VoIP Call Authorization via IVR Callback Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The risk of unwanted calls and spam in Voice Over Internet Protocol (VoIP) systems is high due to the lack of user identification during call initiation, allowing malicious users to send calls to any telephone number without authentication.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an interactive voice response (IVR) system that authenticates telephone calls by prompting users to accept or reject proposed connections, with options to add or remove numbers from a Do Not Call list, and providing additional preferences for managing call settings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If VoIP services allow users to call any telephone number without authentication, then ease of operation is improved, but harmful factors increase due to spam and unwanted calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by calling the user's registered number and playing an IVR message before allowing the actual call to proceed. This advance verification step ensures that only authorized users can initiate calls, preventing spam and unwanted calls while maintaining ease of use for legitimate users.
Solution Approach 2:
The IVR system acts as an intermediary between the user and the telephone network. It mediates the call initiation process by verifying the user's identity through the registered number and controlling whether the call should proceed, thus blocking harmful factors without significantly impacting legitimate call operations.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If an IVR authentication system is implemented, then harmful factors are reduced by preventing spam calls, but device complexity increases due to additional authentication steps
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the user's own registered telephone number as the authentication credential. When a call is initiated, the system automatically calls back the registered number and verifies identity through the IVR interaction. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate authentication devices or complex security infrastructure, reducing overall system complexity while effectively preventing spam calls.
3Reliability
If users must authenticate through IVR before each call, then reliability of call authorization is improved, but loss of time increases due to additional verification steps
Solution Approach 1:
The authentication process uses partial verification by checking the called number against the registered number and requiring a simple IVR response. This partial action approach provides sufficient reliability to prevent spam calls while minimizing the time required, avoiding excessive authentication steps that would significantly delay legitimate calls.
Data Source
AI summary
A VoIP-enabled communications system includes IVR authentication for web initiated telephone calls. A web-based user initiates a telephone call by providing his telephone number and one or more target telephone numbers. In some embodiments, the target telephone number is identified by clicking on a call hyperlink. The system calls the user's telephone number and plays an IVR recording that asks the user to accept or reject the proposed connection to the target telephone number. If the user rejects, then he may be subject to being added to a Do Not Call list. If the user accepts, then the target number is called, and the connection bridged. Alternatively, if the user accepts, then the target number is called, and an IVR recording played. If the target also accepts, then the system bridges the telephone numbers and connects the call. Additional features may also be provided through the IVR recordings, for example, adding or removing numbers from the Do Not Call list.