Mobile Message Blocking via Network Block List Update
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of mobile-communication devices face challenges in preventing unwanted SMS and MMS messages from being sent, as existing systems lack efficient methods to block messages from specific source addresses without user intervention.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that allow users to add source addresses to a block list by sending a text message to a network component, which updates the block list, ensuring messages from blocked addresses are not delivered to the user's device, and an auto-generation feature that creates and transmits a text message to block unwanted senders without additional user input.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually configure block lists to prevent unwanted messages, then message filtering capability is improved, but user operation complexity and time consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables self-service by automatically generating and sending text messages containing source addresses to the block list maintenance device when users receive unwanted messages. The device then automatically adds these source addresses to the block list without requiring manual user configuration, thus improving ease of operation while maintaining reliable message filtering capability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by proactively generating and transmitting block list update messages as soon as an unwanted message is received. This automatic preliminary action prevents future messages from the same source before the user would need to manually configure the block list, resolving the contradiction between automation and operational simplicity
2Productivity
If automatic block list updates are implemented, then productivity in managing blocked senders is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system introduces an intermediary component - the block list maintenance device - that automatically receives text messages containing source addresses and updates the block list. This intermediary handles the complexity of automatic updates and block list management, thereby improving productivity in blocking unwanted senders while containing system complexity within a dedicated module rather than distributing it across the entire system
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback by automatically detecting when unwanted messages are received and using this information to update the block list. The feedback loop continues until the unwanted sender is successfully blocked, improving productivity through automated iterative updates while managing complexity through a dedicated feedback-handling mechanism
3Ease of operation
If text messages are automatically generated and sent to update block lists, then ease of operation is improved, but message transmission time and network usage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The system applies skipping by directly generating and transmitting the essential block list update message without requiring additional user input or manual verification steps. This rushes through the blocking process by immediately sending the source address to the maintenance device, improving ease of operation while minimizing unnecessary time delays in the message transmission process
Data Source
AI summary
A system, method, and computer readable media are provided for allowing a user to block messages by sending a text message containing the source address that is to be blocked to a provisioning component that updates a block list. Messages addressed to the requesting user that originate from the source address are then dropped by the network before they are communicated to the requesting user. Source addresses may also be removed from the block list by sending a second text message to the provisioning component with the source address.