Auto-join Service for Hands-free Online Meeting Connectivity

Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in joining online meetings hands-free, especially while driving, as current methods require manual input, posing safety risks and inefficiencies.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an auto-join service that uses a dedicated phone number (e.g., 1-800-WXASSIS) for hands-free joining, where users can say the meeting service name to initiate a call, and the system connects them to their scheduled meetings based on calendar data without requiring manual entry of IDs, utilizing Bluetooth dialing and caller ID verification.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If manual input methods are used to join online meetings, then meeting joining functionality is achieved, but user safety deteriorates when driving

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidmanual input requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically retrieving meeting information from the user's calendar before the meeting join process. The service proactively identifies scheduled meetings, extracts relevant details, and prepares connection information in advance, eliminating the need for manual input during the actual meeting join moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The auto-join service enables the system to serve itself by automatically querying the calendar, identifying the user's scheduled meetings, and initiating the join process without human intervention. The service autonomously completes the entire meeting joining workflow, from information retrieval to connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual entry of meeting IDs is required, then precise meeting identification is achieved, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemeeting joining speedVSAvoidtime for manual entry

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically retrieving meeting information from the user's calendar before the meeting join process. The service proactively identifies scheduled meetings, extracts relevant details, and prepares connection information in advance, eliminating the need for manual input during the actual meeting join moment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The invention replaces the mechanical manual entry process with an automated information retrieval system. Instead of manually typing meeting IDs, the system uses electronic calendar integration and automated data extraction to identify and join meetings, substituting physical keyboard input with automated digital processes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Reliability

If hands-free operation is implemented, then user safety is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovesafetyVSAvoidauto-join service infrastructure

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary auto-join service that acts as a mediator between the user's calendar system and the meeting platform. This intermediary service handles the complex automation tasks, including calendar querying, meeting identification, and connection establishment, while presenting a simple hands-free interface to the user.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The auto-join service enables the system to serve itself by automatically querying the calendar, identifying the user's scheduled meetings, and initiating the join process without human intervention. The service autonomously completes the entire meeting joining workflow, from information retrieval to connection establishment.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS10630843B1Dialing into a meeting without entering information

Publication Date: 2020.04.21 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

A computer-implemented method is provided that includes receiving a telephone call placed by a device associated with a user. The user is identified based on a caller identifier obtained from the telephone call. A user identifier is determined for the user based on the caller identifier. Using the user identifier, access is made to a calendar associated with the user to determine from the calendar for the user whether there are any online meetings scheduled for the user at or near a current time. When there is at least one online meeting in the calendar for the user at or near the current time, the user is joined to the at least one online meeting, which results in connecting the telephone call to an audio portion of the at least one online meeting served by a meeting service.