TWI893549B - Telephone system and method for preventing personal information leakage - Google Patents

Abstract

A telephone system and method for preventing personal information leakage employs an intermediary device between a communication device and a connected telephone exchange. The intermediary device converts each stored phone number into a unique gibberish code and provides it to a telemarketer. The telemarketer then dials the unique gibberish code through the communication device. The intermediary device decrypts the unique gibberish code back to the phone number, which is then dialed by the telephone exchange, allowing the telemarketer to speak with the recipient of the phone number. Conversely, when the telephone system receives an incoming call, it also converts the caller's phone number into a unique gibberish code and sends it to the communication device. This prevents the telemarketer from knowing the caller's phone number but allows them to connect and speak with the caller.

Description

Telephone system and method for preventing personal information leakage

The present invention belongs to the field of communications technology, and more specifically, relates to a telephone system that does not expose telephone numbers to telemarketers.

Telemarketing (hereinafter referred to as telemarketing) is a marketing method that can expand business with relatively low development costs and possesses market power. To facilitate successful calls to recipients, telemarketing companies provide telemarketers with forms containing the recipients' phone numbers (and even their names and other information). However, telemarketing companies cannot prevent telemarketers from collecting or misusing this information. Once a phone number is collected and used by malicious telemarketers, the recipients may suffer irreversible losses.

The main problems and main effects to be solved by this invention are:

Due to the increasing problem of personal information (social media accounts, addresses, bank transactions, etc.) being leaked when a recipient's phone number is exposed to a telemarketer, this invention has developed a telephone system that hides the recipient's phone number from the telemarketer, while still allowing the telemarketer to call the recipient. Furthermore, when the recipient calls back, the system also hides the recipient's phone number from the telemarketer. Thus, protecting the recipient's phone number serves as a fundamental countermeasure to prevent and eliminate the leakage of the recipient's personal information.

Technical features of the invention:

A telephone system and method for preventing personal information leakage include a communication device and a connected telephone exchange. An intermediary device stores a large number of phone numbers. The intermediary device converts each stored phone number into a unique gibberish code and provides it to a telemarketer. The telemarketer dials the unique gibberish code through the communication device. The intermediary device decrypts the unique gibberish code back to the phone number and then passes it to the telephone exchange for outgoing calls, enabling the telemarketer to communicate with the recipient of the phone number. Conversely, when the telephone system of the present invention receives an incoming call, it also converts the caller's phone number into a unique gibberish code and sends it to the communication device. The communication device can only display the unique gibberish code, so the caller cannot know the caller's phone number. This invention realizes a method of hiding the caller or caller from telemarketers.

This invention can be applied to insurance, banking, securities, transportation, communications, and other service industries that require developing customers via telephone.

1: Communication device

2: Telephone exchange

3: Intermediary device

31: Storage Module

32: Encryption Module

33: Decryption Module

34: Call processing module

[Figure 1] Block diagram of the telephone system of the present invention.

[Figure 2] Block diagram of the intermediary device of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the telephone system of the present invention includes a communication device 1, a private branch exchange (PBX) 2, and an intermediary device 3. The communication device 1 is connected to the PBX 2 wirelessly or by wire. The intermediary device 3 is connected to the communication device 1 and the PBX 2 wirelessly or by wire.

The communication device 1 may be a local telephone device, and the telephone exchange 2 may be a wired telephone exchange 2 that matches the local telephone device and is connected to the Public Switched Telephone Network (PSTN).

Communication device 1 can also be a device capable of making Internet phone calls, such as a smartphone, desktop computer, laptop, or in-car device (onboard unit), making calls via the Internet. The Internet can refer to the Internet, local area network (LAN), fourth generation (4G) mobile communications, fifth generation (5G) mobile communications, wireless LAN (Wi-Fi), etc. The telephone exchange 2 is an IP-PBX compatible with the Internet phone device.

As shown in Figure 2, the intermediary device 3 includes a storage module 31, an encryption module 32, a decryption module 33, and a call processing module 34. The call processing module 34 is connected to the communication device 1, the telephone switch 2, the storage module 31, the encryption module 32, and the decryption module 33. The storage module 31, the encryption module 32, the decryption module 33, and the call processing module 34 can be configured separately or in combination.

The storage module 31 can be a volatile memory or a non-volatile memory, including but not limited to a read-only memory (ROM), an electronically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), or a hard drive. The storage module 31 can store a large number of phone numbers, which can be landline or mobile phone numbers.

The encryption module 32 performs an encryption method to individually encrypt each telephone number in the storage module 31, generating a unique gibberish code for each telephone number. The unique gibberish code is stored in the storage module 31 corresponding to the telephone number. The encryption method includes, but is not limited to, an encryption program. The unique gibberish code is provided to a telesales representative in electronic or paper form, and the telesales representative dials the unique gibberish code using the communication device 1.

The decryption module 33 decrypts the unique scrambled code and restores it to the phone number using a decryption method. The decryption method includes but is not limited to a decryption program.

