Distributed Telephony Directory Integration with Phone Functions
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing telephone directory systems require users to manually enter phone numbers for functions like dialing, transferring, or conferencing, which is inconvenient and time-consuming, especially when accessing directories from devices other than phones.
Innovation Solution
A distributed telephony system with a server integrated telephony management software, telephony application programming interface, and application units allows phones to access directories seamlessly, integrating directory functions with dialing, transferring, conferencing, and other phone operations, enabling users to filter and navigate directory entries efficiently.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If users manually enter phone numbers for phone functions, then device complexity is reduced, but productivity decreases and loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the directory access function with the phone's existing function keys (Dial, Transfer, Conference, Pickup, Park, Unpark). When a user selects a directory entry, the system merges the directory lookup result with the selected phone function, automatically populating the phone number field and executing the function. This integration eliminates the need for manual phone number entry and accelerates task completion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements a universal interface where a single directory access mechanism serves multiple phone functions (Dial, Transfer, Conference, Pickup, Park, Unpark). The same directory entry selection process works across different phone functions, providing a multi-functional solution that improves productivity without requiring separate manual entry procedures for each function type.
2Ease of operation
If directory access is integrated with phone functions, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a directory server as an intermediary component that handles the complexity of directory access, storage, and retrieval operations. The phone client communicates with this server through standardized protocols, allowing the complex directory management functionality to be accessed through simple user interactions (selecting an entry and pressing a function key) without exposing the underlying system complexity to the user.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the directory access system into distinct modular components: a phone client interface, a directory server, and function execution modules. Each component handles specific tasks independently, allowing the system to achieve high ease of operation through a simple user interface while managing complexity through modular architecture where each segment can be developed and maintained independently.
3Ease of operation
If filtering capability is added to directory, then ease of operation improves, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements filtering functionality that allows users to pre-specify search criteria (such as name patterns, department, or other directory attributes) before accessing the directory. The system performs preliminary filtering of directory entries based on these criteria, presenting only relevant results to the user. This preliminary action significantly reduces the time and effort needed to locate specific entries, especially in large directories, while the filtering logic is managed as a separate modular component.
Data Source
AI summary
A telephony system is presented that enables a phone to access a directory and use the directory in conjunction with other phone functions. The system includes a server with a telephony management software (TMS) unit, a telephony application programming interface (TAPI) unit, and an application unit. The application unit includes a control module, a function module, a filter module, a presentation module, a phone interface module, and a storage interface module. A server sends a signal to a phone regarding the contents of a directory. A server also enables a user to navigate through the directory, filter the directory, and perform call functions on phone numbers associated with directory entries.