Communication Deferral and Return Scheduling Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Modern telecommunications devices often face challenges in managing voice communications when users are already engaged in other activities, lacking effective options to handle incoming calls without disrupting existing conversations or activities.
Innovation Solution
The system allows users to defer incoming communications, scheduling a return time through manual or calendar-based approaches, enabling automatic reminders and reconnection at a later time, and providing options for asynchronous messaging to inform the caller of availability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users answer incoming calls immediately, then communication responsiveness is improved, but existing conversations or activities are interrupted
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by notifying the user of an incoming call before requiring a response, and by providing pre-configured options (silent rejection, voicemail, text message) that can be selected in advance. This allows users to prepare their response strategy without immediately interrupting their current activity.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary mechanism - a notification interface with multiple response options - between the incoming call and the user's final action. This intermediary layer allows users to defer their decision and select the most appropriate response method without being forced into immediate action.
2Object-generated harmful factors
If users send silent rejection notifications, then interruption of existing activities is reduced, but callers receive no information about why the call was not answered
Solution Approach 1:
The system enables users to send text messages automatically as part of the silent rejection process. Users can pre-configure template messages or compose custom messages that explain their unavailability, and the system delivers these messages automatically without requiring additional user action. This self-service approach ensures callers receive information about why the call was not answered.
Solution Approach 2:
The system provides feedback to callers through automated text messages that explain the user's unavailability. This feedback mechanism ensures callers understand why their call was not answered, reducing confusion and enabling them to choose alternative communication methods or times.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users configure multiple response options, then communication flexibility is improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The notification interface is designed to handle multiple response types (silent rejection, voicemail, text message) through a single unified mechanism. This multi-functional approach allows users to access various communication options from one interface, reducing the need for separate configuration systems for each response type.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses pre-configured template messages for common scenarios. These templates can be quickly selected and modified if needed, rather than requiring users to create custom messages from scratch each time. This approach reduces configuration complexity while maintaining flexibility.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques to defer an incoming communication and then schedule a follow up communication are disclosed. A communication recipient can defer an incoming communication and schedule a return communication time. The return communication may be manually deferred by a user and/or automatically deferred based at least in part on availability of a user on an appointment calendar.