Aggregate Contact Display System Merging Internal and External Data
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Solution Overview
Problem
Contact data management systems often contain outdated information due to lack of real-time updates from various internal and external sources, making it difficult for users to access current and comprehensive contact details in a single, unified view.
Innovation Solution
An aggregate display system that retrieves and processes contact data from both internal sources (like active directory and Microsoft Outlook) and external sources (such as social networking sites), presenting it in a single, interactive interface while maintaining up-to-date information by prioritizing data sources and providing links to original sources for further information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If contact data is stored in multiple sources (internal and external), then the quantity and comprehensiveness of contact information increases, but the complexity of accessing and managing this data increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges contact data from multiple internal and external sources into a single unified contact record. The system combines data from internal sources (Active Directory, Outlook) and external sources (social networking sites, business networking sites) into one consolidated view, eliminating the need for users to access multiple separate sources and reducing data access complexity while increasing data comprehensiveness
2Reliability
If contact data is manually updated in multiple sources, then the accuracy and currentness of contact information improves, but the time and effort required for maintenance increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automatic synchronization where contact data is automatically updated across all sources without manual intervention. When a contact updates their information on one platform (e.g., social networking site), the system automatically detects this change and updates the corresponding contact records in all other sources (internal directories, address books), eliminating manual maintenance efforts while ensuring data currentness
Solution Approach 2:
The system establishes feedback loops that continuously monitor changes in contact data across multiple sources. When updates are detected in any source, the system receives feedback about the change and automatically propagates the update to other sources, creating a self-correcting system that maintains data accuracy without requiring manual verification or updates
3Quantity of substance
If users access contact data from multiple sources, then the comprehensiveness of contact information increases, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a unified contact management interface that merges access to contact data from multiple internal and external sources into a single location. Users interact with one consolidated contact list and profile view, and the system automatically retrieves and displays relevant information from all sources, eliminating the need to navigate between multiple separate systems while maintaining data completeness
Data Source
AI summary
An aggregate display of contact data from internal and external sources is provided. Contact data associated with at least one contact is obtained from a plurality of sources, including at least an internal source and an external source. The obtained contact data is processed to generate an aggregated collection of contact data. The aggregated collection of contact data is stored. A display of the aggregated collection of contact data is displayed in a single, interactive interface.