Mobile Fax Call Detection and Transparent Voice Alert Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing fax messaging services require a dedicated direct inward dialing (DID) telephone number, which can be cumbersome for users to manage and confuse, and mobile devices struggle to handle incoming fax transmissions without user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A fax software program in a mobile device automatically processes incoming calls by detecting fax transmissions without user intervention, answering the call, and routing it to a fax server for decoding and notification, while transparently handling voice calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a separate DID telephone number is assigned to each subscriber for fax messaging, then fax transmission can be received at a dedicated number, but users must remember and manage multiple telephone numbers which is cumbersome and confusing
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines fax reception capability with the subscriber's existing mobile telephone number, eliminating the need for a separate DID number. The mobile device receives incoming calls and the fax software program automatically detects and processes fax transmissions using the same number for both voice and fax purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The mobile device is designed to handle multiple functions including both voice calls and fax receptions through a single telephone number. The system can automatically distinguish between voice calls and fax transmissions and route them appropriately, making the mobile device universal for both communication types.
2Ease of operation
If mobile device software automatically detects and processes incoming fax transmissions, then user intervention is reduced, but the software must accurately distinguish fax tones from voice calls which increases processing complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual user intervention with automated software-based detection. The fax software program uses audio signal analysis to automatically detect fax tones and distinguish them from voice calls, substituting mechanical user action with electronic signal processing.
Solution Approach 2:
The fax software program acts as an intermediary between the incoming call and the user. It monitors incoming calls, detects fax transmissions through tone analysis, and automatically routes them to the fax server without requiring user involvement, while still allowing user intervention if needed.
3Productivity
If the fax software program operates transparently without alerting the user, then seamless fax reception is achieved, but the user cannot immediately know when a fax is being received which may reduce awareness
Solution Approach 1:
The fax software program operates autonomously to receive and process fax transmissions without requiring user attention or intervention. The system handles the entire fax reception process transparently, from detecting the incoming fax call to routing it to the fax server, serving itself without user involvement.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to the user through notifications when fax transmissions are received. While the detection and initial processing occur transparently without alerting the user, the system subsequently notifies the user of the received fax, maintaining awareness while preserving seamless operation.
Data Source
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AI summary
Methods and apparatus are described for transparently processing a fax transmission by a fax software program in a mobile device. In one embodiment, the fax software program identifies an incoming call at the mobile device. Upon the identification, the program prevents a display screen of the mobile device from outputting an incoming call ringing alert. The program answers the incoming call and analyzes the call to detect whether the answered call is a voice call. Upon detecting that the answered incoming call is a voice call, the program outputs the incoming call ringing alert via the display screen. Otherwise, if the answered incoming call is a fax transmission, the program merges the call with a fax server, such that the fax server receives the fax transmission. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.