Calendar-Integrated Instant Messaging Status Control

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Solution Overview

Problem

Instant messaging systems often disrupt productivity in business environments by causing constant interruptions during scheduled events, such as meetings or appointments, as users are not effectively managed to be unavailable during these times.

Innovation Solution

A computer-implemented method and apparatus that links a calendar application with an instant messaging system, allowing the calendar application to control the user's instant messaging status during scheduled events, setting preferences to manage interruptions and maintain a 'do not disturb' status automatically.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If instant messaging is enabled continuously, then communication availability is improved, but productivity during scheduled events deteriorates due to constant interruptions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication availabilityVSAvoidproductivity during scheduled events

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The instant messaging status is made dynamic by automatically changing between available and unavailable states based on calendar events. The system detects scheduled events and transitions the user status accordingly, allowing communication availability to adapt to contextual needs without manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring calendar applications for scheduled events and using this information to automatically adjust instant messaging status. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures that productivity concerns during meetings are addressed while maintaining communication availability during normal working hours.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Ease of operation

If instant messaging status is manually updated, then control over interruptions is improved, but ease of operation deteriorates due to constant manual updates required

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontrol over interruptionsVSAvoidtime for manual status updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs self-service by automatically monitoring calendar events and adjusting instant messaging status without requiring user action. The integration enables the system to manage its own status based on scheduled events, eliminating the need for manual updates while maintaining user-defined preferences.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The instant messaging system merges with the calendar application to create an integrated solution. By combining these two applications, the system automatically shares calendar event information with the instant messaging status controller, eliminating the need for separate manual status management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Adaptability or versatility

If multiple applications are integrated, then functionality is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The instant messaging client is designed with multi-functionality by incorporating calendar event monitoring and automatic status adjustment capabilities. This universal approach allows a single application to perform multiple functions: instant messaging, calendar monitoring, and automatic status management, reducing the need for separate specialized tools.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS7584258B2Method and system for managing instant messaging status

Publication Date: 2009.09.01 GOOGLE LLC

AI summary

A system for managing instant messaging status. An occurrence of an event for a user in a calendar application is detected. A status of the user for an instant messaging system is controlled during the occurrence of the event in response to detecting the occurrence of the event.