Context-Based Voicemail Messaging in Wireless Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing voicemail systems in wireless communication devices often fail to provide callers with accurate information about the user's availability, leading to repeated calls and inefficient communication, as the pre-recorded greetings do not reflect the user's current circumstances or status.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a context-based voicemail messaging system that generates and transmits messages to callers based on the operational, environmental, usage, or location status of the wireless communication device, using inputs such as sensors, system utilities, and software applications to provide specific reasons for unavailability and estimated return times.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If a pre-recorded voicemail greeting is used, then the system is simple and easy to operate, but the information provided to callers is not accurate or context-specific

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voicemail system transitions from static pre-recorded greetings to dynamic context-based message selection. The system dynamically determines the user's current context (location, activity, device status) and selects or generates appropriate voicemail messages in real-time, allowing the same system to provide different information to different callers based on current conditions without requiring multiple separate systems

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically monitors device inputs and context information, then autonomously selects and delivers appropriate voicemail messages without requiring manual user intervention. The voicemail system serves itself by continuously monitoring device status and independently determining which message to play based on current context, eliminating the need for users to manually update voicemail greetings

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If context-based messaging is implemented, then information accuracy and communication efficiency are improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The voicemail system is enhanced to perform multiple functions: it continues to provide traditional voicemail recording capabilities while simultaneously monitoring device context (location, activity, status) and selecting appropriate pre-configured messages. This multi-functional approach allows the same system to serve both traditional and context-based messaging needs, improving communication efficiency without requiring completely separate systems

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

Solution Approach 2:

Multiple context-based voicemail messages are pre-configured and stored in the system before runtime. When a call is missed, the system quickly retrieves and plays the appropriate pre-prepared message based on current context, eliminating the need for real-time message generation or manual user response. This preliminary preparation reduces runtime complexity while maintaining high information accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2422497B1Context-based messaging in a wireless communication system
Publication Date: 2015.08.19 QUALCOMM INC
  • EP2422497B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2422497B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2422497B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

This disclosure describes techniques for providing a wireless communication device with context-based voicemail messaging. In reply to a call, a wireless communication device may select a message based on a context. As an example, a wireless communication system may detect a call directed to a wireless communication device from a caller, generate one of a plurality of reply messages for the caller based on a context of the wireless communication device derived from input information received by at least one input of the wireless communication device, and transmit the generated reply message to the caller. In some cases, the message may be selected based on both context and caller identity. In addition, the message may be selected based at least in part on analysis of a pattern of usage or user activity with respect to the wireless communication device.