Caller ID Management Over PSTN Networks
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems fail to provide satisfactory caller identification over a public switched telephone network, especially when calls are forwarded from a work or office phone to a personal cell phone, leading to confusion and potential customer dissatisfaction, and VOIP calls offer diminished quality compared to PSTN calls.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow a processor to identify calls between devices, send notifications with caller identification, and receive responses, enabling multiple phones to display the same caller ID for outbound calls and informing recipients about forwarded calls, using a server to manage caller ID and call forwarding over the PSTN.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If calls are forwarded from a work or office phone to a personal cell phone, then the caller can reach the recipient outside of office hours, but the recipient experiences confusion about the caller's identity due to caller ID display issues
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the calling device and the recipient device. This server intercepts the call, retrieves the original caller ID information, and forwards it to the recipient device along with the call notification. This mediator resolves the information loss by ensuring the recipient receives accurate caller identity even when the call is forwarded through multiple devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring call forwarding rules and storing caller ID information before the actual call occurs. When a call is forwarded, the system has already prepared the caller identification data, allowing it to be immediately presented to the recipient without delay or confusion.
2Loss of information
If VOIP is used to provide forwarded telephone calls with complete information, then caller identification is improved, but call quality is diminished and choppy compared to PSTN calls
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the communication into two separate channels: the voice call itself travels over the reliable PSTN network, while the caller identification information is transmitted separately through the server infrastructure. This segmentation allows each channel to use the most appropriate transmission method, preserving voice quality while ensuring accurate information delivery.
Solution Approach 2:
The server acts as an intermediary that handles information transmission separately from the voice call path. By mediating the caller ID information delivery independently from the voice stream, the system avoids the quality issues associated with VOIP while still providing complete caller identification information.
3Loss of information
If a mobile device displays the personal mobile number as caller ID, then the recipient can identify the caller, but the caller's privacy is compromised and opportunities are lost
Solution Approach 1:
The server serves as a privacy-protecting intermediary that masks the caller's personal mobile number. Instead of displaying the actual personal number, the server presents alternative caller ID information (such as work phone number or company name) that the recipient can use to identify the caller without exposing the caller's private mobile number.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a copy of the caller identification information that is different from the actual personal mobile number. This copied or alternative caller ID is what gets displayed to the recipient, allowing the caller to maintain privacy while still providing sufficient identification for the recipient.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method of providing caller identification (ID) over a public switched telephone network (PSTN). For outbound calls, the system and method enable a caller to provide a caller ID that differs from the native caller ID of their mobile phone. The system and method enable multiple phones tied to a single account to display the same caller ID for outbound calls. For forwarded inbound calls, such as calls being forwarded from an office, the system and method inform the recipient of the identification of the call as well as that the call is being forwarded. The system and method enable the recipient to have calls forwarded from more than one number and identify the identity of the caller as well as the specific number the call is being forwarded from.