Synthetic Communication Network for Phone Number Verification
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing Short Messaging Service (SMS) system is limited by proprietary control, high costs, and restricted features, with users facing charges for each message sent, especially for international messages, and lacks competitive alternatives.
Innovation Solution
A synthetic communication network verifies phone number associations and allows reuse of phone numbers for data communication, enabling features beyond traditional SMS through a data network, offering competitive pricing and feature-rich text messaging by bypassing voice network limitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If traditional SMS service is used for text messaging, then phone numbers can be reused for communication, but users face high costs especially for international messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a synthetic communication network as an intermediary layer between the voice network and data communication. This intermediary enables phone numbers to be reused for data communication without relying on the traditional SMS gateway, thereby reducing costs especially for international messaging while maintaining phone number reuse capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the traditional mechanical SMS gateway mechanism with a synthetic communication network that uses data channels. This substitution eliminates the need for SMS gateway routing and enables direct data communication, reducing per-message costs while allowing phone number reuse.
2Ease of operation
If SMS communication is used, then simple text messaging is available, but the system is closed and proprietary with limited features
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the communication system universal by allowing the same infrastructure to support both voice communication and data communication. The synthetic communication network enables phone numbers to serve multiple purposes (voice and data), thereby expanding messaging features while maintaining simplicity through a unified system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds a new dimension to communication by introducing data communication capabilities alongside traditional voice communication. This dimensional expansion allows the system to provide rich messaging features, file transfers, and other data-based services while maintaining the simplicity of phone number-based communication.
3Adaptability or versatility
If SMS is used for communication, then existing phone numbers can be utilized, but message transmission is limited to 140 characters
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the SMS gateway mechanism with a synthetic communication network that uses data channels for message transmission. This substitution eliminates the 140-character limitation inherent in SMS while maintaining phone number utilization, enabling unlimited message lengths through data-based communication.
4Reliability
If verification messages are sent through voice network data channels, then phone number association can be confirmed, but the process adds complexity to network operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service verification where the phone device itself sends and receives verification messages through its existing data channel capabilities. This self-service approach confirms phone number association without requiring complex server-side verification processes, thereby improving reliability while minimizing network operation complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
Aspects of the present invention confirm that a phone number is associated with a particular phone. The phone number is confirmed to be associated with the phone by causing the phone to transmit a verification message addressed to that phone number. Receipt by the phone of the verification message confirms that the number is associated with that phone. Another aspect of the invention concerns updating the status of phones in a status list of phone numbers on a phone by sending the status list and updated status of the phone to a network server. The server monitors the status of at least one of the phones in the status list and transmits that status to the phone, which updated status is then displayed in a display area of the phone.