Communication Filtering via Dynamic Entity Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face difficulties in efficiently searching through large records of emails and instant messaging (IM) messages due to the overwhelming number of communications, which defeats the utility of the search function.
Innovation Solution
A method that identifies preferred entities based on interaction frequency and displays them in a graphical user interface, allowing users to filter down communications from these entities with a single action, providing a dynamic favorites list and displaying search results with numerical counts for each entity, enabling quicker access to relevant messages.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a user searches through a complete record of past communications, then the search comprehensively covers all communications, but the number of results becomes overwhelming and defeats the utility of the search
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the complete communication record into multiple contact groups based on interaction frequency. The system automatically categorizes contacts into groups such as frequent contacts, regular contacts, and occasional contacts, allowing users to search within specific segments rather than the entire record, thereby reducing the number of results while maintaining search comprehensiveness for relevant communications
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically analyzing and categorizing communication frequency before the user conducts a search. Contact groups are pre-established based on historical interaction data, so when a user searches, the results are already filtered and organized by relevance, reducing the overwhelming number of results without requiring the user to manually filter
2Loss of information
If the system displays all communications in the record, then the user can access complete information, but the user interface becomes complex and difficult to navigate
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements dynamic contact groups that automatically adjust based on user interaction patterns. The system dynamically reorganizes contact groups as communication frequency changes, providing a flexible interface that adapts to user behavior while maintaining simplicity. Users can easily navigate between dynamic groups without dealing with complex static categorizations
Solution Approach 2:
The interface is segmented into multiple manageable contact groups rather than displaying all contacts at once. Each group represents a segment of the communication record organized by interaction frequency, allowing users to navigate through organized segments rather than overwhelming complete lists, thus maintaining information completeness while improving ease of operation
3Productivity
If the system automatically identifies preferred entities based on interaction frequency, then the filtering efficiency is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements self-service by automatically analyzing communication patterns and identifying preferred entities without requiring manual user input. The system autonomously categorizes contacts into groups based on interaction frequency, updates these groups dynamically as patterns change, and maintains the organized structure automatically, thereby improving search efficiency while managing system complexity through automation
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from user interaction data to continuously refine and update contact groupings. By analyzing communication frequency and patterns, the system adjusts the organization of contacts automatically, creating a self-optimizing system that improves search efficiency while the feedback mechanism manages complexity through data-driven automation
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprising: accessing a record of past emails or IM messages between a first user and a plurality of other users; from amongst a set of entities (e.g. other users, user groups or folders), identifying a subset as preferred entities of the first user, wherein at least some of the preferred entities are identified automatically based on at least a frequency of interaction between the first user and each of the entities; independently of receiving any search queries, causing a graphical user interface to display a list of the preferred entities; and based on the first user selecting one of the entities from the list, causing the graphical user interface to display to the first user a filtered-down list of emails and IM messages, being some or all of the emails or IM messages communicated between the first user and the selected entity.