Call Forwarding Profiles for Time and Location Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional communication systems lack flexible options for managing incoming call forwarding, particularly in configuring different settings across multiple devices and user preferences, making it challenging to implement complex forwarding scenarios based on time, location, caller, and presence states.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of call forwarding profiles that can be pre-configured with rules based on time, location, caller, and presence states, allowing for automatic activation of corresponding settings, enabling users to quickly switch between profiles and route incoming calls accordingly.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional call forwarding options are used in PBX phones, then the system is simple to operate, but users lack flexible options for managing incoming calls and cannot quickly switch between multiple call forwarding options

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall forwarding flexibilityVSAvoidcall forwarding configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments call forwarding configuration into multiple independent profiles, each representing a distinct set of forwarding rules. Users can create, store, and switch between these profiles (e.g., work profile, personal profile, vacation profile) without reconfiguring individual forwarding rules each time. This segmentation provides flexibility while maintaining simplicity through profile-based management.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to pre-configure multiple call forwarding profiles in advance with different forwarding rules for various scenarios. These profiles are stored and ready for immediate activation. When a user needs to switch call forwarding behavior, they simply activate a pre-configured profile rather than configuring rules from scratch, thus achieving flexibility without operational complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple call forwarding settings are configured across different devices, then comprehensive coverage is achieved, but configuration and management becomes challenging

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemulti-device coverageVSAvoidconfiguration management
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates call forwarding profiles that are device-agnostic and can be synchronized across multiple devices. A single profile configuration can be applied universally across different phones, tablets, or computers, eliminating the need to manually configure the same forwarding rules on each device. This universal approach achieves multi-device coverage while simplifying management through centralized profile creation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent enables users to create copies of existing call forwarding profiles and apply them to different devices or modify them for device-specific needs. Once a profile is configured on one device, it can be copied to other devices, ensuring consistent call forwarding behavior across the user's device ecosystem without requiring separate configuration efforts for each device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Extent of automation

If call forwarding rules are manually configured for each scenario, then precise control is achieved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveautomatic profile activationVSAvoidprofile configuration time
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables users to pre-configure multiple call forwarding profiles with different forwarding rules for various scenarios (work, personal, vacation, etc.) during initial setup. These profiles are stored in the system and can be automatically activated based on user presence state or manually selected with a single action. This eliminates the need to manually configure forwarding rules each time a scenario changes, significantly reducing time consumption while maintaining precise control.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements automatic profile activation based on user presence state detection. The system monitors the user's presence state (available, busy, away, offline) and automatically activates the appropriate call forwarding profile without requiring user intervention. This self-service automation reduces time loss by eliminating manual profile switching while maintaining precise control over call routing based on real-time presence information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2577950B1Managing call forwarding profiles
Publication Date: 2019.06.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2577950B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2577950B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2577950B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Call forwarding profiles corresponding to call forwarding settings based on time, location, and/or presence states of a called party are created. Different call forwarding settings are then activated based on corresponding predefined call forwarding profiles. Users are enabled to pre-configure their call forwarding profiles based on one or more rules.