Calendar-Based Context Modification System for Mobile Applications
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing solutions for updating application contexts on mobile terminals as per future scheduled events often result in costly data roaming due to late data transfers when users are outside the enterprise network, as they require activating expensive data roaming services to update maps, currency rates, and other regional settings after arriving in a foreign country.
Innovation Solution
A system that detects future scheduled events in a calendar, compares event descriptions with keywords, and sends notifications to applications before the event occurs, allowing context modifications to be completed before the user leaves their home country, thereby avoiding costly data roaming.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If context updates are performed after the user arrives in a foreign country, then the applications can be adapted to the local context, but costly data roaming fees are incurred
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs context updates before the user travels by detecting future scheduled events in the calendar and proactively downloading required data (maps, currency rates, emergency numbers, etc.) while the user is still connected to the enterprise network at home, thus avoiding costly data roaming fees when abroad
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments the context update process by identifying specific data requirements based on event keywords (e.g., location, type of event) and downloading only the necessary data portions in advance, rather than updating all application contexts simultaneously
2Ease of operation
If context updates are delayed until the user is abroad, then the user can access enterprise servers via data roaming, but the data transfer becomes expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically detects future events in the user's calendar and initiates context updates before the user departs, utilizing the low-cost enterprise network connection at home instead of expensive data roaming services abroad
3Loss of energy
If the system proactively updates contexts before travel, then data roaming costs are avoided, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system continuously monitors the user's calendar for future scheduled events and uses this information to trigger proactive context updates, creating a feedback loop that automates the timing and selection of data to be downloaded before travel
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a calendar event detection mechanism as an intermediary that bridges the user's travel plans and the automatic context update process, enabling intelligent anticipation of update needs without requiring manual user input
Data Source
Figure 1
AI summary
A system for modifying the contexts of applications as a function of future scheduled events, comprises: - means (PRS, CAC) for detecting (1, 2, 3) a future event added, modified, or suppressed in a calendar server (CAL) storing event descriptions, and for identifying a user concerned; - a dictionary (DIC) memorizing keywords that can be detected in an event description; each keyword being associated to the identity (AP1, ...) of an application and to data adapted for modifying the context of this application; - means (PRS) for receiving (4), from the calendar (CAC), the description of each future event that has been added, or modified, or suppressed, and the identity of the concerned user; - means (PRS) for comparing (5) each received event description with the keywords stored in the dictionary (DIC); - and means (PRS, NTS) for immediately checking (6, 7) whether any application has subscribed for receiving data adapted for modifying the context of this application for the concerned user, and then sending (10, 11) notifications, before the occurrence of the detected future event, to at least one application that has subscribed, this notification comprising the data adapted for modifying the context of this application, for the concerned user.