Temporary Number Assignment for Emergency Call Return

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Solution Overview

Problem

Emergency call devices struggle to reconnect with user devices that do not have a valid telephone number, as they lack an active service provider account, preventing follow-up communication after an emergency call.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a system where a call control device assigns a temporary telephone number from a pool of temporary numbers to user devices making emergency calls, allowing emergency personnel to reconnect with the user device after the call has ended.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If emergency personnel use the calling telephone number to place a returning call to the communication device, then follow-up communication can be established, but this is impossible when the user device does not have a valid telephone number

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to reestablish communicationVSAvoidcompatibility with devices without service provider accounts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a temporary telephone number as an intermediary between the emergency call device and the user device. This temporary number acts as a mediator that allows the emergency call device to reach the user device even when the user device lacks a valid permanent telephone number. The temporary number is assigned by the network and enables bidirectional communication without requiring the user device to have a service provider account.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-assigning a temporary telephone number to the user device before the returning call is attempted. This pre-assignment ensures that when emergency personnel need to place a returning call, the destination number is already available and configured in the network, eliminating the need for the user device to have a valid permanent number.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system requires a valid telephone number for returning calls, then call routing is straightforward, but user devices without service provider accounts cannot be contacted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesimplicity of call routingVSAvoidability to contact all user devices

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary telephone number serves as an intermediary that simplifies call routing while expanding reach. Instead of requiring complex routing logic to handle devices without valid numbers, the system uses the temporary number as a simple, direct routing target that the network can easily route to the appropriate user device.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The temporary telephone number system provides universality by enabling the same call routing mechanism to work for both devices with valid permanent numbers and devices without service provider accounts. The temporary number fulfills the same routing function as a permanent number would, allowing emergency personnel to contact any user device regardless of its service status.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If temporary telephone numbers are assigned from a pool, then devices without valid numbers can be contacted, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to establish returning callsVSAvoidtemporary number management system

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The network automatically manages the temporary number pool and assignment process without requiring manual intervention. When a user device makes an emergency call, the network self-service assigns a temporary number from the available pool, configures the routing, and manages the lifecycle of the temporary number including its expiration and return to the pool after use.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements a temporary number pool where numbers are discarded after use and recovered for reuse. Once a temporary number has been used for a returning call or expires, it is returned to the pool of available temporary numbers, allowing the same number to be reused for future emergency calls, thus reducing the total number of temporary numbers needed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #34Discarding and recovering

Data Source

PatentUS8903051B2Returning calls to emergency callers without valid telephone numbers

Publication Date: 2014.12.02 VERIZON PATENT & LICENSING INC

AI summary

A device is configured to detect an emergency call from a user device associated with a device identifier, the device identifier including information that identifies the user device. The device is configured to detect that the user device is not associated with a valid originating telephone number, based on detecting the emergency call. The device is configured to determine a temporary originating telephone number, based on detecting that the user device is not associated with a valid originating telephone number, and to store an association between the device identifier and the temporary originating telephone number. The device is configured to transmit the emergency call, with information identifying the temporary originating telephone number, to an emergency call device, the temporary originating telephone number permitting the emergency call device to place a return call to the user device.