Index of Suspicion Determination for Communications Request

Abstract

The risk that an incoming emergency call is a prank call is presented in real-time to the called party, in the form of, e.g., an index of suspicion. An index of suspicion aggregation server quantifies, qualifies, and aggregates risks, suspicions, and/or threats relevant to a call center to formulate a scale of suspicion. Metrics are acquired (e.g., calling device location information, device configuration information, caller information, etc.) relevant to each communications request made to a call center and uses acquired metrics to rate communications requests based on a known scale of suspicion. Once a suspicion rating is determined for a communications request, the communications request is routed to a relevant call-taker terminal, as is the index of suspicion for that incoming call. Real time presentation of the index of suspicion enables call-takers to make better call-handling decisions based on risk analysis and historical call data associated with a given caller.

1 - 16 . (canceled) 
     
     
         17 . A method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank, comprising:
 obtaining call related information relating to said initiating wireless phone;   obtaining a current location of an initiating wireless phone initiating said incoming communication from a network positioning server;   comparing said obtained call related information of said initiating wireless phone to a known prank call information database to determine a first metric;   comparing said current location of said initiating wireless phone to locations of known active emergency events to determine a second metric;   applying said first metric and said second metric to a known scale of suspicion to determine a likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank; and   routing said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank, in real time during said incoming communication, to a recipient device to said incoming communication.   
     
     
         18 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 obtaining device configuration information relating to said initiating wireless phone as a third metric; and   applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         19 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said incoming communication is an incoming phone call.   
     
     
         20 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 accessing a prank call history database to determine a third metric if said call related information matches an entry in said prank call history database; and   applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         21 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 accessing a call forensic database to determine a third metric relating a match to a pattern of known prank communications; and   applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         22 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said pattern of known prank communications relates to a pattern of known locations of confirmed prank communications.   
     
     
         23 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said pattern of known prank communications relates to a known peak times of confirmed prank calls.   
     
     
         24 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 21 , wherein:
 said pattern of known prank communications relates to prior confirmed prank calls linked to a caller identity of said wireless calling device.   
     
     
         25 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 updating said known prank call information database to include an entry of a confirmed prank call from a location of said initiating wireless phone.   
     
     
         26 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , further comprising:
 updating said known prank call information database to include an entry of a confirmed prank call from a caller identity linked to said initiating wireless phone.   
     
     
         27 . The method of acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 17 , wherein:
 said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank is routed to said recipient device upon request of said recipient device.   
     
     
         28 . Apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank, comprising:
 means for obtaining call related information relating to said initiating wireless phone;   means for obtaining a current location of an initiating wireless phone initiating said incoming communication from a network positioning server;   means for comparing said obtained call related information of said initiating wireless phone to a known prank call information database to determine a first metric;   means for comparing said current location of said initiating wireless phone to locations of known active emergency events to determine a second metric;   means for applying said first metric and said second metric to a known scale of suspicion to determine a likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank; and   means for routing said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank, in real time during said incoming communication, to a recipient device to said incoming communication.   
     
     
         29 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 means for obtaining device configuration information relating to said initiating wireless phone as a third metric; and   means for applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         30 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said incoming communication is an incoming phone call.   
     
     
         31 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 means for accessing a prank call history database to determine a third metric if said call related information matches an entry in said prank call history database; and   means for applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         32 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 means for accessing a call forensic database to determine a third metric relating a match to a pattern of known prank communications; and   means for applying said third metric to said known scale of suspicion, together with said first metric and said second metric, to determine said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank.   
     
     
         33 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said pattern of known prank communications relates to a pattern of known locations of confirmed prank communications.   
     
     
         34 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said pattern of known prank communications relates to a known peak times of confirmed prank calls.   
     
     
         35 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , further comprising:
 updating said known prank call information database to include an entry of a confirmed prank call from a caller identity linked to said initiating wireless phone.   
     
     
         36 . The apparatus for acquiring metrics to rate a likelihood that an incoming communication is a prank according to  claim 28 , wherein:
 said likelihood rating that said incoming communication is a prank is routed to said recipient device upon request of said recipient device.