Visual Indicator for Communication Suspension Status
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users on hold during voice calls are often unaware of the suspension status without audible indicators, requiring them to continuously listen for resumption, which is inconvenient and disruptive.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a visual indicator system that detects suspension and resumption of audio communications, using illuminated lights or graphical elements on endpoint devices, triggered by messages or audio analysis, to notify users visually.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If audible indicators (e.g., on-hold music) are used to indicate suspension, then users are notified of the suspension status, but users must continuously listen to the call device to recognize when suspension ends, which is inconvenient and disruptive
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the acoustic indication system with a visual indication system. Instead of using audible indicators like on-hold music that require users to listen, the system uses visual indicators (LED lights, display graphics) to communicate suspension status. This substitution eliminates the need for continuous listening while maintaining effective status notification.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the sensory parameter from acoustic to visual. By transforming the indication modality from sound-based to light-based, the system allows users to perceive suspension status through vision rather than hearing, enabling them to glance at the device rather than continuously monitor audio output.
2Reliability
If users continuously listen for audible indicators to detect suspension resumption, then they can recognize when communication can proceed, but this requires maintaining attention to the call device which disrupts other activities
Solution Approach 1:
The patent substitutes acoustic monitoring with visual monitoring. Users can quickly glance at a visual indicator (LED or display) to detect suspension status changes, which takes significantly less time and cognitive attention than continuously listening for audio cues. This reduces the time users must dedicate to monitoring call status.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of requiring continuous monitoring, the visual indicator system allows for periodic checking. Users can casually glance at the device periodically to check suspension status, rather than maintaining constant auditory attention. The indicator remains visible and provides reliable status information on demand.
3Device complexity
If only audible indicators are used for suspension notification, then the system maintains simple implementation, but users cannot easily monitor status without active listening which affects privacy and convenience
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enhances the endpoint device by adding visual indication capabilities that serve multiple functions. The same visual indicator system can communicate various call states (active, suspended, transferred), providing universal status communication across different call scenarios without requiring separate indication mechanisms.
Solution Approach 2:
The visual indicator acts as an intermediary between the call system and the user. Instead of directly using audible indicators that require user engagement through listening, the visual indicator mediates status communication in a way that is passive, glanceable, and does not require active user participation or attention to audio output.
Data Source
AI summary
The technology disclosed herein enables an endpoint system to present a visual indicator that user communications have been suspended. In a particular embodiment, a method includes exchanging audio user communications for the communication between the first endpoint system and a second endpoint system. At the first endpoint system, the method includes determining that the second endpoint system caused a suspension of the audio user communications and providing a first visual indicator of the suspension.