Contact Record Management via Communication-Based Time Duration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electronic devices face challenges in managing contact information effectively, as records become outdated or invalid due to lack of vigilant updating, leading to inaccurate or irrelevant data.

Innovation Solution

An electronic device method and apparatus that detects and parses communications to determine time durations for contact records, setting temporary or indeterminate time durations for record deletion, ensuring records are updated and maintained based on communication data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If contact records are stored indefinitely without management, then the quantity of contact information is maintained, but the accuracy and relevance of the data deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact information accuracyVSAvoidoutdated contact records
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically detecting communications and setting time durations for contact records before they become outdated. The processor proactively monitors communications, determines time durations based on communication patterns, and schedules record deletion in advance, preventing the accumulation of outdated information rather than reacting to it after it occurs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system establishes a feedback loop where communication data is continuously monitored and fed back into the contact management system. The processor detects new communications, updates time durations based on this feedback, and adjusts record retention accordingly. This closed-loop feedback mechanism ensures contact information accuracy is maintained through continuous validation against actual communication patterns.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Reliability

If manual management of contact records is implemented, then data accuracy can be maintained, but user convenience and time consumption deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact information accuracyVSAvoiduser convenience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The contact management system performs self-service by automatically detecting communications, determining time durations, and managing record deletion without requiring user intervention. The processor autonomously monitors communication data, updates contact records, and deletes outdated information based on predetermined time durations, freeing users from manual management tasks while maintaining data accuracy through automated vigilance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system replaces manual mechanical operations with automated electronic processing. Instead of users manually tracking and updating contact information, the processor electronically detects communications, calculates time durations, and manages record retention automatically. This substitution of manual operations with automated computational processes maintains accuracy while significantly improving user convenience.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Quantity of substance

If all contact records are retained permanently, then completeness of contact information is maintained, but device storage capacity and data relevance deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecontact record volumeVSAvoidcontact information relevance
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies dynamics by making contact record retention flexible and adaptive rather than static and uniform. Time durations for record retention are dynamically determined based on communication patterns - frequently communicated contacts receive longer retention periods while inactive contacts are deleted sooner. This dynamic approach optimizes the balance between maintaining relevant contact information and managing storage capacity efficiently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes parameters by adjusting time durations for different contact records based on communication frequency and recency. Rather than applying a uniform retention policy, the processor varies the time duration parameter for each contact based on detected communication patterns. This parameter adjustment allows the system to maintain a higher proportion of relevant contacts while automatically removing outdated records, optimizing both relevance and storage utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS9313327B2Method and apparatus for managing contact information
Publication Date: 2016.04.12 GOOGLE TECHNOLOGY HOLDINGS LLC
  • US9313327B2 patent drawing
  • US9313327B2 patent drawing
  • US9313327B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A method and apparatus for managing contact information includes an electronic device detecting 302 a pair of communications by the electronic device related to a contact and parsing 304 at least one of the communications in the pair of communications to determine a time duration for a record for the contact. The method further includes the electronic device setting 306 a time duration element for the record based on the time duration to cause deletion of the record when the time duration has elapsed.