Annotated Call Log Sharing for Undesirable Call Detection
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing methods for managing undesirable phone calls, such as blacklists, are limited in their ability to prevent outbound calls, are not sharable, and lack detailed information about why numbers are blacklisted, making it difficult for users to effectively manage and share call information.
Innovation Solution
A method and system for call flagging using shared call logs, where users can annotate calls as undesirable and share these annotations with social contacts, allowing for selective sharing and fact-checking of call information to determine the nature of potential harm or fraud.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a blacklist is used to block undesirable calls, then call blocking capability is improved, but the system lacks sharability and detailed information about why numbers are blacklisted
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates annotated call log entries that copy and share information about undesirable calls across multiple devices. Instead of just blocking calls locally, the system creates detailed records with annotations explaining why calls were flagged, and shares these records with contacts on social networks. This resolves the information loss by preserving and propagating the reasoning behind blacklist decisions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a social network platform as an intermediary to facilitate sharing of call information. The annotated call logs are uploaded to and shared through this intermediary system, enabling multiple users to access and contribute to a collective database of undesirable call information without each user needing to maintain separate blacklists.
2Productivity
If a blacklist is used to prevent undesirable calls, then call filtering is improved, but the system is not sharable among users
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the call filtering system universal by enabling annotated call logs to be shared across multiple user devices through social networks. A single annotated call log entry created by one user can be accessed and utilized by multiple contacts, transforming a previously individual-only tool into a multi-user system that benefits the entire social network.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback loops where users can view and respond to annotations on shared call logs. When a user receives a call from a number in the shared logs, they can see existing annotations and add their own experiences, creating a continuous feedback mechanism that improves the quality and accuracy of call filtering information for all users.
3Loss of information
If call logs are shared with social contacts, then information availability is improved, but selective sharing control is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by allowing different sharing permissions for different annotated call log entries. Users can selectively choose which annotations to make public and which to keep private, and can set different visibility levels for different contacts. This enables fine-grained control over information distribution while maintaining overall system sharing capabilities.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer program product for call flagging using shared call logs are provided in the illustrative embodiments. A determination is made that a phone call should be flagged as undesirable. In a call log in the device, a call entry corresponding to the phone call is selected. The call entry is modified to form a modified call entry, the modified call entry comprising an annotation, the annotation describing a reason for flagging the call as undesirable. A sharing rule is configured relative to the modified call entry. The modified call entry is sharing selectively according to the sharing rule with a subset of a set of social contacts of a user of the device on a social network.