Conference Call Display Using Calendar-Contact Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Mobile devices lack enhanced usability for conference calling, as calendaring software does not provide descriptive information about conference calls, leading to limited display options during and after calls, with only phone numbers being recorded in call logs.
Innovation Solution
Integrating a calendar application with a contact manager to store and retrieve dial-in information and descriptive details for conference calls, allowing display of conference call names and updating call logs with relevant information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If calendaring software stores only dial-in information for conference calls, then the system remains simple, but the display information during and after calls is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the calendaring software and contact manager into an integrated system. The contact manager stores descriptive information about conference calls (such as conference name, organizer, and other contextual details) alongside the dial-in information stored in the calendaring software. This merging allows the system to retrieve and display both the dial-in information and descriptive information without requiring separate manual entry, thus reducing information loss while managing complexity through integration.
2Loss of information
If the system displays only phone numbers in call logs, then the logging process remains simple, but the call log accuracy and usefulness are reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by storing descriptive conference call information in the contact manager before the call occurs. When the conference call takes place, the calendaring software retrieves this pre-stored descriptive information and automatically populates the call log with complete details including conference name, organizer, and dial-in information. This preliminary storage and automatic retrieval eliminates the need for manual logging during or after the call, maintaining ease of operation while significantly improving call log accuracy and usefulness.
Data Source
AI summary
An example aspect includes a mobile device that can perform a method where a conference call schedule is kept in a calendaring application, which is made to reference a temporary entry in a contact manager, which tracks access information, such as a dial-in number, an authentication code, and descriptive information for the call, such as a name for the call. The access information from the temporary contact entry is used to establish the call, and the descriptive information from the contact entry is outputted, such as through a display. An entry in a log can be created for the call using the descriptive information from the temporary contact entry. The temporary contact entry can be maintained if the conference call is to be repeated, or else it can be deleted. Such devices and methods provide an enhanced user experience for conference calls, by providing logging and display of more descriptive information about the calls.