Cloud Telephony Service for Senior Emergency Communication

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Solution Overview

Problem

Elderly individuals face challenges in using complex smartphones and existing telephony services for emergency situations due to their lack of user-friendliness and unfamiliarity with technology, which can hinder their ability to receive timely assistance.

Innovation Solution

A cloud-based telephony service that utilizes AI and machine learning to provide a simple and intuitive interface, allowing seniors to easily make calls, send messages, and receive notifications through various devices, including landline and mobile phones, with features like automatic call forwarding, blocking, and emergency alerts, using VoIP technology and adaptive ring signals.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If smartphones with advanced functionality are provided to seniors, then communication versatility is improved, but device complexity increases making them harder to use

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication versatilityVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and removes unnecessary complex functionality from the device, providing only essential communication features (calling, messaging, emergency alerts) through a simplified interface. The system uses cloud-based services to deliver advanced features without requiring complex local processing, thus reducing device complexity while maintaining versatility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements a universal interface that handles multiple communication functions through a single simplified system. The telephony service provides multi-functionality by integrating voice calls, text messaging, emergency alerts, and health monitoring into one unified platform accessible through a consistent simple interface, eliminating the need for seniors to navigate multiple complex devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If existing telephony services are used for emergency situations, then communication capability is provided, but user-friendliness deteriorates due to unfamiliarity with technology

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveemergency communication capabilityVSAvoiduser-friendliness
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements self-service through automated emergency response systems that automatically detect emergencies (via fall detection sensors, missed calls, or direct button presses) and initiate appropriate responses without requiring user knowledge of complex telephony operations. The system serves itself by automatically contacting emergency services, notifying family members, and providing location information.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring emergency contacts, pre-programming emergency response protocols, and pre-positioning emergency buttons on the device. When an emergency occurs, these pre-prepared elements immediately activate without requiring the user to navigate menus or understand complex telephony procedures, thus maintaining reliability while improving ease of operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If simple interface is provided for seniors, then ease of operation is improved, but functionality is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of operationVSAvoidfunctionality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a cloud-based telephony service as an intermediary between the simple user interface and complex underlying systems. This intermediary layer translates simple user actions (button presses, voice commands) into complex coordinated responses (emergency alerts, health monitoring, multi-party communication), thus maintaining ease of operation while preserving full functionality through the intermediary service layer.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP3729795B1Activating a voice function for a call not answered
Publication Date: 2024.03.20 NSF TELECOM
  • EP3729795B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3729795B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3729795B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention is concerned with a telephony service for a caller and a called party in a telecommunications network for controlling and assisting calls through the telephony service between a user device party and one or more devices of one or more other pre- defined parties. The telephony service activates an alternative interactive function at an instant or intended call to one of the parties for secure accessibility at outgoing and incoming calls from and to the telephony service. The alternative interactive function can be activated automatically or by user action and is an alternative to a normal call to be connected.