Automatic Telephone Number Detection and Context Storage

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing computer technologies lack the capability to effectively identify, highlight, and provide functionality for telephone numbers across various types of computer documents, limiting user interaction and context-based storage.

Innovation Solution

A method for automatically detecting telephone numbers in any computer document, highlighting them, and providing context information, allowing users to perform actions such as calling, saving, or forwarding numbers with enhanced context details.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If telephone number detection and highlighting functionality is added to computer documents, then user interaction capability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser interaction capabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the document processing functionality by introducing a separate telephone number detection module that operates independently from the main document rendering engine. This module identifies phone numbers and associates them with context information, allowing the core document system to remain unchanged while adding interaction capabilities through a plugin or add-in architecture.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between the document display and user interaction systems. This intermediary component captures context information (such as surrounding text, document type, and location) and bridges it with telephone number detection, enabling enhanced user interaction without requiring direct modification of the core document handling systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If context information is collected and stored with telephone numbers, then information value is improved, but loss of time increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation valueVSAvoidtime for collecting context

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by collecting and storing context information associated with telephone numbers as the document is being processed or displayed. Rather than collecting context information only when needed, the system proactively captures surrounding text, document metadata, and location information in advance, making it immediately available for user actions without causing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If telephone number functionality is provided across all document types, then adaptability is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveadaptability to document typesVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal telephone number detection and interaction system that works across multiple document types (word processing files, markup language documents, database records, graphics files, audio/video files). The same core functionality detects and handles phone numbers regardless of the document format, achieving multi-functionality through a unified approach that reduces overall system complexity despite the broad adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8656274B2Automatic identification and storage of context information associated with phone numbers in computer documents

Publication Date: 2014.02.18 AVAYA INC

AI summary

Telephone numbers are identified and highlighted on any computer document being loaded into a graphical user interface (GUI) for viewing by a user. The user may click on any particular highlighted telephone number in the computer document while displayed in the GUI window in order to store the telephone number together with any desired context information associated therewith.