Caller ID Using Social Network Context
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current caller identification systems only provide basic phone number information during incoming calls, lacking social context that could help users decide whether to answer or let calls go to voicemail.
Innovation Solution
A social network caller identification system that retrieves and displays social network information, such as names, locations, and mutual friends, associated with the calling user, using data from social networking platforms, even if the caller's number is not locally stored on the recipient's device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If only basic phone number information is provided during incoming calls, then the system maintains simplicity and low data usage, but the recipient lacks social context to make informed decisions about answering the call
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a social networking system as an intermediary between the caller and callee. When a call is incoming, the system queries the social networking platform to retrieve social context information (mutual friends, relationship status, recent interactions) about the caller. This intermediary approach provides rich social context without requiring the telephony system itself to be complex, as the social networking platform handles the data storage and retrieval.
2Reliability
If social network information is retrieved and displayed for incoming calls, then recipients gain context about callers, but the system requires access to external social networking platforms and increased data processing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the caller identification system universal by supporting multiple social networking platforms (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn, Twitter) through standardized APIs. The system can adapt to different platforms and retrieve social context information regardless of which platform the users are on. This multi-functionality allows the system to work across different social networking ecosystems without requiring separate implementations for each platform.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-fetching and caching social context information about callers before the actual call occurs. When a call is incoming, the system queries the social networking platform in advance to retrieve relevant information (mutual friends, relationship status, recent interactions) and displays it to the recipient before they need to decide whether to answer. This preliminary retrieval ensures that social context is available immediately when needed.
3Loss of information
If the system displays detailed social network information about callers, then recipients can make informed decisions, but privacy settings must be respected and managed
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where social context information is retrieved and displayed to the recipient, and the recipient's interaction (answering or declining the call) is fed back into the system. Additionally, privacy settings from the caller's social networking profile are retrieved and used to control what information is displayed. This feedback loop ensures that information sharing respects user privacy preferences while still providing useful context.
Data Source
AI summary
In one embodiment, a social networking system determines a user identifier of a caller placing a call to a receiving user based on the call's phone number, accesses one or more data stores for information associated with the caller, and present to the receiving user the information associated with the caller.