio communications between the first contact device and the operator device, and the audio message for describing the context of the controlled call, wherein the information corresponding to disabling the audio communications includes a command from the operator device to end the controlled call, and wherein a unique hash is generated to identify an original file corresponding to the recorded audio communications.