Universal Service Contact Identifier Resolution System

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users of electronic services often need multiple service contact identifiers to access different services, which can be inconvenient and may not allow them to use services without possessing all required identifiers, such as a telephone number for both telephony and payment services.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows users to transmit an arbitrary service contact identifier along with a service identifier, enabling the system to trace and retrieve the necessary service contact identifier, and allowing users to use services based on available identifiers, with optional external service provider triggers and decision algorithms considering user and recipient profiles and requirement lists.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If users possess multiple service contact identifiers to access different services, then service accessibility is improved, but user convenience and system complexity worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal service contact identifier system where a single identifier (such as a telephone number) can be used to access multiple different services (telephony, internet, payment services). The system maintains a mapping between the universal identifier and multiple service-specific identifiers, allowing users to access various services without needing to remember or manage separate contact details for each service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (ENUM system or similar resolution service) that acts as a mediator between the universal service contact identifier and the specific service identifiers. When a user wants to access a service, the system automatically resolves the universal identifier to the appropriate service-specific identifier through this intermediary, eliminating the need for users to directly manage multiple identifiers.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If users possess multiple service contact identifiers to access different services, then service accessibility is improved, but information management complexity worsens

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice accessibilityVSAvoidinformation management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system creates a universal information structure where one service contact identifier maps to multiple service types. This universal structure simplifies information management by providing a single point of reference (the universal identifier) that the system can automatically resolve to any required service-specific information, reducing the burden of managing and tracking multiple separate information sets.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the system requires specific service contact identifiers for service access, then service security and control are improved, but user flexibility and ease of operation worsen

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveservice controlVSAvoiduser flexibility
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary resolution of the universal service contact identifier to the specific service identifier automatically before service access is granted. This preliminary action ensures that the correct service-specific identifier is obtained and validated in advance, maintaining security and control mechanisms while allowing users to simply provide the universal identifier without worrying about obtaining or validating specific service identifiers manually.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2227892B8System and method of retrieving a service contact identifier
Publication Date: 2018.10.17 KONINK KPN NV

AI summary

The invention relates to a system and method of retrieving a service contact identifier for providing a service to a user is proposed. The method is performed in a system comprising at least one server system configured for connecting to a user device of said user. The server system has access to a database comprising at least a first service contact identifier required for providing a first service and a second service contact identifier required for providing a second service. The first service is identified by a first service identifier. The first service contact identifier and second service contact identifier are different service contact identifiers. The first service identifier and a service contact identifier are received from the user device of said user. The first service contact identifier may then be retrieved in dependence of the received first service identifier and the received service contact identifier, irrespective of whether said received service contact identifier is said first service contact identifier or said second service contact identifier.