Telephone Call Control System with Caller ID Routing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing home and office telephone systems lack the ability to selectively control incoming and outgoing calls, leading to unmanaged call routing and unauthorized long-distance calls, as they cannot differentiate between phone ports or handle caller identification and time-based routing.
Innovation Solution
A system comprising a central processing unit, a database of user-specified instructions, and a caller identification device that allows for selective routing and handling of calls based on caller identity, time, and port permissions, enabling users to control call acceptance, routing, and permissions for incoming and outgoing calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If calls are routed non-selectively to all telephone ports, then all ports receive the call regardless of location or user preference, but the home or office owner cannot control call routing details and experiences unnecessary disturbances
Solution Approach 1:
A central controller acts as an intermediary between the telephone line and multiple telephone ports. The controller receives incoming calls, identifies the calling party using caller ID, and selectively routes calls to appropriate ports based on pre-configured user preferences and current conditions, giving the owner control without requiring complex manual intervention at each port
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates feedback mechanisms where the central controller continuously monitors call status, port availability, and user-defined parameters to dynamically adjust call routing decisions. The system learns from user interactions and automatically refines routing behavior based on feedback about preferred routing patterns and time-based preferences
2Adaptability or versatility
If all ports share a common telephone number, then any port can place calls including long distance calls, but the home owner cannot control which ports are authorized to place calls or incur expenses
Solution Approach 1:
The system assigns different permission levels and characteristics to each telephone port individually. The central controller maintains a database that specifies which ports are authorized to place local calls, which can place long distance calls, and under what conditions. This allows the owner to tailor authorization levels to each specific port's location and usage pattern while maintaining overall system reliability through centralized enforcement
3Loss of information
If caller ID technology is used to identify calling numbers, then the receiving party can know the caller's number and name, but existing systems cannot use this information to selectively route or filter calls based on caller identity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by capturing and storing caller ID information (calling number and name) as soon as a call is received, before the call is routed to any telephone port. The central controller uses this pre-captured information to consult the routing database and determine the appropriate destination port based on the caller's identity, allowing selective routing decisions to be made quickly and efficiently
Solution Approach 2:
The central controller is designed with multi-functionality, serving as a call router, caller ID processor, database manager, and decision-making unit all in one device. This universal component handles multiple tasks including receiving calls, identifying callers, querying routing rules, and directing calls to appropriate ports, reducing the need for separate specialized devices while maximizing the utility of caller ID information
Data Source
AI summary
A system for controlling incoming and/or outgoing calls on a telephone system having a single incoming/outgoing telephone line to which multiple telephone ports are connected. The system includes a database of instructions for processing calls, with the instructions being determined by the line owner. The system also includes a central processing unit for applying one or more of the user-specified instructions to selectively process an incoming or outgoing telephone call. The system may additionally include a caller identification device for identifying incoming caller numbers, and may process incoming calls according to the identity of the caller. The system may also include instructions for processing calls according to the time of day, or other user-specified parameters. Another aspect of the invention provides a method for controlling incoming and/or outgoing telephone calls, using the system and instructions described above.