Automated Call Assistant for Spam Screening and Priority Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
The decline in traditional voice call usage due to the rise of scam and spam calls has led to a preference for text-based communication, with many people avoiding phone calls, necessitating a solution to manage calls efficiently without user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A computerized system with an automated assistant module that determines the importance of incoming calls based on location, words, and user schedule, and responds appropriately using synthesized speech or text, mimicking the user's voice and schedule tasks as needed.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional voice call services are used, then real-time communication is enabled, but users are exposed to scam and spam calls leading to reduced usage
Solution Approach 1:
An automated assistant module is introduced as an intermediary between the caller and the user. This module screens incoming calls, determines their importance based on various factors (caller ID, time of day, user schedule), and decides whether to connect, block, or route calls appropriately. This intermediary layer protects users from scam and spam calls while maintaining reliable communication with legitimate callers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary analysis of incoming calls before connecting them to the user. The automated assistant evaluates caller information, checks against known scam patterns, and assesses call importance in advance. This preliminary action filters out harmful calls (scam/spam) before they reach the user, while prioritizing legitimate important calls.
2Loss of information
If users answer all incoming calls to ensure important calls are not missed, then communication completeness is improved, but user time and attention are excessively consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assistant performs self-service by autonomously evaluating and managing incoming calls without requiring user intervention for each call. It determines call importance, screens callers, and makes connection decisions automatically. This allows the system to serve itself in filtering calls, ensuring important calls are captured while freeing user time.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback loops to learn from user interactions. When users interact with the automated assistant about call routing decisions, the system adjusts its importance assessment algorithms. This feedback mechanism improves the accuracy of call prioritization over time, ensuring important calls are captured while minimizing unnecessary user engagement.
3Loss of information
If automated call screening services like caller ID are used, then call information is provided, but calls may still be ignored or missed if unknown or user is busy
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assistant dynamically adjusts call routing decisions based on real-time conditions. It considers user availability, current schedule, caller importance level, and historical interaction patterns to make adaptive decisions. This dynamic approach ensures that calls are connected when appropriate (improving completion reliability) while allowing filtering when the user is busy or the caller is unknown.
Solution Approach 2:
The system replaces manual call screening (mechanical user action) with an automated intelligent system. Instead of relying on users to manually check caller ID and decide whether to answer, the automated assistant uses AI-based analysis to evaluate calls and make routing decisions automatically, improving both information utilization and call completion reliability.
4Ease of operation
If voicemail services are used for call completion, then calls can be handled when user is unavailable, but call information becomes outdated by the time user calls back
Solution Approach 1:
The automated assistant performs preliminary evaluation and routing of calls before the user needs to respond. It assesses call importance, notifies the user appropriately, and can even initiate follow-up actions automatically. This preliminary action ensures that when users do respond, the information is current and relevant, eliminating the time delay inherent in traditional voicemail systems.
Data Source
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AI summary
A computerized system is configured to automatically manage an incoming phone call from a caller to a cellular phone or an internet phone. The computerized system includes a first user device (e.g., a cell phone, internet phone, etc.) assigned to a first user. The system further includes an automated assistant module in communication with the first user device, a synthesized speech generator in communication with the automated assistant module, and a phone number directory in communication with the automated assistant module. The automated assistant module is configured to, when the incoming call is received by the first user device, determine (a) an importance of the incoming call based on (i) a location or number from which the incoming call originated, (ii) words used by the caller, (iii) a schedule of the first user, and (b) based on the importance of the incoming call, an appropriate response.