Geographic Phone Number Connectivity via Intermediary Mapping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing mobile devices face challenges in consistently enabling users to communicate via a particular device when moving between geographic locations, due to restrictions on using geographically-specific phone numbers outside their designated areas.

Innovation Solution

Techniques for connectivity using a geographic phone number allow a client device outside a permitted geographic area to use a non-geographic phone number for call connection, while the call is routed using the geographic phone number, thus enforcing policies related to telephone number usage across different locations.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a geographic phone number is used for communication, then compliance with geographic number policies is achieved, but communication is blocked when the device is outside the permitted geographic area

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecompliance with geographic number policiesVSAvoidcommunication availability outside geographic area
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

A number mapping service acts as an intermediary between the client device and the telecommunication network. The service receives call requests, determines the client's current location, checks geographic number usage policies, and dynamically selects appropriate phone numbers (geographic or non-geographic) to enable communication while maintaining policy compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system dynamically selects between geographic and non-geographic phone numbers based on the client device's current location and policy requirements. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain policy compliance while ensuring communication availability across different geographic areas.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

2Adaptability or versatility

If a non-geographic phone number is used for call connection, then communication is enabled outside permitted areas, but policy compliance is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication availability outside geographic areaVSAvoidcompliance with geographic number policies
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The number mapping service serves as a policy enforcement intermediary that mediates between the need for communication flexibility and geographic number usage policies. It evaluates policy requirements and selectively applies non-geographic numbers only when appropriate, maintaining compliance while enabling communication.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the phone number parameter dynamically based on location and policy context. It selects between geographic and non-geographic numbers as appropriate, allowing the communication parameter to adapt to different geographic contexts while maintaining policy compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If geographic location tracking is implemented to enforce number usage policies, then policy compliance is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepolicy enforcement accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The number mapping service automatically performs location determination and policy evaluation without requiring manual user input or complex client-side implementation. The service handles the complexity of geographic tracking and policy enforcement centrally, reducing the burden on individual devices while maintaining accurate policy compliance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4277354B1Connectivity using a geographic phone number
Publication Date: 2025.04.23 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP4277354B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4277354B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4277354B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method comprising: establishing a first session portion using Internet Protocol (IP) communication between a calling device and a communications service; establishing a second session portion using IP communication between the communications service and a PSTN switch, the second session portion addressed via a non-geographic number of the calling device; establishing a third session portion using PSTN communication and a geographic number of the calling device between a PSTN switch and a callee device; and establishing a call between the calling device and the callee device via the first session portion, second session portion, and third session portion