Automated Voice Call Answering-Party Identification Through Acoustic Analysis

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems are unable to determine whether an automated voice call has been answered by a customer, a person who is not the customer, and/or an automated voicemail service, often providing sensitive information to the wrong recipient.

Innovation Solution

A system that analyzes audio data from the call, detects audible rings and utterances, compares them to historical and stored data to identify whether the call was answered by a voicemail service or a person, and outputs appropriate recordings based on the determination.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If automated voice calls are used to contact customers, then productivity is improved, but reliability deteriorates because the system cannot determine whether the call was answered by the customer, a person who is not the customer, or a voicemail service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomated voice call efficiencyVSAvoidcall answer identification accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces manual verification methods with acoustic analysis. The system automatically analyzes audio data from telephone calls to detect ring tones and greetings, substituting human judgment with machine-based acoustic pattern recognition to identify whether the call was answered by the customer, another person, or voicemail service

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces audio data analysis as an intermediary between the automated calling system and the customer. By detecting and analyzing acoustic signals (ring tones, greetings) in the audio data, the system creates an intermediate verification layer that identifies the answering party without requiring direct human intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Productivity

If sensitive information is provided through automated calls, then productivity is improved, but object-affected harmful factors increase because information may be provided to unauthorized recipients

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation delivery efficiencyVSAvoidinformation security risk

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies preliminary anti-action by identifying the answering party before delivering sensitive information. The system analyzes audio data to detect ring tones and greetings, determining whether the customer is present before proceeding with information delivery, thereby preventing unauthorized access to sensitive data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #9Preliminary anti-action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent implements feedback by using the results of audio analysis to control information delivery. The system analyzes acoustic patterns in the audio data, receives feedback about the answering party's identity, and uses this feedback to determine whether to deliver sensitive information, thereby ensuring secure information distribution

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS12452373B2Systems for identifying the answering party of an automated voice call

Publication Date: 2025.10.21 CAPITAL ONE SERVICES LLC

AI summary

Disclosed herein are systems and methods for determining whether an automated telephone call has been answered by a particular user, a different person, or a voicemail service. In response to determining that the call has been answered by the user, a different person, or a voicemail service, the systems and methods can output different respective messages, initiate messaging to the user via alternate communication paths, or perform other actions.