The call processing module 34 can be hardware with computing capabilities, such as a central processing unit (CPU), a programmable microprocessor (MCU), a digital signal processor (DSP), a programmable controller (PC), an application-specific integrated circuit (ASIC), a programmable logic device (PLD), or other similar devices. The call processing module 34 provides the unique scrambled code dialed by the communication device 1 to the decryption module 33 for decryption and recovery of the telephone number. The call processing module 34 then provides the recovered telephone number to the telephone exchange 2 for outgoing calls, enabling a voice call between the telemarketer and the callee.

According to the telephone system of the present invention, a method for hiding telephone numbers from telemarketers and preventing the leakage of personal information of callers is implemented. The method includes:

An intermediary device 3 is provided between a communication device 1 and a telephone exchange 2 (Private Branch eXchange, PBX) connected thereto;

The intermediary device 3 stores a large number of phone numbers. The intermediary device 3 generates a unique scrambled code for each stored phone number through encryption. The intermediary device 3 provides the unique scrambled code to telemarketers.

The telemarketer dials the unique scrambled code via the communication device 1;

The intermediary device 3 decrypts the unique gibberish code dialed by the communication device 1 and restores it to the telephone number through a decryption method; and

The intermediary device 3 provides the telephone number to the telephone exchange 2 for dialing, enabling a voice call between the telemarketer and the interviewee.

As described above, the present invention implements a telephone system that conceals the telephone number of the interviewee from the telemarketer, while still allowing the telemarketer to successfully call the interviewee and conduct a voice conversation with the interviewee.

In another embodiment, when the respondent calls the telemarketer back, the system's processing method is:

The telephone exchange 2 receives an incoming call signal and obtains the telephone number of the incoming call signal;

The intermediary device 3 stores the telephone number of the incoming call signal in the storage module 31;

The intermediary device 3 provides the phone number of the incoming call signal to the encryption module 32 to generate a unique scrambled code;

The intermediary device 3 provides the unique gibberish code to the communication device 1. The communication device 1 receives the incoming call signal and displays the unique gibberish code. The telemarketer then connects to the communication device 1 and conducts a voice call with the interviewee.

In another embodiment, a single telephone exchange 2 can connect to multiple communication devices 1. The intermediary device 3 can provide the incoming call signal and the unique scrambled code to one of the communication devices 1. Consequently, only one communication device 1 receives the incoming call signal and the unique scrambled code, and the call is then connected by a dedicated telesales representative for that communication device 1.

Alternatively, the call processing module 34 may provide the incoming call signal and the unique gibberish code to all of the communication devices 1, so that all of the communication devices 1 receive the incoming call signal and the unique gibberish code, and an unspecified telemarketer can connect the call through one of the communication devices 1.

As described above, the present invention implements a telephone system that conceals the caller's phone number when the callee calls back to the telemarketer, allowing the telemarketer to conduct a voice conversation with the caller without knowing the caller's phone number.

1: Communication device

2: Telephone exchange

3: Intermediary device

Claims (4)

A telephone system for preventing personal information leakage includes: at least one communication device, a telephone exchange, and an intermediary device; the communication device is connected to the telephone exchange; the intermediary device is connected to the communication device and the telephone exchange; the intermediary device includes a storage module, an encryption module, a decryption module, and a call processing module; the call processing module is connected to the communication device, the telephone exchange, the storage module, the encryption module, and the decryption module; the storage module stores a plurality of telephone numbers; the encryption ... The encryption module encrypts each telephone number in the storage module using an encryption method to generate a unique gibberish code; the unique gibberish code is stored in the storage module corresponding to the telephone number; the decryption module decrypts the unique gibberish code using a decryption method to restore the telephone number; the call processing module receives the unique gibberish code dialed by the communication device and provides the unique gibberish code to the decryption module for decryption to restore the telephone number; the call processing module provides the restored telephone number to the telephone exchange for outgoing call. The telephone system for preventing personal information leakage as described in claim 1 further comprises: the telephone exchange receiving an incoming call signal and the telephone number of the incoming call signal; the call processing module providing the telephone number to the encryption module to generate the unique gibberish code, the unique gibberish code corresponding to the telephone number being stored in the storage module; the call processing module providing the unique gibberish code to the communication device; the communication device receiving the incoming call signal and displaying the unique gibberish code. A method for preventing personal information leakage in a telephone system includes: providing an intermediary device between a communication device and a telephone exchange connected thereto; the intermediary device stores a plurality of telephone numbers; the intermediary device converts each stored telephone number into a unique gibberish code using an encryption method; the intermediary device provides the unique gibberish code to a telesales representative; the telesales representative dials the unique gibberish code using the communication device; the intermediary device receives the unique gibberish code dialed by the communication device and decrypts the unique gibberish code using a decryption method to restore it to the telephone number; and the intermediary device provides the telephone number to the telephone exchange for dialing, thereby enabling a voice call between the telesales representative and a recipient of the telephone number. A method for implementing a telephone system to prevent personal information leakage includes: providing an intermediary device between a communication device and a telephone exchange connected thereto; the telephone exchange receiving an incoming call signal from a caller and obtaining the phone number of the incoming call signal; the intermediary device generating a unique gibberish code from the phone number of the incoming call signal through an encryption method; the intermediary device storing the phone number and the corresponding unique gibberish code; the intermediary device providing the unique gibberish code to the communication device; the communication device receiving the incoming call signal and displaying the unique gibberish code; and a telemarketer connecting to the communication device to conduct a voice call with the caller of the phone number.