Microsoft is in the news again, this time for winning a Patent on Legal Intercept Technology which will allow organizations to monitor and intercept communications on VoIP based networks.The patent application was filed at the USPTO in December 2009. As per the patent filing , Legal Intercept Technology involves " A method implemented at least in part by a computer receiving data regarding establishing a communication session between at least two entities via a switched packet network for a communication that includes audio and a recorder manager operable to configure a recording agent to silently copy communication transmitted via the communication session".
Meanwhile , this technology for silently recording communications on VoIP networks opens doors for the governmental organizations and law enforcement bodies to monitor communication between telephone or VoIP users to ensure better ways to intercept Internet communications. It is evident that earlier this year, in May when Microsoft agreed to buy skype for $8.5 Billion, it appeared that Microsoft will make Skype compatible with CALEA (Communications Assistance for Law Enforcement Act), which will make telecommunication carriers to comply with the surveillance norms of the Governmental and Law enforcement agencies. Hence, it can be inferred that Microsoft patent portfolio has yet another shining technology which holds great promise for the future of legal interception in telecommunication sector.
(Image by Svilen Milev)
