Call Forwarding Verification Using Scheduled Check Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Professionals often forget to manually activate automatic call forwarding to answering services when they are unavailable, leading to missed calls and potential loss of clients due to poor impression formation.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that uses a computing system to determine when a professional goes off-duty and automatically checks if call forwarding is activated, placing a check call to ensure activation, and if not, attempts to contact the professional to rectify the issue.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If professionals manually activate call forwarding when unavailable, then call forwarding can be activated, but professionals often forget to do so resulting in missed calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by automatically placing check calls to the professional's device at predetermined times (e.g., when the professional is scheduled to be unavailable) to verify call forwarding activation before actual incoming calls occur. This prevents missed calls by detecting and alerting about activation failures in advance.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by monitoring whether call forwarding is properly activated and providing notifications to the professional when activation fails or is incomplete. This feedback loop ensures that the professional is aware of the status and can correct issues before important calls are missed.
2Reliability
If the system automatically checks call forwarding activation, then missed calls are prevented, but additional system complexity is introduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system employs self-service by using automated check calls and self-monitoring mechanisms to verify call forwarding activation without requiring continuous manual intervention from the professional. The system serves itself by automatically detecting, reporting, and alerting about activation status.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters by monitoring specific conditions (call forwarding activation status) and triggering actions based on those parameter states. It detects whether the device is in an unavailable state and whether call forwarding is properly activated, then responds accordingly with notifications or alerts.
3Reliability
If check calls are placed to verify call forwarding, then activation status is confirmed, but call time is consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses periodic action by placing check calls at specific intervals or predetermined times (such as when the professional transitions to an unavailable state) rather than continuously monitoring. This reduces time consumption while still ensuring verification at critical moments.
Solution Approach 2:
The system skips unnecessary verification steps by directly placing automated check calls that quickly determine activation status without prolonged interaction. The check calls are designed to be brief and efficient, rushing through the verification process to minimize time consumption.
Data Source
AI summary
A called party is expected to activate call forwarding to an answering service when going off duty. In an attempt to ensure that call forwarding is activated, the answering service creates a check record for the called party in a database, including a call time at which to effectuate a check call. The call record is taken up at the call time thereof and is employed to place the check call. The placed check call presumptively occurs after the called party has gone off duty and activated call forwarding. A determination is made of whether the check call automatically forwarded to the answering service. If so, the called party in fact activated call forwarding, and the check record is marked as completed. If not, the called party did not in fact activate call forwarding, and the check record is updated accordingly.