Semafone Files Patent Infringement Suits Over Its DTMF Masking Technology

In an era in which call centers are frequently tasked to accept customer’s credit card payments over the phone, there is increased risk for misuse of sensitive customer account numbers. UK-based Semafone Limited offers a unique DTMF (dual-tone multi-frequency) masking technology to combat fraud. Rather than having customers speak numerical information to an agent over the phone, it is instead typed into the telephone keypad. Each touch of the keypad generates a corresponding signal which is sent down the call line.

Prior to the signaling reaching the call center, it is intercepted by a device which converts it to a data packet, and then passes it directly to its final destination. This way, companies can process sensitive account information without it being handled directly by the call center, eliminating the need for solutions like pause and resume, or stop/start recording on quality management platforms to avoid having to store personal customer information on recordings.

Semafone, which is a leading provider of data security and PCI (News - Alert) DSS compliance solutions for call and contact centers, announced this week that it has filed a lawsuit against PCI Pal PLC and its wholly-owned subsidiary, PCI Pal (UK) Limited, in the United Kingdom High Court of Justice for infringement of U.K. Patent No. GB 2473376 titled “Signal detection and blocking for voice processing equipment,” as well as a lawsuit against PCI Pal (U.S.) Inc. in the U.S. District Court for the Western District of North Carolina for infringement of U.S. Patent Nos. 8,750,471, 9,858,573, 10,402,826 and 11,049,108, each titled “Signal detection and blocking for voice processing equipment.”

The patent suits concern Semafone’s DTMF masking technology, which provides a secure method for processing cardholder payments by telephone that allow call centers to remain compliant with Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS). The lawsuits allege that PCI Pal’s “Agent Assist” secure card payment technology infringes both the UK and U.S. patents. Semafone seeks damages and injunctive relief to prevent further sales and marketing of the “Agent Assist” product in violation of Semafone’s patent rights.

“Semafone has invested significant resources in its call and contact center PCI DSS solutions that protect confidential cardholder data and in building an intellectual property portfolio around those solutions,” said Gary E. Barnett, CEO of Semafone. “The Company intends to diligently and vigorously protect its patent rights for the benefit of our investors, customers, partners and employees and prevent infringing use of our patented technologies by others. Semafone remains confident in the value of its patent portfolio.”

Edited by Luke Bellos