Communications Device Profile Restoration via Reactivation Server
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of communications devices face difficulties in accessing voicemail messages stored on PSTN lines, as they cannot automatically retrieve information due to the need for manual authentication with credentials like passwords, and the PSTN calling line identity is not determinable during data sessions using connection-less packet protocols, leading to inefficiencies in service access.
Innovation Solution
A method for reconfiguring communications devices to automatically regenerate user profile data, allowing them to reconnect to service platforms without manual re-registration, by transmitting a request to a reactivation server with their device identity, which retrieves and returns the stored profile data, enabling seamless access to voicemail and other services.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a user manually provides authentication credentials to access voicemail services, then service access is secured, but user convenience deteriorates and access time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary authentication by storing profile data including authentication credentials and service identifiers in the communications device during initial service setup. This preliminary action eliminates the need for users to manually provide credentials during subsequent service access attempts, automatically retrieving and using the stored profile data for authentication.
Solution Approach 2:
The communications device is configured to automatically retrieve and use stored profile data for authentication without requiring user intervention. The device autonomously performs the authentication process by presenting stored credentials and service identifiers to the service platform, enabling self-service access to voicemail and other services.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a communications device uses connection-less packet protocols for data sessions, then service accessibility improves, but the ability to determine PSTN calling line identity deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary profile data structure that links packet protocol session identifiers with PSTN calling line identities. The profile data stored in the communications device contains both the service identifier (which can be determined from packet protocol sessions) and the associated PSTN calling line identity, serving as a mediator that connects the two different identification systems.
Solution Approach 2:
The system copies and stores the relationship between service identifiers and PSTN calling line identities in the communications device profile data. This copying allows the device to retrieve the PSTN calling line identity from stored profile data based on the service identifier obtained from packet protocol sessions, without requiring direct determination of the calling line identity from the packet protocol itself.
3Productivity
If profile data is stored locally in the communications device, then service access speed improves, but data loss risk increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements local quality by storing profile data in both the communications device and the service platform with identical content. This dual storage ensures that the local copy in the communications device can be quickly accessed for fast service access, while the remote copy on the service platform serves as a reliable backup that can restore data if the local copy is lost or corrupted.
Data Source
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AI summary
A communications device (12) maintains profile data including a device identity and a calling line identity (CLI) associated with a PSTN connection (28) both on the device itself and also on an authentication platform (32), in order that the device can access a service (52) which requires knowledge of the CLI by way of a packet-switched connection (30). In the event that the CLI data in the communications device is corrupted or lost, the communications device transmits a request for re-authentication to a reactivation server (46) together with the device identity. On receipt of the request, the reactivation server retrieves the stored profile (50) from the authentication platform (32), and returns it to the communications device (12) to allow the profile to be restored. This process can be done without the user needing to send a new request for service over the PSTN link (28).