Social Network Caller Identification for Private Voice Communication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing voice communication systems in social networks lack the ability to provide contextual information about the caller without disclosing the caller's telephone number, leading to user reluctance in accepting calls from masked numbers.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that associates communication identifiers with social network identifiers, allowing a server to send application notifications to communication terminals with contextual information, such as social network identifiers and images, enabling users to decide on voice communications without revealing their telephone numbers.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If the caller's telephone number is displayed to the called party, then the called party has complete information about the caller, but the caller's confidentiality and privacy are compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the telephone number from the caller identification information displayed to the called party. Instead of showing the complete telephone number, the system displays only the social network identifier (e.g., username or profile name), thereby providing sufficient caller information while protecting the caller's privacy by removing the sensitive telephone number component.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary between the caller and called party. This server manages the association between social network identifiers and telephone numbers, and controls what information is revealed during call setup. The server acts as a mediator that provides caller identification through social network profiles without directly exposing the telephone number to the called party.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the caller's telephone number is masked, then the caller's privacy is protected, but the called party lacks contextual information to decide whether to accept the call
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses social network identifiers (such as usernames, profile names, or avatar images) as substitutes or copies of the telephone number for identification purposes. These social network identifiers serve as alternative representations that provide contextual information about the caller without revealing the actual telephone number, thereby maintaining privacy while preserving information utility.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the social network identifier serve multiple functions: it acts as both a privacy-protecting mask for the telephone number and as a source of contextual information about the caller. The same social network profile that identifies the caller also provides background information (such as user profile data, mutual connections, or communication history) that helps the called party make informed decisions about accepting the call.
3Loss of information
If a server manages the association between communication identifiers and social network identifiers, then contextual information can be provided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the existing server perform additional functions by associating it with both communication networks and social networks. This server handles both traditional telecommunication operations and social network identifier management, thereby providing contextual information without requiring a completely separate system. The server's multi-functionality reduces overall system complexity compared to having independent systems for each function.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the communication network infrastructure with the social network infrastructure through a unified server system. By combining the identifier management functions of both networks in a single server, the system avoids the complexity of maintaining separate systems for communication and social networking, while still enabling the exchange of contextual information between callers and called parties.
Data Source
AI summary
For the purpose of managing a voice communication service in a communication network between a first and at least a second communication terminal, the first and second communication terminals have respective communication identifiers in the communication network. The first and second communication identifiers are associated, at least at a server, with first and second social network identifiers of a social network. A communication request is received, indicating at least the first and second social network identifiers; subsequently, the second communication identifier is identified from the second social network identifier received in the communication request; and, finally, an application notification is transmitted to the second communication terminal on the basis of the second communication identifier. The application notification indicates the first social network identifier.