VoIP Voicemail System for Intercom Notification Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional video intercom systems fail to notify users of access requests when their smartphones are switched off or out of coverage, leading to missed calls and lack of real-time visibility into who is attempting to access the dwelling.

Innovation Solution

A remote and centralized voicemail system with a VoIP communication setup, including an external terminal, an internal receiver terminal, and a push server, which automatically records audio/video messages, sends push notifications, and allows remote access to voicemails via a dynamic dial number, ensuring users are informed of access requests even when their smartphones are inactive or out of range.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the video intercom system uses conventional smartphone notification methods, then users can be notified of access requests in real-time, but users cannot receive notifications when their smartphones are switched off or out of coverage

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification delivery reliabilityVSAvoidcommunication system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a voicemail server as an intermediary component that receives and stores access request notifications when users are unavailable. The system uses a dynamic dial number that routes calls through the VoIP switchboard to the user's dwelling when their smartphone is inactive, ensuring reliable notification delivery through an intermediate storage and forwarding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If the system stores voicemail files locally within the user's dwelling, then privacy is preserved and storage costs are avoided, but remote access to voicemails requires additional infrastructure

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveprivacy preservationVSAvoidremote access infrastructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The VoIP switchboard serves multiple functions: it acts as a communication router for incoming access requests, a voicemail server for storing messages, and a remote access gateway for retrieving voicemails. This multi-functionality enables the system to provide comprehensive services while keeping storage locally for privacy and the switchboard as a universal communication hub.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If the system provides remote access to voicemails through a dynamic dial number, then users can access messages anywhere in the world, but the system requires VoIP switchboard functionality

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveremote access capabilityVSAvoidVoIP switchboard requirement
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the VoIP client and VoIP switchboard functions within the same communication infrastructure. The internal terminal equipped with VoIP client functionality can also serve as a VoIP switchboard, enabling the system to provide remote access capabilities and voicemail services through integrated functionality rather than separate components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3579533B1Remote and centralized voicemail system by means of VOIP calls
Publication Date: 2021.05.12 CAME
  • EP3579533B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3579533B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3579533B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A remote and centralized voicemail system comprising an external terminal for the outside of a dwelling, an internal receiver for the inside of the dwelling and provided with a centralized and remote voicemail for VoIP communication, a cloud server, a push server. When a visitor has made a call from the external terminal and no one has answered from the internal receiver, if the voicemail is active, the internal receiver automatically answers the call by storing the audio message or the video message originating from the external terminal in a voicemail file which is stored in the internal receiver. The system sends a push notification to the user app comprising a dynamic number to be called by means of a VoIP call so as to view and listen to the voicemail file.