Group Routing Server for Accessibility-Aware Call Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional communication systems fail to effectively route calls between users with different hearing or language abilities, leading to barriers in communication between audibly-impaired and audibly-capable individuals.
Innovation Solution
A group routing server system that determines the destination communication device and routes calls based on the abilities of users involved, utilizing an assistive communication service for translation when necessary, and routing directly when all parties have the same abilities.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If traditional communication systems route calls directly between devices, then routing simplicity is maintained, but communication accessibility for users with different abilities deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an assistive communication service as an intermediary component between the group routing server and communication devices. This intermediary automatically detects ability mismatches between callers and callees and provides translation services (sign language, speech-to-text, text-to-speech) when needed, enabling seamless communication between users with different abilities without requiring manual intervention or complex user configuration.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary detection of communication abilities during the call routing process. The group routing server determines the abilities of both the far-end user (caller) and near-end user (callee) before establishing the communication connection, allowing the system to proactively route through the assistive communication service when ability mismatches are detected, rather than reacting to communication failures after they occur.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the system routes all calls through assistive communication services, then communication accessibility is improved, but call routing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing assistive communication services only where and when needed, rather than universally for all calls. The group routing server performs localized ability matching for each call attempt and routes through the assistive communication service only when an ability mismatch is detected between specific caller-callee pairs. This selective approach maintains simplicity for able-to-able communications while providing accessibility support where required.
3Measurement precision
If manual ability matching is implemented, then communication precision is improved, but operation time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically detecting and matching communication abilities without requiring manual user input. The group routing server autonomously determines the abilities of callers and callees, compares them against compatibility criteria, and makes routing decisions independently. This automated ability matching eliminates the need for users to manually specify their communication preferences or wait for operator assistance, significantly reducing operation time while maintaining high precision in ability matching.
Data Source
AI summary
A group routing server, communication devices, and related methods are described. The group routing server may comprise a processor operably coupled with communication elements and memory, and be configured to determine a destination communication device from among a plurality of communication devices to which an incoming call is to be routed, determine whether an assistive communication service is needed for providing interpretive services based, at least in part, on differing communication abilities between a far-end user associated with a far-end communication device initiating the incoming call and a near-end user associated with the destination communication device, route the incoming call to the assistive communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is determined to be needed, and route the incoming call directly to the communication service according to the routing rules if the assistive communication device is not determined to be needed.