Electronic Identity Verification for Secure Telephone Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Individuals, especially the elderly, face challenges in distinguishing genuine from fake telephone calls and messages, as well as unwanted visits from impersonators, which can lead to financial loss and insecurity.

Innovation Solution

A method utilizing electronic identification to verify the identity of incoming call or message senders, allowing the receiving device to either accept or deny the communication based on successful verification, and optionally routing verified communications to a secondary device for handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If electronic identification verification is implemented for all incoming calls and messages, then personal security and fraud prevention are improved, but device complexity and operational difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepersonal securityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification system that acts as a mediator between the incoming caller and the receiving device. The system uses electronic identification (eID) as an intermediary mechanism to verify identities before allowing communication, thus enhancing security without requiring complex changes to the core telephone system. The verification server acts as a mediator that handles the identification process centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements preliminary identification verification before the actual communication takes place. The system performs eID verification in advance of the call or message delivery, ensuring that the sender's identity is confirmed before the receiving device processes the communication. This preliminary action prevents fraudulent communications from reaching the user.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If electronic identification verification is required for all incoming communications, then fraud prevention is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefraud preventionVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a self-service verification mechanism where the receiving device automatically handles the eID verification process without requiring manual intervention from the user. The system autonomously sends verification requests, processes responses, and makes acceptance decisions based on pre-configured settings, thereby maintaining ease of operation while ensuring security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the receiving device provides status information to the user about incoming communications, including verification results. Users can configure their preferences and receive notifications about verified versus unverified callers, allowing them to make informed decisions while the system handles the complex verification process in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If all incoming calls are blocked without verification, then security against fraud is improved, but loss of important communications increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesecurity against fraudVSAvoidimportant communications
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a selective verification approach rather than blocking all unverified communications. The system applies eID verification to high-risk scenarios while allowing trusted contacts and legitimate communications to pass through. Users can configure exceptions for known contacts, and the system verifies only when necessary, thus preventing fraud without blocking important communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification checks before blocking communications. Instead of outright blocking all unverified calls, the system first attempts verification and only blocks communications that fail verification or are from unverified sources when verification is deemed necessary. This preliminary action distinguishes between fraudulent and legitimate unverified communications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

4Object-affected harmful factors

If telephone numbers are obscured to prevent tracking, then privacy is improved, but ability to track fraud increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidfraud tracking
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary verification server that acts as a mediator between the caller and the receiving device. This intermediary system handles the identification and tracking information, allowing fraud to be tracked through the verification server without exposing personal telephone numbers. The intermediary preserves privacy by not directly sharing number information while enabling fraud tracking through the verification process.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP4521728A1A method for receiving secure calls and personal security checks
Publication Date: 2025.03.12 SNYGG GORAN
  • EP4521728A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4521728A1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4521728A1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to method for verifying an identity. The method comprises receiving (S100) an incoming call or message from a contacting telephone device (120) to a receiving telephone device (100) and sending (S200) a request to the contacting telephone device (120) to perform identification using an electronic identification. In case (S300) of successful identification, the method comprises receiving (S400) the verified identification, otherwise denying (S500) the incoming call or the message.