Automated VoIP Phone Number Detection via PBAP

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Solution Overview

Problem

In enterprise environments, users face challenges in efficiently identifying and connecting to a nearby VoIP phone, especially in shared office settings where phone numbers are dynamically assigned and may change frequently, leading to delays and productivity losses due to manual retrieval of phone numbers.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an extended Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) protocol using wireless communication protocols like Bluetooth and Near Field Communication (NFC) to automatically detect and retrieve the phone number of a nearby VoIP phone, enabling seamless connection to virtual meetings without manual input.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual retrieval of phone numbers is used to connect to VoIP phones, then connection can be established, but time consumption and productivity are reduced due to frequent number changes and manual lookup requirements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection speedVSAvoidtime for manual phone number retrieval

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting nearby VoIP phones and retrieving their phone numbers before the user needs to connect. The mobile device proactively scans for available VoIP phones in the vicinity and pre-loads the necessary connection information, so when the user wants to connect, the phone number is already available without manual lookup.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the mobile device to automatically detect, identify, and retrieve phone numbers of nearby VoIP phones without requiring manual intervention. The device autonomously performs the entire process of finding available phones, selecting the appropriate one, and obtaining its current phone number through automated protocols.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If phone numbers are dynamically assigned to VoIP phones, then adaptability and resource utilization are improved, but detection precision and reliability of connection are reduced due to frequent number changes

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvephone number assignment flexibilityVSAvoidphone number accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by establishing a real-time or near-real-time connection between the mobile device and the VoIP phone through automated protocols. The mobile device queries the VoIP phone's current status and retrieves the most up-to-date phone number, ensuring that the information used for connection is current and accurate despite dynamic reassignments.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary verification by checking the current phone number assignment before initiating connection. By automatically detecting and retrieving the current phone number right before connection is needed, the system ensures that the most accurate and current information is used, overcoming the issue of stale or incorrect number information.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Ease of operation

If automated detection and retrieval of phone numbers is implemented, then ease of operation and productivity are improved, but device complexity and implementation difficulty increase due to requiring extended protocols and wireless communication capabilities

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic phone number detectionVSAvoidextended PBAP protocol implementation

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves universality by implementing the extended PBAP protocol that allows a single mobile device to perform multiple functions: detecting nearby devices, identifying VoIP phones, retrieving phone numbers, and initiating connections. This multi-functional approach consolidates what would otherwise require separate systems into one integrated solution, making the added complexity worthwhile through significant operational simplification for the end user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS9894689B2System, method, and logic for identifying devices for a virtual meeting session

Publication Date: 2018.02.13 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

Example systems, methods, and logic are provided herein for detecting a numerical identifier of an endpoint. In one example, a connectivity manager establishes a wireless communication session with a fixed endpoint using a wireless communication protocol. The connectivity manager module then generates a Phone Book Access Profile (PBAP) request to download a phone number associated with the fixed endpoint. The connectivity manager module receives, via the wireless communication session, a PBAP response comprising a phone number identifying the fixed endpoint and inputs the phone number identifying the fixed endpoint into a field used for initiating a call to the fixed endpoint.