Communication Acknowledgment System with Media Server Routing
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Users of communication devices often face situations where they cannot immediately answer incoming calls without disturbing meetings or being unavailable, and existing systems lack a convenient method to acknowledge these calls without interrupting the user or the caller.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allows users to acknowledge incoming communication requests through a communication device, which forwards the acknowledgment to a media server, enabling the selection of default or user-entered messages to inform the caller, and includes a reminder feature to prompt the user to return the call after a predetermined time.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the user answers the incoming call immediately, then the caller receives immediate attention, but the user may be forced to interrupt their current activity (meeting, driving, etc.)
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary acknowledgment message that mediates between the caller and the user. When a call comes in, the user can send a predefined or custom acknowledgment message (e.g., 'I'll call you back later') without actually answering the call. This intermediary message conveys the user's awareness and intent to the caller, resolving the contradiction by providing caller attention through communication while allowing the user to maintain their current activity uninterrupted.
2Ease of operation
If the user ignores the incoming call, then the user can continue their current activity without interruption, but the caller receives no notification that the user is aware of the call
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback by sending an acknowledgment message from the user to the caller even when the call is not answered. This feedback loop informs the caller that the user has received and acknowledged the incoming call, while the user can choose to send this acknowledgment without fully engaging in the conversation. The feedback principle resolves the contradiction by providing caller notification through automated acknowledgment while preserving user convenience through selective engagement.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system provides multiple acknowledgment message options, then the user can select the most appropriate message, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies preliminary action by pre-configuring multiple acknowledgment message templates (e.g., 'I'm in a meeting, will call back later', 'Driving now, safe to call back in an hour') that the user can select from. These messages are prepared in advance and stored in the system, allowing the user to quickly select and send an appropriate acknowledgment without composing a message from scratch. This preliminary preparation resolves the contradiction by providing adaptability and versatility in message selection while minimizing system complexity through template-based rather than generative approaches.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for acknowledging an incoming communication. An incoming communication request destined for a first communication device from a second communication device is received. The incoming communication request is forwarded to the first communication device. An acknowledgment indication is received from the first communications device that the incoming communication request has been received by a user of the first communication device. An acknowledgment communication associated with the acknowledgment indication is sent from the media server to the second communications device in response to receiving the acknowledgment indication. The acknowledgment communication is selectable from a number of acknowledgment communications including at least default communications and user entered communications.