Context-Aware Caller ID via Unique Button Phone Numbers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional web-based call systems lack context information for incoming calls, making it difficult for recipients to determine the purpose of the call and requiring them to answer all calls or listen to voicemails without filtering.
Innovation Solution
Assigning a unique phone number to each browser call button, which allows the call receiving device to display the context associated with the call, enabling users to screen calls based on the context and filter voicemails by displaying context information in voicemail listings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If conventional Caller ID is used to display only telephone number and caller name, then the system is simple and easy to implement, but the recipient cannot determine the purpose or context of the call
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the call identification information into multiple components: traditional Caller ID (name and number) and additional context information (purpose, topic, or subject matter). This segmentation allows the system to preserve the simplicity of conventional Caller ID while adding contextual details through separate data fields that can be transmitted and displayed independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces an intermediary mechanism (such as a server or communication protocol) that facilitates the transmission of context information between the calling and receiving systems. This intermediary handles the additional data without requiring fundamental changes to the core telephony infrastructure, thereby reducing the complexity burden on end-user devices.
2Reliability
If the recipient answers all incoming calls to ensure no important calls are missed, then call coverage is improved, but time is wasted on unnecessary interactions
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables preliminary viewing of context information before the recipient answers the call. By displaying the purpose, topic, or subject matter of the call in advance, the recipient can make an informed decision about whether to answer, thereby avoiding unnecessary interactions while ensuring important calls are not missed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the recipient about the nature and purpose of incoming calls through context information display. This feedback loop allows the recipient to screen calls based on relevance, improving time management while maintaining reliable coverage of important communications.
3Reliability
If the recipient listens to all voicemail messages to ensure no important messages are missed, then message coverage is improved, but time and effort are wasted on irrelevant messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends context information display to voicemail listings, allowing the recipient to view the purpose or topic of voicemail messages before listening. This preliminary view enables the recipient to prioritize and select only relevant messages, ensuring important messages are not missed while significantly reducing time spent on irrelevant content.
Data Source
AI summary
A technique provides a phone call from a caller device operated by a human caller to an answerer device operated by a human answerer. The technique involves receiving a call request from the caller device. The call request includes a call button identifier which uniquely identifies a browser call button which is rendered on the caller device to the caller. The technique further involves identifying a source phone number based on the call button identifier. The technique further involves placing a call communication to the answerer device operated by the human answerer. The call communication indicates the source phone number as a source of the call communication. Accordingly, if the answerer device already has the context of associated with the source phone number already saved (e.g., in a contact list), the answerer device is able to automatically display that context in response to the call.