Telephonic Signal Processing for Secure Call Recording

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current call center technologies face challenges in securely processing sensitive information during telephonic transactions, as existing methods either disconnect agents and callers or require complex state switching, failing to effectively prevent data theft and compliance with regulations like PCI DSS.

Innovation Solution

A method and call processor that buffer and monitor telephonic signals to detect sensitive information, modify the signals by removing predetermined characteristics, and output alphanumeric representations for secure processing, allowing for continuous communication while preventing data exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If call recording technology is used to record customer conversations for training and complaint management, then service quality improvement is enabled, but sensitive information security is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice quality improvementVSAvoidsensitive information exposure
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes sensitive information (such as credit card numbers, security codes, and personal identifiers) from the recorded audio signals using signal processing techniques. The sensitive data is detected through pattern recognition and then excised from the recording, allowing the call to be retained for training purposes while eliminating security risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies preliminary processing to prevent harmful effects by detecting sensitive information patterns before they can be compromised. The call processor proactively identifies and neutralizes sensitive data in the audio stream, preventing potential data theft or misuse while maintaining the recording's utility for quality assurance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

2Measurement precision

If screen recording technology is used to capture agent terminal displays for record-keeping, then transaction accuracy is improved, but data theft risk increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetransaction accuracyVSAvoiddata theft risk
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes sensitive visual information from screen recordings by detecting and excising portions of the recorded display that contain sensitive data such as credit card numbers, security codes, and personal identifiers. This allows the recording to maintain its value for transaction verification while eliminating theft risks.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Object-affected harmful factors

If pause recording capability is introduced to improve security during sensitive information transmission, then data protection is enhanced, but call operation complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata protectionVSAvoidcall operation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The call processor automatically detects sensitive information patterns in the audio stream and autonomously applies security measures without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the security process by identifying when sensitive data is being transmitted and automatically implementing protection protocols, eliminating the need for agents to manually pause or manage recording states.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

4Object-affected harmful factors

If DTMF tones are used for secure information entry, then security is improved, but recording compliance becomes problematic

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovesecurityVSAvoidrecording compliance
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the previously harmful effect of DTMF tones (which made recordings non-compliant) into a beneficial feature. By detecting DTMF tone patterns and automatically removing the corresponding sensitive information from recordings, the system enables both secure customer input and compliant recording retention. The DTMF detection capability that once created compliance issues now serves as the mechanism for achieving compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

5Productivity

If automatic mining technology is used to extract customer information from recordings, then data processing efficiency is improved, but data loss through theft increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing efficiencyVSAvoiddata theft
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts sensitive information using authorized signal processing techniques that remove rather than expose the data. The same pattern recognition capabilities that could be used for mining are directed toward detecting and eliminating sensitive patterns, converting a potential security vulnerability into a protective mechanism that maintains processing efficiency while preventing theft.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP2550795B1Transaction security method and system
Publication Date: 2019.07.24 ECKOH UK
  • EP2550795B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2550795B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2550795B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

There is described method and apparatus for processing signals of a telephonic communication, where the signals represent sensitive and non-sensitive information. A described method comprises processing the signals to provide a first version of the signals that is to be recorded and a second version of the signals that is to be output as audio; monitoring at least the first version of the signals to detect, in said at least the first version of the signals, one or more instances of one or more predetermined characteristics that represent the sensitive information conveyed by the signals; and modifying said at least the first version of the signals by removing the identified predetermined characteristics from said at least the first version of the signals.