Temporary Contact Numbers for Caller ID Spoofing Protection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in managing unwanted calls, as existing methods for blocking numbers are ineffective, and there is no reliable way to prevent unwanted callers from reaching their private contact information, with caller identification often providing misleading or spoofed information.

Innovation Solution

Establishing temporary contact numbers linked to a trusted private number, allowing users to control who can contact them and providing accurate caller identification through these temporary numbers, which can be easily managed and revoked.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a user provides their private contact information to establish communication, then communication capability is improved, but privacy protection deteriorates due to exposure to unwanted callers

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidprivacy exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a temporary contact number as an intermediary between the user's private number and external callers. This intermediary allows communication to occur without directly exposing the private number, thus maintaining privacy while enabling communication capability. The temporary number acts as a buffer that can be selectively managed or revoked.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the contact information into two distinct parts: a private number for trusted contacts and a temporary number for public or untrusted domains. This segmentation allows the user to control which number is exposed to whom, thereby protecting privacy while maintaining communication versatility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Reliability

If a user blocks unwanted caller numbers, then call quality is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to constant manual updates required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall qualityVSAvoidmanual update effort

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages the blocking of unwanted callers by monitoring call patterns and identifying spam or telemarketer numbers. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually update blocked number lists, thereby maintaining high call quality while significantly reducing operational effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that automatically detect and respond to unwanted call patterns. By analyzing incoming calls and automatically adding problematic numbers to blocked lists, the system maintains reliable call quality without requiring continuous user intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Loss of information

If caller identification is provided to identify the originator, then information availability is improved, but reliability deteriorates due to spoofing and misleading information

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecaller information availabilityVSAvoidcaller information accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary contact number serves as an intermediary that provides accurate caller identification. Since the temporary number is controlled by the user and not the external caller, it cannot be spoofed. This intermediary provides reliable information about who is calling without being susceptible to caller ID spoofing attacks.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Object-affected harmful factors

If a user requests a new phone number to prevent unwanted calls, then privacy protection is improved, but loss of substance deteriorates due to losing existing contact associations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprivacy protectionVSAvoidcontact associations

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The temporary contact number is designed to be multi-functional, serving both as a public-facing number for new contacts and as a protective layer for the private number. It can be selectively shared with different groups (trusted vs. untrusted domains) and can be revoked or updated without affecting the private number's associations with trusted contacts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS8675836B2System for establishing publicly accessible telephone numbers and methods thereof

Publication Date: 2014.03.18 UNITY LINK LLC

AI summary

This application relates to providing an end user control of temporary numbers established and linked to a trusted phone number using traditional forwarding mechanisms. Temporary phone numbers can be created and assigned to individuals to provide them with a unique point of contact. The temporary numbers are then linked to the individual's private number. The temporary numbers can be shared with individuals and organizations with whom the individual has an interest in communicating with. However, these numbers will often find their way into the hands of third parties with whom the individual has no interest in talking with. When the user simply no longer feels that the numbers are being properly used, the user can remove the temporary numbers linked with their private number so no further calls can be made and routed to their private number. The temporary numbers can be used to uniquely identify the calling party.