摘要 |
A method and apparatus for authenticating calling parties prior to call connection at a service facility uses the correlation of the call with a security message received over a data network. The correlation is made possible with an encoded string inserted into a field (such as the user-to-user information (UUI) field) of a call set-up signaling message used to initiate the call, and a correlate of the encoded string inserted into the security message. The authentication is provided at an authentication site that is logically separate from the service facility. The call is first connected to the authentication site, an authentication procedure is preferably selected and customized, and then performed. A security message is generated that includes information related to the client and the encoded string. The call is then disconnected from the authentication site, and reconnected to the service facility.
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