Double Number Service for Managing Separate Professional and Personal Communications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional telecommunications systems do not allow users to maintain separate professional and personal connections on a single device, leading to issues with unwanted calls and communications, as users are assigned a single number for all purposes.
Innovation Solution
A double number service that provides an additional virtual phone number for users to manage professional and personal communications separately, allowing preferences such as call routing, blocking, and filtering based on time or caller ID, which can be used on a single device.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a single telephone number is assigned to an end user, then the device can be kept simple and easy to operate, but the user cannot maintain separate professional and personal connections
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single telephone number into two separate virtual numbers (primary number and secondary number) that both map to the same physical device. This allows the user to maintain separate professional and personal connections by directing different types of calls to different virtual numbers, while the device itself remains unchanged and simple to operate.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the single device universal by enabling it to handle multiple virtual numbers simultaneously. The device gains multi-functionality by being able to receive and process calls intended for either the primary or secondary number without requiring additional hardware, thus maintaining simplicity while increasing adaptability.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If call blockers are used to block unwanted calls, then unwanted calls can be reduced, but important/desired communications may also be blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments communications into two distinct channels by assigning different virtual numbers for different purposes (e.g., secondary number for personal ads, primary number for work). This segmentation allows users to direct unwanted calls to one virtual number while keeping the other virtual number open for important communications, eliminating the need for broad call blocking that might accidentally block desired calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the function of filtering unwanted calls from the call blocking mechanism and relocates it to the number selection mechanism. Instead of using call blockers to filter calls, users can simply choose to provide different virtual numbers for different contexts, thereby taking out the filtering function from the communication flow and placing it at the number assignment stage.
3Productivity
If a primary number is shared openly in advertisements, then business opportunities can be increased, but the number receives incessant calls from unknown people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication channels by providing a dedicated secondary number for public advertisements and a primary number for personal or professional use. Users can confidently share the secondary number in advertisements, knowing that unwanted calls will not reach their primary number, thus maintaining productivity while eliminating harmful incessant calls.
Solution Approach 2:
The secondary number acts as an intermediary between the user and the public. It serves as a buffer that receives all incoming calls from advertisements, allowing users to filter and select which calls to answer. This intermediary protects the primary number from direct exposure to unwanted callers while still enabling business opportunities through the secondary number.
Data Source
AI summary
Embodiments disclosed herein describe a double number service configured to allow a mobile or landline subscriber to receive an additional telephone number that is configured to make and receive communications such as telephone calls and text messages. Telecommunications systems and methods disclosed herein are configured to utilize a virtual phone number or double numbers, which a user may subscribe to, to publish and/or communicate to other users. The user may also subscribe to multiple virtual numbers, and use the virtual numbers on a single device. Accordingly, an end user may receive communications to an assigned number from a telecommunications service provider and the virtual or double number on the same telecommunications device.