Incoming Call Information Retrieval via External Contacts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing devices lack the ability to retrieve and display information associated with incoming telephone calls when the telephone number is not stored in the device's contacts directory.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a device sends a request to an external device to retrieve information associated with an incoming call, utilizing a remote contacts application or directly from the calling device, if the number is not found locally, and displays the received information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If information is retrieved only from local contacts directory, then device complexity is reduced, but information availability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an external server as an intermediary to store and provide contact information. When a device receives a call from an unknown number, it queries the external server which acts as a mediator between the calling device and the receiving device. This resolves the contradiction by enabling information availability through an external intermediary rather than requiring every device to maintain complete local contacts directories.
2Loss of information
If remote information retrieval is implemented, then information availability is improved, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by having devices send their contact information to the external server in advance. This allows the server to pre-process and store contact data, so that during actual call events, only targeted queries need to be sent rather than retrieving entire contacts directories. This preliminary preparation reduces the network traffic required during actual information retrieval operations.
3Loss of information
If comprehensive contact information is stored locally, then information availability is improved, but device storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts contact information storage functionality from individual devices and places it on an external server. Instead of each device maintaining its own comprehensive contacts directory, the system extracts this data to a centralized external storage location. This resolves the contradiction by enabling information availability through external extraction, freeing up device storage resources while maintaining access to contact information through network queries.
Data Source
AI summary
A telephone number corresponding to an incoming telephone call may be utilized to obtain information associated with the incoming call. If it is determined that the telephone number does not match records stored on the device on which the call is received, a request may be sent from the receiving device to an external device to obtain information associated with the incoming call. The request may be directed to a remote contacts application, another device listed in a data store of the receiving device, or to the calling device itself. When a response is received, the information may be displayed or otherwise utilized by the receiving device.