Virtual Phone Number Call Routing via Geo-fence Status Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing virtual phone number systems fail to automatically adjust phone activation status based on user location, leading to incorrect forwarding of incoming calls when the user's schedule changes or they are away from designated phones.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented technique that determines the status of phones associated with a virtual phone number by using a server to receive position information from a mobile phone, indicating crossing of geo-fences, and selectively forwards incoming calls based on the status of each phone, allowing for dynamic activation or deactivation of phones according to the user's location.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If call forwarding is always enabled to all associated phones, then the user can be reached at any time, but calls may be forwarded to incorrect phones when the user's location or schedule changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall forwarding accuracyVSAvoidphone activation flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts phone activation status based on real-time location data. Phones are automatically activated or deactivated depending on whether the user is within geo-fenced areas associated with those phones, enabling the call forwarding system to adapt to changing user locations and schedules without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously receives location information from the user's mobile device and uses this feedback to automatically update the activation status of associated phones. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that call forwarding accuracy is maintained by responding to changes in user location in real-time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual phone activation/deactivation is required when schedule changes, then call forwarding accuracy is maintained, but user convenience and system automation are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall forwarding accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically manages phone activation and deactivation without requiring user intervention. By leveraging the user's own mobile device location data and pre-configured geo-fences, the system self-adjusts call forwarding routes based on whether the user is present at locations associated with specific phones

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The server acts as an intermediary that receives location data from the user's mobile device, determines which phones should be active based on geo-fence calculations, and automatically updates call forwarding status. This intermediary mechanism automates the previously manual task of phone activation/deactivation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple phones are always active for a virtual number, then the user has flexibility in call routing, but system complexity and energy consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall routing flexibilityVSAvoidsystem energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically determines which phones should be active based on real-time location data and geo-fence associations. Instead of keeping all phones continuously active, the system activates only those phones associated with locations where the user is currently present or scheduled to be, reducing unnecessary energy consumption while maintaining call routing flexibility

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9220006B1Techniques for automatically activating or deactivating a phone associated with a virtual phone number

Publication Date: 2015.12.22 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A computer-implemented technique is presented. The technique includes determining, at a server including one or more processors, one or more phones associated with a virtual phone number associated with a user. The technique includes determining, at the server, a location for each of the one or more phones. The technique includes receiving, at the server, position information from a mobile phone associated with the user indicating the user crossed a geo-fence corresponding to a specific location of a specific one of the one or more phones. The technique includes determining, at the server, a status of the specific phone associated with the geo-fence based on a previous status of the specific phone and the position information. The technique further includes selectively forwarding, from the server, an incoming phone call to the virtual phone number to the one or more phones based on their respective statuses.