Accessibility Calendar Management via Inferred Accommodation Rules

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current computer-implemented calendaring systems fail to automatically detect and accommodate the diverse accessibility needs of meeting attendees, such as wheelchair users, visually impaired individuals, and those with dietary restrictions, without disclosing their needs to others, and lack predictive capabilities for future accommodation requirements based on changing user conditions and facility data.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that analyzes a meeting attendee's actions to determine their accommodation rules and preferences, using facility data to modify meeting requests to ensure accessibility, including location and time assignments, while maintaining user privacy and integrating with building management systems to account for dynamic facility conditions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the system automatically detects and accommodates accessibility needs, then meeting accessibility is improved, but user privacy is compromised

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation of accessibility needsVSAvoiduser privacy

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects accessibility needs and generates accommodation rules without requiring users to manually disclose their conditions. The calendaring system serves itself by inferring needs from facility data and user actions, eliminating the need for users to share private information while still achieving personalized accommodations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces manual disclosure mechanisms with automated detection systems that use facility sensors, movement data, and AI algorithms to infer accessibility needs. This substitution eliminates the need for users to mechanically disclose their conditions while achieving the same accommodation outcome.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Measurement precision

If the system analyzes user actions to determine accommodation rules, then accommodation accuracy is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation rule accuracyVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses a universal analysis framework that processes multiple types of data (facility information, user actions, movement patterns) through a single AI-based rule generation mechanism. This multi-functional approach achieves high accuracy in determining accommodation rules without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system creates a virtual model of the facility and user interactions, copying real-world data into a computational representation. This allows complex analysis of accommodation needs through simulated scenarios without requiring equally complex real-world monitoring systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

3Reliability

If the system modifies meeting requests to conform to accommodation rules, then accessibility compliance is improved, but scheduling flexibility is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaccommodation complianceVSAvoidscheduling flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts meeting schedules and locations based on real-time and historical data about user needs and facility conditions. Accommodation rules are not fixed but adapt to changing user conditions, facility availability, and scheduling constraints, maintaining both compliance and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes multiple scheduling parameters (time, location, duration) simultaneously to satisfy accommodation rules while maintaining overall scheduling flexibility. By optimizing across multiple parameters rather than fixing single constraints, the system achieves compliance without excessive rigidity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

4Measurement precision

If the system integrates with building management systems, then facility condition accuracy is improved, but integration complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvefacility condition data accuracyVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary layer between building management systems and the calendaring system. This intermediary consolidates and standardizes facility data from multiple sources, reducing integration complexity while maintaining data accuracy through a unified interface and data normalization process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS11334853B2Accessibility based calendar management

Publication Date: 2022.05.17 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

By analyzing a set of actions of a meeting attendee, a set of accommodation rules for the meeting attendee is determined. Responsive to determining, using a set of facility data, that a meeting request for the meeting attendee violates an accommodation rule in the set of accommodation rules, the meeting request is modified, the modified meeting request conforming to the set of accommodation rules. A meeting location and a meeting time are assigned according to the modified meeting request.