Availability Profile Management via Location-Based Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional techniques are inadequate for managing user availability across multiple communication modalities, leading to inconvenience and power inefficiency in mobile devices, as they require manual activation and deactivation of availability profiles based on various conditions.

Innovation Solution

An availability server manages communication modalities by automatically activating and deactivating availability profiles based on user-defined conditions, using a profile management component, user agent, communication component, and user location component to apply the profile to communication, thereby conserving device power and simplifying user management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If manual activation and deactivation of availability profiles is implemented, then users can control their availability across multiple communication modalities, but user convenience deteriorates and time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveavailability management capabilityVSAvoiduser convenience

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors user location and communication status, then autonomously activates or deactivates availability profiles without requiring manual user intervention. The mobile device itself serves to manage its own availability state based on pre-configured location criteria.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors user location data and communication status, compares current state against stored criteria, and automatically adjusts availability profile activation accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism eliminates manual operation while maintaining adaptability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Adaptability or versatility

If manual management of availability profiles is required, then communication control is achieved, but time consumption and operational burden increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication control capabilityVSAvoidtime consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Users pre-configure location-based criteria and availability profile associations in advance. When location conditions are met, the system automatically executes the appropriate profile activation or deactivation, eliminating the need for real-time manual decisions and reducing time consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The mobile device automatically manages its own availability state by monitoring location data and applying pre-configured rules, freeing users from time-consuming manual management while maintaining comprehensive communication control.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Extent of automation

If mobile devices continuously monitor availability conditions, then automatic profile management is achieved, but power consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic profile managementVSAvoidmobile device power consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of continuous monitoring, the system periodically checks location data at intervals or triggers monitoring only when location changes are detected. This periodic action maintains automatic profile management capability while significantly reducing power consumption compared to continuous monitoring.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses location data as an intermediary trigger - availability profiles are only activated or deactivated when location-based conditions are met, rather than continuously evaluating all communication modalities. This reduces processing overhead and power consumption while maintaining automation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS9537965B2Techniques for managing and applying an availability profile

Publication Date: 2017.01.03 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Techniques for managing and applying an availability profile are described. An apparatus may comprise a profile management component operative to store a profile for a user having a condition for activation, a user agent component operative to determine whether the condition is satisfied, a user location component operative to determine a location of the user, and a communication component operative to apply the profile to communication for the user if the condition is satisfied. Other embodiments are described and claimed.