User-Controlled Voicemail Routing via TV Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing voicemail systems in telephones often route calls to voicemail after a fixed number of rings, which can be insufficient for users to reach their phone, leading to decreased usability and increased user frustration.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to control the routing of incoming calls to voicemail, enabling them to delay or expedite the process through a television or mobile interface, stopping ringing, and selecting answer messages, providing flexibility in managing incoming calls.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Extent of automation
If the telephone rings a fixed number of times before routing to voicemail, then the voicemail system operates automatically without user intervention, but the user cannot control the timing and may miss the call or experience frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to programmatically configure voicemail routing parameters themselves through a telecom system interface. Users can set preferences for when calls should be routed to voicemail versus when to ring the telephone, enabling self-service control over call management behavior without requiring manual intervention for each call.
Solution Approach 2:
The system transitions from static, fixed-ring-count voicemail routing to dynamic, user-configurable routing behavior. Users can modify routing parameters based on different situations, callers, or times, making the call management system adaptive rather than rigid.
2Loss of time
If the telephone rings multiple times before voicemail, then the system gives users time to reach their phone, but the default fixed number of rings is often insufficient and causes user frustration
Solution Approach 1:
The system allows users to change the parameter of ring count before voicemail routing. Instead of a fixed number of rings, users can configure different ring counts or time durations based on their needs, transforming a rigid parameter into a flexible, user-adjustable setting.
Solution Approach 2:
Users pre-configure their call routing preferences in advance through the telecom system interface. This preliminary configuration allows the system to automatically apply the appropriate routing behavior when calls come in, eliminating the need for users to manually adjust settings for each call while ensuring the settings match their preferences.
3Ease of operation
If the system provides fixed voicemail routing, then the system is simple to operate, but it decreases usability when users need flexible control over incoming calls
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides self-service capabilities where users can independently configure and modify their call routing preferences through an interface. This maintains operational simplicity while adding flexibility, as users only need to interact with the system when they want to change settings, and the system handles automatic routing based on their preferences otherwise.
Data Source
AI summary
In accordance with one or more aspects, a notification of an incoming phone call is received from a phone system. An indication of the incoming phone call is presented to a user, and the user can control the incoming phone call in different manners. The user can request to delay routing the incoming phone call to voicemail, to route the incoming phone call to voicemail without further delay, and to stop ringing of one or more phone handsets of the phone system. One or more of these control requests can be input by the user via a mobile phone and/or a television system.