Francis J Lynch

US Patent:

50035959, Mar 26, 1991

Filed:

Aug 29, 1989

Appl. No.:

7/399808

Inventors:

Cynthia B. Collins - Basking Ridge NJ
Francis T. Lynch - Budd Lake NJ
Kay L. Mueller - Rumson NJ

Assignee:

AT&T Bell Laboratories - Murray Hill NJ

International Classification:

H04L 932

US Classification:

380 25

Abstract:

This invention relates to a method and apparatus for making it difficult for unauthorized callers to access a target computer such as a data base for providing data to and accepting orders from agents. The caller is identified by an arrangement that is relatively secure from tampering. The caller's telephone number is identified by Automatic Number Identification (ANI) and forwarded to an adjunct processor associated with the target computer. The ANI number is compared with a stored list of authorized ANI numbers and if there is a match, the caller is connected to the target computer. The arrangement also provides other facilities including automatic rejection of calls from a second list of ANI numbers, trapping of calls from a third list of ANI numbers and facilities for permitting authorized agents calling from unauthorized numbers to access the target computer. Advantageously, an arrangement, ANI, which is highly resistant to tampering is used for identifying the caller, thus making it very difficult for unauthorized callers to get access to the target computer.