Caller Location Identification via Area Code Extraction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional Incoming Caller Line Identification (ICLID) systems often allow callers to suppress their name and number, limiting the called party's ability to screen calls, leading to lower service adoption and increased unwanted calls.

Innovation Solution

The system determines and provides the geographic location of the calling party, allowing the called party to assess potential calls without revealing the caller's identity, using area code and exchange information, even if the caller has blocked their ID.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If conventional ICLID systems provide caller name and number, then call screening capability is improved, but caller privacy is compromised and service take rate decreases due to suppression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall screening informationVSAvoidprivacy violation and service rejection

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts only the geographic location information (area code and exchange) from the complete caller identification data, separating this useful screening information from the personal identifying information (name and full number). This allows the called party to receive location-based screening capability without exposure of private personal details, resolving the contradiction between information availability and privacy protection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent applies different levels of information disclosure to different aspects of caller identification: geographic location information is made visible to enable screening, while personal identifying information remains hidden to protect privacy. This selective disclosure of local qualities of information resolves the contradiction by providing exactly what is needed for screening without compromising privacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

2Object-affected harmful factors

If caller suppresses name and number to avoid warning called party, then privacy is protected, but called party loses call screening capability

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidcall screening information

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces geographic location information as an intermediary between the caller and called party. This intermediary provides the called party with screening capability without requiring disclosure of personal identifying information. The location data acts as a mediator that enables call screening while maintaining privacy, resolving the contradiction where suppression was previously necessary to protect privacy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If complete caller ID information is provided, then call screening is enhanced, but service adoption decreases due to unwanted suppression

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaller identification informationVSAvoidservice take rate

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent changes the parameter of information disclosure from complete personal identification data to truncated geographic location data only. This parameter change maintains the utility of call screening while removing the reason for suppression, thereby increasing service adoption. The area code and exchange provide sufficient screening information without triggering privacy concerns that lead to service rejection

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS8036356B1System and method of identifying geographic location for the source of a call

Publication Date: 2011.10.11 AVAYA INC

AI summary

A method, apparatus and computer program product for identifying a geographic location for a source of a call is presented. A central office receives a call from a calling party, the call including a telephone number of the calling party. A geographic location of the calling party is determined from information associated with the calling party. The geographic location is then provided to the called party.