Telecommunications System Dynamic Blacklist for Unassigned Number Calls
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current systems fail to effectively block unwanted telephone calls from marketers, especially when they change their numbers or call multiple unassigned lines, as blacklisting is not comprehensive and does not prevent calls from other marketers.
Innovation Solution
A telecommunications system that manages a pool of numbers, temporarily blacklists call originators making multiple calls to unassigned numbers, increasing the blacklist time period with each additional unassigned number called, thereby preventing these calls from reaching assigned recipients.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a telecommunications provider places a telephone marketer's number on a blacklist to prevent future calls, then the person called will not receive calls from that marketer, but the blacklisting does not work if the marketer changes their telephone number
Solution Approach 1:
The system transitions from tracking marketers by their current telephone number (one-dimensional) to tracking by pattern of behavior across multiple dimensions: calling unassigned numbers, calling assigned numbers, and the temporal relationships between these calls. This multi-dimensional tracking enables the system to identify marketers even when they change numbers.
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors call patterns and uses feedback to dynamically update blacklist status. When a number is called that has been previously called (indicating a marketer), the system feeds back this information to extend or renew the blacklist period, creating an adaptive blocking mechanism that learns from repeated behavior.
2Reliability
If a telecommunications provider checks a blacklist before routing calls to prevent unwanted calls, then calls from blacklisted numbers are blocked, but such blacklisting does not prevent the person from receiving telephone calls from other telephone marketers
Solution Approach 1:
The system serves multiple functions simultaneously: it routes legitimate calls to assigned numbers, identifies marketers by their calling patterns (both to unassigned and assigned numbers), updates blacklist status, and blocks unwanted calls. This multi-functionality is achieved through a single integrated facility that processes all call types through unified logic.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically identifies marketers and updates blacklist status without requiring manual intervention. The monitoring facility self-updates blacklist periods based on detected calling patterns, and the system self-manages the distinction between unassigned and assigned numbers, eliminating the need for external management.
3Reliability
If a person instructs their telecommunications provider to block future calls from a marketer, then the provider places the marketer's number on a blacklist, but the blacklisting may not prevent other persons from receiving telephone calls from the telephone marketer
Solution Approach 1:
The system simultaneously protects individual callers by blocking their specific marketer while also preventing the marketer from reaching other unassigned numbers in the pool. The same monitoring and blacklist update mechanism serves both individual and collective protection needs.
Solution Approach 2:
The system takes preliminary action by monitoring and detecting when a marketer calls unassigned numbers, then proactively extends or renews blacklist periods before the marketer can successfully reach other targets. This preventive approach stops unwanted calls before they occur.
Data Source
AI summary
A facility for blocking telephone calls is described. The facility is implemented by a telecommunications system that manages assigned and unassigned telephone numbers. The facility determines that a call originator has made two telephone calls to two different unassigned telephone numbers. The facility adds the call originator to a blacklist for a default time period. If the call originator calls any managed telephone number during the default time period, the facility renews the default time period. After the default time period expires, if the call originator makes additional telephone calls to other unassigned telephone numbers, the facility adds the call originator to the blacklist for a time period that is increased from the default time period. The facility increases the time period with each additional call to an unassigned telephone number. Accordingly, the time period is a function of the number of unassigned telephone numbers called by the call originator.