Gateway Synchronization for Mobile Call Routing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Consumers face inconvenience when their mobile phones are charging at home, as they become tethered to a power source and calls intended for the mobile phone require the user to locate the device, limiting flexibility in answering calls.

Innovation Solution

A system that synchronizes mobile devices with landline devices via a gateway, allowing calls intended for mobile devices to be routed to existing landline devices, providing more options for answering calls and reducing frustration by leveraging multiple landline devices throughout the home.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If mobile phone is plugged in to charge at home, then battery charging is achieved, but user mobility and call accessibility deteriorate

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery chargingVSAvoidcall accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway acts as an intermediary device that receives calls intended for the mobile phone and forwards them to landline devices. When the mobile phone is charging and inaccessible, the gateway intercepts incoming calls and redirects them to available landline phones, maintaining call accessibility without requiring the mobile phone to be physically accessible.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables multiple devices (mobile phone and landline devices) to serve the same communication function. The gateway synchronizes contact numbers between mobile and landline devices, allowing either device type to answer calls, thus providing universal call handling capability across different device types.

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

2Duration of action of stationary object

If mobile phone is tethered to power source, then charging is maintained, but device location flexibility deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecharging maintenanceVSAvoiddevice location flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Duration of action of stationary objectVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway serves as a mediator that decouples the mobile phone's physical location from call accessibility. By routing calls through the gateway to landline devices, the system maintains call functionality regardless of where the mobile phone is charged or located within the home.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a functional copy of the mobile phone's communication capability through landline devices. When the mobile phone is charging, landline devices can answer calls intended for the mobile phone, effectively copying the call-receiving function to a different device type that offers greater location flexibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #26Copying

3Ease of operation

If call routing to landline devices is implemented, then call accessibility is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall accessibilityVSAvoidrouting system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The gateway acts as a centralized intermediary that manages all call routing logic between mobile phones and landline devices. This single point of control simplifies the overall system architecture compared to implementing complex peer-to-peer routing between multiple devices, as the gateway handles synchronization and call forwarding centrally.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2997721B1Mobile device synchronization to a gateway
Publication Date: 2020.03.18 THOMSON LICENSING SA
  • EP2997721B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2997721B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2997721B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A gateway 202 identifies mobile devices 210 connected to it. Communication access numbers associated with the mobile devices are then obtained and synchronized with communication access numbers associated with the gateway. The gateway notifies a service provider for the mobile device that its calls should now be routed to the gateway instead of the mobile device. Calls received by the gateway can then be delayed, reformatted and/or otherwise transformed/controlled by the gateway and passed to connected landline devices.