Multi-Terminal Call Notification Coordination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often miss incoming calls when they are near one terminal but have another nearby, as they may not be easily notified of the call and may lose time responding, especially when the caller is in their contact list.

Innovation Solution

A method where both terminals associated with different subscriber numbers simultaneously send a signal identifying an incoming call, allowing the user to choose which terminal to answer from, with options for the command to be sent by either terminal or management means, and the ability to transfer calls between them if accepted.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user has multiple terminals associated with different subscriber numbers, then the user can receive calls on different devices, but the user may miss incoming calls and lose time in picking up the terminal receiving a call

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall reception capabilityVSAvoidtime to pick up terminal
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by having the second terminal proactively send a signal identifying the incoming call before the user can physically pick up the device. When the first terminal receives a call, it automatically instructs the second terminal to transmit an identifying signal (visual, acoustic, or haptic) so the user is notified immediately regardless of which terminal they are holding, eliminating the time loss associated with checking multiple devices manually

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If only one terminal transmits the incoming call signal, then the system remains simple, but the user cannot be notified through multiple devices simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall notification coverageVSAvoidsignal transmission coordination
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses an intermediary approach where the first terminal acts as the primary receiver and automatically generates control instructions to be sent to the second terminal. This intermediary mechanism (the control instruction transmission system) coordinates the signal transmission across multiple terminals without requiring complex manual intervention, enabling comprehensive notification while maintaining manageable system complexity through automated protocol

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2445186B1Method and system for processing an incoming call and computer program
Publication Date: 2013.12.04 ORANGE SA
  • EP2445186B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2445186B1 patent drawingFigure 3
  • EP2445186B1 patent drawingFigure 4a~4b

AI summary

When a first terminal associated with a first subscriber number receives an incoming call, a second terminal associated with a second subscriber number different from the first subscriber number implements (E6) a command to emit a signal identifying the incoming call, so that the first and second terminals simultaneously emit a signal identifying the incoming call.