Voice Call Transfer via Intermediary Server

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users often miss important phone calls due to their phones being out of reach or in unreachable locations, and existing call transfer services are either charge-based or ineffective for those without additional devices, and they lack transparency regarding missed calls.

Innovation Solution

A voice communications method that allows a first electronic device to initiate a call to a second device, which notifies a third device if the second device is unresponsive, enabling the third device to receive and decode the call, allowing users to answer on any available device over a local area network or internet, with encoding and decoding of voices for seamless transfer.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If phone call transfer service is provided from one phone to another phone, then user can answer call on different device, but fees are usually charged for this service

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall transfer capabilityVSAvoidcommunication cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary component that enables call transfer between devices. The server receives call information from the first device, transmits it to the second device, and facilitates the call connection without requiring direct peer-to-peer communication, thereby enabling cost-effective call transfer through network infrastructure utilization

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If phone call transfer service is provided, then user can answer call on different device, but some people may not have other phones to which phone calls may be transferred

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall transfer capabilityVSAvoiddevice requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent enables any electronic device with communication capabilities (smartphones, tablets, computers) to function as a call answer device. The system is designed to work with multiple types of devices rather than requiring specific hardware, allowing users to answer calls on whichever device is conveniently available to them at the time

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If user calls back after missed call, then user can communicate with caller, but the extension of phone number cannot be displayed

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall retry capabilityVSAvoidphone number information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system provides feedback information to the user by displaying the caller's phone number extension and other call details on the device interface. This feedback mechanism allows users to see exactly who called and their contact information, enabling informed decisions about whether to retry the call without requiring manual dialing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Ease of operation

If user calls back after missed call, then user can communicate with caller, but people may wonder if they need to call back because the missed phone calls may be unwanted calls

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecall retry capabilityVSAvoidcall intent information

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentUS8804922B2Voice communications method

Publication Date: 2014.08.12 ARCSOFT CORP LTD

AI summary

A first electronic device makes a phone call to a second electronic device. The second electronic device issues an incoming call notification to a third electronic device. The third electronic device sends a response to the second electronic device. The second electronic device answers the phone call. The first electronic device sends first voice to the second electronic device. The second electronic device transfers the first voice to the third electronic device. The third electronic device plays the first voice. The third electronic device transfers second voice to the second electronic device. The second electronic device sends the second voice to the first electronic device.