Robocall Deterrence via Caller Audio Playback

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Solution Overview

Problem

Unwanted robocalls and telemarketing calls persist despite regulatory efforts, as existing solutions fail to effectively deter these intrusive communications, wasting time and violating privacy.

Innovation Solution

A method that determines unwanted calls by analyzing caller ID, audio signatures, and user input, playing recorded audio responses to keep telemarketers on the line longer, using a phone network switch to record and analyze call interactions, and selecting audio based on predicted call duration to minimize future calls.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If regulatory measures and blocking methods are used to stop robocalls, then the number of unwanted calls should decrease, but robocalls persist despite these measures

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveunwanted call persistenceVSAvoideffectiveness of blocking solutions

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent converts the harm of robocalls into a benefit by using the calling party's own audio recordings against them. The system records audio from previous calls made by the same calling party and plays these recordings back during subsequent calls, causing the telemarketer to talk to themselves and waste their own time, thereby turning the harmful robocall mechanism into a self-defeating process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by recording and analyzing call audio, identifying telemarketing patterns, and using this information to automatically play back appropriate audio responses. The system continuously learns from each call interaction and adjusts its response strategy, creating a closed-loop feedback mechanism that improves call blocking effectiveness over time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Duration of action of moving object

If audio recordings from prior calls are played to telemarketers, then call duration increases, but this requires extensive audio analysis and storage

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall durationVSAvoidaudio analysis and storage system

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent creates audio copies of previous call interactions and stores them for later use. Instead of re-analyzing audio in real-time during each call, the system pre-processes and stores audio fingerprints or signatures from prior calls, allowing for quick matching and playback decisions without complex real-time analysis

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary audio analysis and categorization during or after calls occur, preparing audio responses in advance. By pre-processing the audio data and organizing it by calling party or call pattern, the system eliminates the need for complex real-time audio analysis during active calls, reducing device complexity while maintaining long call durations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10110741B1Determining and denying call completion based on detection of robocall or telemarketing call

Publication Date: 2018.10.23 BENDING SPOONS SPA

AI summary

A system and a method for handling an incoming call, comprising the steps of determining that the incoming call is an unwanted call, locating at least one prior call wherein characteristics of a calling party in the at least one prior call match that of the unwanted call, determining an audio response which kept the calling party in the prior call longest, and playing, at least in part, the audio response which kept the calling party in the prior call longest in the unwanted call.