Automatic Telephone Number Prefix Adjustment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Inaccurate phone numbers due to missing or incorrect dialing prefixes can lead to failed call attempts when exchanging contact information between electronic devices, requiring significant user effort to identify and enter the appropriate prefix.
Innovation Solution
Implementing techniques to automatically adjust telephone numbers by adding, removing, or modifying country codes, area codes, or other prefixes based on the location associated with the sending or receiving device, using service provider information or SIM card data, to ensure accurate dialing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If phone numbers are exchanged without automatic prefix adjustment, then the exchange process is simple and direct, but the phone numbers may be inaccurate leading to failed call attempts
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically determines and adds the appropriate dialing prefix by analyzing the recipient's location information derived from their phone number, eliminating the need for user intervention. The device serves itself by autonomously correcting the phone number format based on location data.
Solution Approach 2:
The dialing prefix is added in advance during the contact information exchange process, before the actual call is placed. This preliminary adjustment ensures the phone number is correctly formatted with the appropriate prefix, preventing call failures without requiring user action at the time of calling.
2Productivity
If manual prefix entry is required, then users have control over the dialing process, but significant time and effort are wasted identifying and entering the correct prefix
Solution Approach 1:
The automatic prefix determination system performs the task of identifying and adding the correct dialing prefix without user involvement, significantly reducing the time and effort required for call setup. The system uses the recipient's location information to automatically select the appropriate prefix.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary process that automatically analyzes the recipient's phone number to determine their location and infer the appropriate dialing prefix. This intermediary step bridges the gap between raw contact information and properly formatted dialable numbers.
3Reliability
If location-based prefix adjustment is implemented, then phone numbers are automatically corrected, but additional processing steps are required
Solution Approach 1:
The system leverages the existing phone number data that users already have in their contact lists to perform multiple functions: identifying the recipient, determining their location, and inferring the appropriate dialing prefix. This universal use of existing data minimizes the need for additional input from users.
Solution Approach 2:
The manual mechanical process of users looking up and entering dialing codes is replaced with an automated electronic system that programmatically determines the prefix based on location analysis of the recipient's phone number, reducing operational complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A telephone number is automatically adjusted in the context a business card or other telephone number exchange. The country code, area code, or other prefix portion is added, removed, or modified based on a location associated with the telephone number and/or a location associated with the recipient. In one example, a sending device looks up location information by contacting the service provider, using locally-stored information, or otherwise, and, based on this information, includes an appropriate prefix. The sending device can also use a location associated with the recipient in determining an appropriate prefix or adjusting a received prefix, for example, based on the recipient's own telephone number. Adjustments to telephone numbers can also be made by recipient devices, intermediary devices, and any other devices that may be involved in the exchange of telephone numbers, business card information, or related activities, and in other contexts as well.