Communication Assistance Device for Relationship Level Determination

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication assistance systems fail to provide level-based assistance in human relationships, leading to abrupt introductions of strangers with similar preferences, resulting in short-lived interactions, as they do not grasp relationships in a stepwise manner.

Innovation Solution

A communication assistance device and method that determine the level of user relationships based on similarity and user action records, allowing for gradual and appropriate communication assistance across various relationship levels, from strangers to friends.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If two strangers with similar preferences are abruptly introduced to each other, then the opportunity for communication is created, but the relationship cannot be sustained long-term due to lack of gradual relationship development

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication opportunity creationVSAvoidrelationship sustainability

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the relationship development process into multiple levels (stranger, acquaintance, friend, close friend). Instead of directly connecting strangers, the system creates intermediate connection stages that allow gradual relationship building, thereby maintaining both communication opportunities and relationship sustainability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by first determining user preferences and similarity, then establishing appropriate connection levels before enabling direct communication. This preliminary assessment ensures that communication opportunities are created at the right relationship stage, preventing premature introductions that would fail

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system provides direct communication assistance between strangers, then communication can be initiated, but the assistance is not tailored to the specific relationship level

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication initiationVSAvoidrelationship level appropriateness

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts communication assistance based on the determined relationship level. Different connection levels (stranger, acquaintance, friend, close friend) receive different types and degrees of assistance, making the system adaptable to various relationship stages while maintaining ease of operation through automated level-based recommendations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Productivity

If the system only determines similarity based on preferences, then matching efficiency is improved, but the accuracy of relationship level determination is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvematching efficiencyVSAvoidrelationship level accuracy

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSMeasurement precision

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges multiple determination criteria including user preferences, communication history, and interaction patterns to comprehensively assess relationship levels. This combination maintains matching efficiency by using preference-based initial filtering while improving accuracy through additional relationship context from communication records

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Speed

If the system encourages immediate friendship between similar users, then social connection speed is increased, but the natural progression of human relationships is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection speedVSAvoidrelationship development naturalness

Core Design Contradiction:

SpeedVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements periodic relationship level assessments and transitions, allowing users to progress through connection levels at natural intervals rather than immediately. This periodic evaluation maintains connection speed by automating the process while preserving relationship naturalness by requiring genuine interaction milestones before advancing levels

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS9244970B2Communication assistance device, communication assistance method, and computer readable recording medium

Publication Date: 2016.01.26 NEC CORP

AI summary

A communication assistance device (10) includes a communication level determination unit (11) so as to determine a level of a relationship between users who communicate with each other. The communication level determination unit (11) determines the level (communication level) of the relationship between the users based on similarity between the users obtained from preference information showing preferences of the users, and on user action records showing records of actions taken by a certain user toward a partner user with whom the certain user communicates out of the users.