Call Parking Notification via Auxiliary Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing phone systems with call parking features face challenges in reliably and conveniently notifying users of parked calls, especially in environments without public address systems and when the parker is unsure of the unparker's location.
Innovation Solution
A phone system that allows users to initiate call parking and select individuals to notify through a user interface, with options for notification methods such as email or text messages, based on user account profiles, enabling private parking and text notes.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If call parking is implemented using traditional public address system announcements, then callers can be notified of parked calls, but the system becomes impractical in environments without public address systems and when the parker is unsure of the unparker's location
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an auxiliary server as an intermediary between the phone system and users. This server receives park requests, manages notification preferences from user profiles, and sends notifications through multiple channels (email, text messages, in-app notifications). This intermediary layer enables reliable call parking notifications without depending on public address systems or the parker's knowledge of the unparker's location.
2Ease of operation
If the parker must know the unparker's location to notify them of a parked call, then notification can be targeted, but the system becomes inconvenient when the parker is unsure of the unparker's location
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically retrieves notification preferences and contact information from user profiles stored in the auxiliary server. When a call is parked, the system autonomously identifies how to notify the unparker based on their profile settings without requiring the parker to manually input or know the unparker's location. This self-service approach eliminates the need for the parker to have location information while maintaining ease of operation.
3Reliability
If call parking notifications are sent through multiple channels (email, text messages), then notification reliability improves, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The auxiliary server is designed as a universal platform that handles multiple notification channels (email, text messages, in-app notifications) through a single integrated system. The server retrieves notification preferences from user profiles and automatically selects the appropriate channel, providing multi-functionality without requiring separate complex systems for each notification method. This universal approach improves reliability while managing complexity through consolidation.
Data Source
AI summary
A phone system with a methodology for call parking is described. According to one embodiment of the present invention, a user of a communications endpoint device can use a user interface at the communications endpoint device to select persons to notify of a parked call. Upon successfully parking the call, the phone system notifies the selected persons in the manner specified in their account profiles. Such manner can include sending an e-mail to the selected person or sending a text message to the selected person. Advantageously, the manner for notifying the selected persons of the parked call is determined by the selected persons themselves through configuration of their account profiles thereby alleviating the user parking the call from having to determine the manner for notifying the selected persons.