Call Routing via Location Server for Multi-Device Adaptability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing call forwarding systems are complex and inefficient, particularly for individuals with multiple communication devices, as they require multiple reprogramming and often result in loss of enhanced services, and are exacerbated by travel and mobility, leading to difficulties in establishing communication and increased costs for businesses due to unfavorable wireless communication rates.

Innovation Solution

A telecommunication system that detects incoming calls and routes them to multiple devices based on the user's location and presence, using a server to prioritize and sequentially ring associated devices, maintaining enhanced services and corporate network benefits, and allowing remote devices to function as standard office telephones with PBX features.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If call forwarding is used to route calls to multiple devices, then the ability to contact the user across multiple devices is improved, but the system complexity and reprogramming requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to contact user across multiple devicesVSAvoidsystem complexity and reprogramming requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a location server as an intermediary between the PBX and multiple user devices. The location server stores location information and routing rules, automatically determining which device to route calls to based on current location data, thereby eliminating the need for complex reprogramming of individual telephones while maintaining multi-device contact capability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices periodically report their location status to the location server. This feedback loop enables the server to automatically update routing decisions without manual reprogramming, reducing system complexity while maintaining adaptability to user mobility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If call forwarding is used to reach the user, then contact capability is improved, but the calling party must remain on the line for a significant period

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact capabilityVSAvoidtime the calling party must remain on the line

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The location server performs preliminary routing decisions before the call is fully established. By pre-determining the optimal destination device based on current location information, the system can quickly route the call in a single attempt rather than requiring the calling party to remain on the line through multiple forwarding attempts across different devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If the user travels and uses multiple devices, then mobility is improved, but the difficulty of establishing communication increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser mobilityVSAvoiddifficulty of establishing communication

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses continuous feedback from location reporting mechanisms where devices automatically send their current location status to the location server. This real-time feedback enables the server to dynamically determine the user's current device and route calls appropriately, making communication establishment as easy as dialing a single number regardless of user mobility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The location server automatically manages the complexity of tracking user location across multiple devices. The system performs self-service routing decisions without requiring the user or calling party to manually manage multiple device configurations, thereby maintaining ease of communication establishment while supporting high user mobility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

4Adaptability or versatility

If call forwarding is used, then multi-device contact is improved, but enhanced services and voicemail are lost when forwarded off the corporate network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemulti-device contactVSAvoidavailability of enhanced services and voicemail

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The location server acts as an intermediary that maintains the connection to the corporate PBX infrastructure even when the user is away from the office. By routing calls through the location server which remains on the corporate network, the system preserves access to enhanced services and voicemail while still enabling contact on mobile devices outside the corporate network

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2173084B1Call routing to a plurality of destination devices according to location and/or presence information

Publication Date: 2019.04.10 BLACKBERRY LTD

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AI summary

A telecommunication system routes an incoming call to one or more telephony devices associated with a user, including personal digital assistants and other remote devices, based on the called party's historical call pattern created and updated by the system. The system enhances the routing using location or presence information. The call routing is designed to route calls to targeted devices to increase the likelihood that the call is answered by the intended called party while also alleviating the need to place multiple calls in an attempt to locate the called party.