Communication Management System for Pre-Call Content Preview

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Solution Overview

Problem

In communication systems, there is a usability issue where content on one terminal cannot be confirmed on the other terminal before initiating communication, leading to inefficiencies in video conferencing and call management.

Innovation Solution

A communication management system that includes a management system and terminal configuration, allowing for authentication, session control, and data transmission management, enabling terminals to confirm and manage content data transmission effectively, thereby improving usability.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Speed

If communication terminals establish direct communication channels without pre-viewing content, then communication speed is improved, but usability deteriorates because users cannot confirm content on the other terminal before initiating communication

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication speedVSAvoidusability
Core Design Contradiction:
SpeedVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system displays content data from the other communication terminal to the user before the communication is officially established. This preliminary viewing action allows users to confirm what they will be communicating about, improving usability without requiring a separate preparation step. The content is fetched and displayed in advance, enabling informed communication initiation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Ease of operation

If the system transmits content data between terminals before communication establishment, then usability is improved, but system complexity increases due to additional data management requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a content management intermediary component that handles the fetching, caching, and display of content data from remote terminals. This intermediary layer manages the complexity of data transmission and synchronization, allowing the core communication function to remain simple while enabling pre-viewing capabilities. The intermediary abstracts the complex data management operations from the user interface.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If the system caches content data locally for pre-viewing, then usability is improved, but memory requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveusabilityVSAvoidmemory usage
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements selective caching where only the specific content data relevant to upcoming communications is stored locally in memory, rather than caching all possible data. The content management system identifies and caches only the necessary content based on communication context and user needs, optimizing memory utilization while maintaining the pre-viewing functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentEP3326351B1Communication management system, communication system, communication management method, and medium
Publication Date: 2021.05.05 RICOH CO LTD
  • EP3326351B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3326351B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3326351B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

At an actual reception counter, a person in charge of reception can see looks and belongings of a visitor, and may guess a business of the visitor before the visitor reaches the reception counter. However, in communication between communication terminals, there is a problem about usability such that contents on one side cannot be confirmed on a communication terminal on the other side before requesting for communication. To solve the problem, the session control unit 58 of a management system 50 executes, when communication has been established between one or more communication terminals 10 on a customer side and communication terminals 10 on an operator side, control for starting transmission of content data of the communication terminals 10 on the customer side to the communication terminals 10 on the operator side. Based on a start command from the terminal 10 on the operator side, the session control unit 58 of the management system 50 executes control for starting transmission of content data of the communication terminals 10 on the operator side to the communication terminals 10 on the customer side.