Selective Mobile Communication Filtering via Whitelist Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software applications for mobile devices do not allow selective blocking of incoming communications based on the characteristics of the incoming communication, forcing users to block all inbound communications, including desired ones, to avoid unwanted calls or messages.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that creates a whitelist of approved contacts on a mobile device, allowing selective filtering of inbound communications by routing calls and messages from approved contacts while sending unwanted communications directly to voicemail or suppressing notifications, and optionally sending automatic responses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If conventional software applications block all inbound communications, then unwanted calls and messages are blocked, but desired inbound communications are also blocked
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the inbound communication stream into two distinct categories: desired communications from whitelisted contacts and unwanted communications from non-whitelisted contacts. This segmentation is achieved by creating a whitelist data structure that separates approved contact identifiers from other contacts, allowing the system to apply different handling rules to different segments of incoming communications.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by treating different inbound communications differently based on their source. Whitelisted contacts receive preferential treatment (allowed to through), while non-whitelisted contacts are blocked. This localized differentiation is implemented by checking the identifier of each incoming communication against the whitelist and applying the appropriate action based on the match result.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If users block all inbound communications to avoid unwanted calls, then unwanted communications are filtered, but connectivity for desired communications is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-populating a whitelist with identifiers of desired contacts before the filtering process begins. This advance preparation ensures that when inbound communications arrive, the system can immediately determine whether to allow or block them based on pre-established criteria, maintaining reliable connectivity for approved contacts while filtering unwanted communications.
3Adaptability or versatility
If selective filtering based on communication characteristics is implemented, then desired communications are allowed while unwanted ones are blocked, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the essential identifying characteristic (identifier) from each communication for filtering purposes, rather than analyzing multiple characteristics. This extraction approach simplifies the filtering system by focusing on a single key attribute - the contact identifier - which is compared against the whitelist, thereby reducing system complexity while maintaining effective selective filtering capability.
Data Source
AI summary
Various implementations of the disclosed technology relate to selectively filtering inbound communications. An example implementation may send filtered incoming calls directly to an alternate voicemail account based on a list of pre-approved contacts. Moreover, a user notification may not be provided at the time of receiving the incoming call. In another implementation, a response message indicating a user status may automatically be sent back to the sender of the inbound communication. In some implementations, selective filtering of inbound communications may be activated manually by a user, or automatically at a scheduled time, or responsive to a mobile device entering a threshold distance of a location. Discrete logs may be kept for each of selective filtered and allowed inbound communications.