Voicemail Backup via Active Call Audio Streaming
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face the loss of voice and text messages when their mobile device is lost, stolen, or unable to access messages stored by telecommunications services, as these messages are not persistently backed up independently of the device or service.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that initiates an active telephone call to a voicemail server, records the voicemail message as part of the audio stream, and streams it to a remote system for backup, allowing messages to be accessed independently of the original device or service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If messages are stored only on the mobile device or telecommunications service, then device/service integration is maintained, but messages are lost when the device is lost, stolen, or the service quota is reached
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a backup service as an intermediary system between the mobile device and the telecommunications service. This backup service receives messages from both sources and stores them independently, allowing users to access messages through multiple channels. The intermediary backup service resolves the contradiction by providing message availability without requiring direct integration with either the device or the telecommunications service, thus maintaining reliability while managing system complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent segments the message storage system into three independent components: the mobile device, the telecommunications service, and the backup service. Each component stores messages independently, and the backup service specifically stores copies of messages received from the other two sources. This segmentation allows message availability to be maintained even if one component fails, while the overall system complexity is managed through clear separation of functions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If a separate backup service is introduced, then independent message access is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The backup service is designed with multi-functionality to manage system complexity. It serves multiple purposes: receiving messages from both the mobile device and telecommunications service, storing messages independently, and providing access to users through various interfaces (mobile application, web interface). This universal design allows the backup service to handle diverse access requirements while maintaining a single, manageable system architecture.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup service creates copies of messages received from the mobile device and telecommunications service. Instead of requiring complex real-time synchronization or direct access to the original storage systems, the backup service makes replicated copies of messages and stores them independently. This copying approach enables message access independence while simplifying the backup service architecture by avoiding complex integrations with the original storage systems.
3Duration of action of stationary object
If messages are backed up to a remote system, then message retention is improved, but data transmission requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The backup service performs preliminary actions by establishing message copies in advance and storing them independently. Messages are proactively backed up to the remote system before they are needed, rather than retrieving them on-demand from the original sources. This preliminary backup approach ensures long-term message retention while reducing the energy required for data transmission during message access, as the messages are already locally available in the backup system.
Solution Approach 2:
The backup service creates and stores copies of messages in a remote system with extended retention capabilities. By maintaining independent copies rather than requiring continuous access to the original device or service, the system achieves long-term message retention. The copying mechanism reduces ongoing data transmission energy requirements, as messages can be retrieved from the local backup storage without needing to transmit data back to the original sources.
Data Source
AI summary
Message backup, in which a method initiates establishment of an active telephone call to a voicemail server of a telecommunications service, the voicemail server storing a voicemail message; receives an audio stream from the voicemail server during the active telephone call, the audio stream being part of the active telephone call, wherein the voicemail message is played back as part of the audio stream; initiates recording of at least a portion of the audio stream of the active telephone call, the portion of the audio stream comprising the voicemail message; and streams the portion of the audio stream from the computer system to a remote system.