Caller Location Sharing via Group-Based Permission Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telephone devices lack the ability to provide callers' current geographic location information to callees, which can lead to uninformed decision-making and privacy concerns, as users cannot easily determine the location of incoming callers beyond their area codes.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow callers to share their current geographic location with selected callees by designating groups of recipients, using a server system to track and permission geographic location information, and transmitting this information over networks during telephone calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If caller geographic location information is transmitted to all callees, then call information completeness is improved, but user privacy is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating permission levels for different callees. The caller's geographic location information is selectively disclosed based on individual callee permissions rather than uniformly to all recipients. This allows the system to provide complete information to authorized users while protecting privacy from unauthorized users, resolving the contradiction between information completeness and privacy protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary permission management system that mediates between the caller's location information and the callee's request to receive it. The system acts as a gatekeeper, verifying whether the callee has permission to receive location information before transmitting it. This intermediary mechanism enables information to be shared completely with authorized parties while blocking unauthorized access, thus resolving the privacy-information completeness conflict.
2Loss of information
If geographic location tracking is implemented for all callers, then location information availability is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by obtaining the caller's geographic location information in advance of the call, during call setup or before the call is answered. This allows the location data to be ready and available when needed, improving information availability without requiring complex real-time tracking during the call. The permission checks and information preparation are done preliminarily, reducing the complexity burden during active call handling.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If permission groups are configured for each caller, then privacy control is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies universality by implementing a group-based permission system where multiple callees can be organized into permission groups (e.g., family, friends, colleagues). Instead of configuring individual permissions for each callee, the system allows bulk configuration through groups, making the privacy control mechanism universally applicable across multiple users while simplifying the configuration process. This resolves the contradiction by making detailed privacy control as easy as basic operation through group management.
Data Source
AI summary
In one implementation, a computer-implemented method includes receiving, from a first telephone device and at a second telephone device, a request to accept a telephone call. The method further includes obtaining information that indicates a first current geographic location of the first telephone device or the associated first user based on the second telephone device or an associated second user being a member of a group of call recipients that are permitted to receive the information that indicates the first current geographic location. The method additionally includes, using the obtained information, providing a representation of the first current geographic location of the first telephone device on the second telephone device in association with the telephone call from the first telephone device.