Audio Conversation Thread Presentation System

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing methods for handling text-based electronic communications, such as email and instant messaging, often require users to visually review messages, which can be distracting and impractical in situations like driving, as they do not allow for hands-free or display-free interaction.

Innovation Solution

A computing system that audibly outputs unreviewed electronic communications in a chronological-sequential order, allowing users to manage their messages through voice commands, providing summaries and control over the presentation, enabling hands-free interaction and context-aware management of communication threads.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users visually review text-based electronic communications, then they can read and understand messages, but they experience distraction and reduced safety in situations like driving

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual review of messagesVSAvoiddistraction and safety risk

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the visual-mechanical system of reading text on displays with an acoustic system that outputs messages as spoken audio. The computing system converts electronic communications into audible outputs, allowing users to listen to messages through audio speakers or headphones instead of visually reading them, thereby eliminating the distraction and safety risks associated with visual review while driving

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Ease of operation

If users visually review electronic communications, then they can see message content, but they cannot perform other tasks simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevisual review of messagesVSAvoidmultitasking capability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent substitutes visual processing with auditory processing by converting text-based communications into audio outputs. Users can listen to messages while performing other tasks such as driving, working, or relaxing, enabling true multitasking without the visual distraction that prevents simultaneous task performance

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Loss of information

If the system outputs all electronic communications, then users receive complete information, but the presentation order affects user experience and attention

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomplete message deliveryVSAvoidpresentation order management

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments electronic communications into distinct conversation threads grouped by sender or contact. Within each thread, messages are presented in chronological order, but threads themselves can be organized by recency, importance, or user-defined criteria. This segmentation allows complete information delivery while providing structured organization that manages presentation order and user experience

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary organization of communications into conversation threads before presentation to the user. By pre-grouping messages by sender and ordering threads by recency or importance, the system prepares information in a user-friendly sequence that maintains completeness while improving ease of operation and attention management

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentUS11853650B2Audio presentation of conversation threads

Publication Date: 2023.12.26 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

In an example, a computing system receives an instruction to initiate audio presentation of electronic communications for a recipient. Responsive to the instruction, the computing system audibly outputs each unreviewed electronic communication in a most-recent conversation thread including a most-recent set of unreviewed, reply-linked electronic communications for the recipient. Each unreviewed electronic communication in the most-recent conversation thread may be audibly output in a chronological-sequential order beginning with an oldest unreviewed electronic communication and continuing to a most-recent unreviewed electronic communication. Responsive to completing audible output of the most-recent unreviewed electronic communication from a conversation thread, the computing device audibly outputs each unreviewed electronic communication in a next-most-recent conversation thread including a next-most-recent set of unreviewed, reply-linked electronic communications for the recipient. Each unreviewed electronic communication in the next-most-recent conversation thread may be audibly output in a chronological-sequential order beginning with an oldest unreviewed electronic communication.