Centralized Out-of-Office Configuration Across Multiple Services
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face the inconvenience of setting up automated out-of-office messages across multiple email and messaging services, requiring them to log into each system separately, which is time-consuming and prone to errors, with no existing solution to link these systems for a single configuration.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to create a single out-of-office configuration applicable to multiple computing systems, automatically enabling and transmitting the message across associated services like email, calendaring, and messaging systems via a centralized portal and API integration.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Manufacturing precision
If users configure out-of-office messages separately for each email and messaging service, then each system can be configured accurately, but the configuration process becomes time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple separate out-of-office configuration processes into a single unified configuration interface. A user can now configure out-of-office messages for multiple email and messaging services simultaneously through one centralized system, rather than accessing each service separately. This merging approach maintains configuration accuracy while dramatically reducing the time and effort required.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent creates a universal configuration system that works across multiple different email and messaging services. The single out-of-office configuration mechanism is designed to be service-agnostic, allowing users to manage notifications across various platforms (email, instant messaging, calendaring) through a common interface that adapts to each service's specific requirements.
2Adaptability or versatility
If users manually log into each system to set up out-of-office messages, then each system can be configured independently, but the process becomes prone to errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a centralized configuration system that acts as an intermediary between the user and multiple email/messaging services. This intermediary automatically handles the configuration transmission to each service, eliminating manual login and configuration steps. The system maintains the ability to configure each service independently while ensuring consistent, error-free configuration across all platforms through automated processes.
3Productivity
If a single configuration system is implemented across multiple services, then configuration time is reduced, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the configuration system into distinct functional modules: a centralized configuration interface, an authentication module, a configuration transmission module, and service-specific adaptation layers. This segmentation allows the system to manage complexity internally while presenting a simple unified interface to users. Each module handles specific tasks independently, making the overall system more maintainable and easier to extend to new services.
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are some implementations of systems, apparatus, methods and computer program products for enabling out of office message settings of multiple computing systems using a single out of office message configuration. A request to generate an out of office message configuration associated with a user is received and an indication of computing systems associated with the request is obtained. In addition, an indication of a start date, an indication of an end date, and an out of office message are obtained in association with the request. The out of office message configuration is saved such that the start date, end date, and out of office message are associated with the computing systems and the user. For each of the computing systems, an out of office message setting is enabled using the start date, end date, and out of office message of the out of office message configuration such that an out of office function of the computing system is configured to transmit the out of office message, during a period from the start date to the end date, in response to receipt of a message addressed to the user via the computing system.