Context-Aware Call Routing for Weak Signal Connectivity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Cellular phone calls often drop or experience poor quality due to weak wireless signal reception, necessitating a system or method to reroute calls to an alternate phone when the primary device cannot connect.
Innovation Solution
A context and socially aware call routing system that identifies and reroutes calls to designated alternate phones, such as friends or family members, based on geographical proximity and social connections, ensuring the call reaches the user even when the primary phone has weak or no signal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If call routing is based on simple signal strength detection, then call connectivity is improved, but call quality and user experience deteriorate due to inappropriate routing decisions
Solution Approach 1:
The system changes from detecting only signal strength to detecting multiple parameters including geographical location, social context, and device availability. This multi-parameter approach enables more accurate routing decisions that maintain both connectivity and call quality by selecting alternate phones based on comprehensive criteria rather than simple signal metrics.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a server as an intermediary that coordinates between the primary phone and potential alternate phones. The server receives location data, determines social context, identifies available alternate phones, and manages the routing decision process, thereby improving call quality through intelligent mediation while maintaining connectivity.
2Ease of operation
If the system monitors multiple contextual parameters for call routing, then call quality and appropriateness improve, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the call routing function into distinct modular components: location data acquisition module, social context determination module, alternate phone identification module, and routing decision module. This segmentation reduces system complexity by making each component independent and manageable while collectively achieving sophisticated contextual awareness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system utilizes existing self-service capabilities of mobile devices including built-in location services, contact information storage, and device availability status. By leveraging these self-service features already present in smartphones, the system avoids adding significant complexity while still achieving comprehensive contextual monitoring for appropriate call routing.
3Reliability
If alternate phones are selected based on geographical proximity, then call connectivity is maintained in weak signal areas, but privacy and user control may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by obtaining user consent and setting preferences before actual call routing occurs. Users pre-configure which contacts can receive routed calls and under what conditions, ensuring privacy and control are established beforehand. This preliminary setup prevents privacy violations while still enabling connectivity through alternate phones when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where users can review and adjust routing decisions in real-time. The server communicates with the primary phone to confirm routing choices, and users can provide feedback to modify preferences or block specific routing scenarios. This feedback loop ensures privacy concerns are addressed while maintaining the benefit of call connectivity through geographically proximate alternate phones.
Data Source
AI summary
When a telephone call is made to a user with a cellular telephone that has weak or no wireless signal receptions, the telephone call may be re-routed to another telephone located near the user, such that the telephone call may reach the user via another telephone. A system or method is provided to determine an alternate telephone, to which the telephone call is re-routed when the primary receiving telephone is a cellular phone that has weak or no wireless signal reception. The alternate telephone may be determined in a context and/or social aware basis. The alternate telephone may belong to a friend or family member of the user of the primary receiving telephone. Further, the alternate telephone may be located near the user of the primary receiving telephone, such that the user of the primary receiving telephone may be reached when the telephone call is re-routed to the alternate telephone.