We propose NoboCall, an automatic, crowd sourced illegal robocall blocking system. NoboCall integrates three key ideas: realtime blacklisting, crowd sourcing, and audio analysis. NoboCall's server maintains a realtime blacklist of phone numbers and audio features of robocalls reported by callees. NoboCall builds the blacklist from scratch by crowd sourcing: when a callee receives an illegal robocall, she uses her NoboCall client, such as an app on her smartphone, to report the number and audio feature of the call. When a call comes in, the NoboCall client checks the number and audio feature of the call against the blacklist and blocks the call if it finds a match.
NoboCall can block illegal robocalls effectively even if the robocallers spoof their numbers. It can protect all phones: mobile phones, wired lines, and VoIP landlines. We have developed a prototype of our server and an app for smartphones.
We show that it is difficult for robocallers to circumvent NoboCall. It is easy, efficient, satisfying, and fail-safe for consumers to use NoboCall, even for people with disabilities. NoboCall requires no change to existing infrastructure. It requires only a server and one client per each phone (e.g., an app for smartphone). It can be deployed immediately, incrementally, and cheaply.
Log in or sign up for Devpost to join the conversation.