Mobile Terminal Mediator for Cross-Device Session Initiation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face frustration in maintaining and synchronizing contact lists across multiple communication devices, as existing methods require manual transfer and updating of contact information between devices like mobile and fixed-line telephones.

Innovation Solution

A method and apparatus that utilize a mobile terminal to identify a callee and transfer necessary data to establish a communications session on a caller terminal, allowing for seamless communication session initiation without synchronizing contact databases, using data like phone numbers or location coordinates, and employing local or remote session initiation means.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If contact lists are maintained on multiple devices, then communication capability is improved, but device complexity and synchronization requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidsynchronization requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal acts as an intermediary device that stores contact information and facilitates call establishment between fixed line terminals. Instead of requiring synchronization between multiple fixed line devices, the mobile terminal serves as a central hub that maintains contact lists and transfers calling data, thereby reducing overall system complexity while preserving communication capability across devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile terminal performs multiple functions: it stores contact information, identifies callees, transfers data to fixed line terminals, and enables call establishment. This multi-functional approach eliminates the need for each fixed line device to maintain independent contact lists, reducing device complexity while enhancing system-wide adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Measurement precision

If contact lists are manually transferred between devices, then data accuracy is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata accuracyVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Contact information is pre-stored in the mobile terminal's contact list before calls are placed. When a user initiates a call to a fixed line, the mobile terminal automatically retrieves the relevant contact data and transfers it to the appropriate fixed line device, eliminating the need for manual synchronization while ensuring data accuracy

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically detects when a call is placed from a mobile terminal to a fixed line and triggers the appropriate data transfer and call establishment procedures. This automated feedback mechanism ensures that contact information is accurately transferred without requiring manual intervention, thereby reducing time consumption while maintaining data integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If SIM card is removed and inserted into fixed line telephone, then contact list access is improved, but operational complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontact list accessVSAvoidoperational complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The mobile terminal serves as an intermediary that stores contact information and facilitates access from fixed line devices without requiring physical SIM card removal. The mobile terminal transfers contact data to the fixed line device through data communication, providing contact list access while reducing operational complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The physical mechanical action of removing and inserting SIM cards is replaced by a data communication-based system. Instead of physically transferring the SIM card, contact information is transferred electronically through the mobile terminal, thereby maintaining contact list access while eliminating the complexity of physical device manipulation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Data Source

PatentUS8340649B2Establishing communications sessions

Publication Date: 2012.12.25 BRITISH TELECOM PLC

AI summary

A method of establishing a communications session in a communications system is disclosed. The communications system comprises a caller terminal (103), a mobile terminal (101) associated with the caller terminal (103), a callee terminal (115) associated with a callee and session initiation means (111,113). It has become common yet frustrating for users to have to maintain contact lists on a multiplicity of communications devices (e.g. the caller terminal and the mobile terminal). The method comprises: (i) identifying the callee using the mobile telephone (101); (ii) responsive to identification of said callee, transferring data identifying the callee from the mobile terminal (101) to the session initiation means (111,113); and (iii) in dependence on the transferred data, operating the session initiation means (111,113) to establish a communications session between the caller terminal (103) and the callee terminal (115).