Predictive Dialler for International Number Formatting

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users, especially new users, face difficulties in selecting the correct format for dialing phone numbers, particularly international numbers, when using peer-to-peer telephone systems like SKYPE, due to the complexity of formatting rules across different countries.

Innovation Solution

A predictive dialler component is implemented that displays a menu of country options, recalls formatting rules for the selected country, and prepends the appropriate country prefix to the local number, generating a formatted number for voice communication.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users manually select country formats and dial international numbers, then communication versatility is improved, but user complexity and error rate increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication versatilityVSAvoiduser complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by automatically detecting the user's location and pre-configuring the correct country code and formatting rules before the user needs to make a call. The predictive dialler component proactively applies the appropriate international formatting based on pre-stored country codes and rules, eliminating the need for users to manually select country formats or understand complex dialing rules.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Manufacturing precision

If the system provides detailed country formatting options, then number formatting accuracy is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber formatting accuracyVSAvoidease of operation

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements self-service by having the predictive dialler component automatically handle number formatting without requiring user intervention. The system detects the destination country, retrieves the appropriate formatting rules from stored data, and applies the correct country code and format automatically. Users simply need to enter the local number, and the system takes care of the complex formatting tasks autonomously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Adaptability or versatility

If users manually format international numbers, then control over number format is improved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over number formatVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary action by pre-storing country codes, formatting rules, and dialing patterns in the predictive dialler component before users need to make international calls. When a user initiates a call, the system quickly retrieves and applies the pre-configured formatting information, significantly reducing the time users would otherwise spend researching and manually formatting international numbers.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS10742819B2Dialling phone numbers

Publication Date: 2020.08.11 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Method and apparatus for effecting a voice communication between user terminals connected via a communication network include displaying a menu of country options to a user and receiving a number in local form. Formatting rules are recalled for a destination country selected by the user from the country options. A country prefix for the destination country is prepended to the number in accordance with the formatting rules to generate a formatted number. The formatted number is supplied to a client installed at the user terminal for effecting the voice communication using the formatted number.