Phone Number Reachability Scoring System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Identifying an accurate and up-to-date phone number associated with a specific individual is challenging due to multiple phone numbers being linked to a person across different contexts, such as landlines, cellular phones, and previous residences, and existing methods lack a systematic approach to determine the likelihood of reaching the individual by calling a particular number.
Innovation Solution
A computer-implemented method and system that scores phone numbers based on their type, usage history, and associated data sources, using personally identifiable information to query public and private databases, and calculate a reachability score, which indicates the likelihood of successfully contacting the individual.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If multiple phone numbers are collected from public and private databases, then the quantity of phone numbers associated with a subject increases, but the difficulty of determining which number is accurate and up-to-date increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual evaluation of phone number accuracy with an automated computer-implemented scoring system. The system queries multiple databases, extracts phone numbers, determines phone types, and calculates reachability scores automatically, eliminating the need for human judgment in evaluating which number is current.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transforms the qualitative assessment of phone number accuracy into a quantitative reachability score. By assigning numerical values based on phone type, data source reliability, and other factors, the system converts the difficult-to-measure concept of 'accuracy' into a comparable numerical parameter.
2Measurement precision
If phone numbers are classified by type and scored for reachability, then the precision of identifying the correct number improves, but the complexity of the system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the phone number evaluation process into distinct components: querying databases, extracting phone numbers, determining phone types (residential, cellular, business, etc.), and calculating reachability scores. This modular approach manages complexity by breaking down the overall task into manageable, independent steps.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a computer system as an intermediary between the databases and the final identification of the correct phone number. This intermediary automatically processes the data, applies scoring rules, and produces results, simplifying the interaction for users while handling the computational complexity internally.
3Measurement precision
If databases are queried with personally identifiable information, then the accuracy of phone number association improves, but the risk of information security issues increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts only the necessary personally identifiable information (name and address) from user input and uses it to query databases for phone number information. The system processes and then discards the PII, retaining only the anonymized phone number data and reachability scores, thereby minimizing the retention and exposure of sensitive personal information.
Data Source
AI summary
Certain implementations of the disclosed technology include systems and methods for determining a reachability score of a phone number. A method includes receiving personally identifiable information associated with the subject; querying one or more public or private databases with the personally identifiable information; receiving, in response to the querying, phone number information related to the personally identifiable information; extracting, from the phone number information, one or more phone numbers associated with the subject; determining, with one or more computer processors, based at least in part on the one or more phone numbers, a phone type corresponding to the respective one or more phone numbers; determining, with the one or more computer processors, a reachability score for at least one of the one or more phone numbers, wherein the reachability score is based, at least in part, on the phone type; and outputting an indication of the reachability score.