Portable Device Contact Update Automation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing methods for updating contact information on portable electronic devices are inefficient, leading to misdirected or lost communications due to manual processes that consume user interaction and device resources, resulting in reduced battery life and increased power consumption.

Innovation Solution

A method and system for automatically detecting changes in contact information and sending update messages to contacts in a database, prioritizing updates and reducing user interaction and device usage, thereby conserving power and extending battery life.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual processes are used to update contact information, then user control and accuracy are maintained, but user interaction time and device resource consumption increase, resulting in reduced battery life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser interactionVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically detects changes in contact information and sends update messages without requiring user intervention. The portable electronic device monitors its own contact database, identifies changes, and autonomously notifies contacts, eliminating manual user actions while preserving battery life through intelligent automation that only activates when necessary.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary detection of contact information changes before user interaction is needed. By continuously monitoring the contact database in the background and identifying changes proactively, the system prepares update messages in advance, reducing the need for active user engagement and minimizing device resource usage during user interaction periods.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Productivity

If automatic update messages are sent to all contacts, then communication efficiency is improved, but device resource usage and power consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication efficiencyVSAvoidpower consumption
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different update strategies to different contacts based on their specific characteristics. Priority contacts receive immediate automated notifications, while other contacts receive updates only when necessary or through batch processing. This localized differentiation optimizes communication efficiency for important contacts while conserving device resources for less critical updates.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs partial automatic updates by sending notifications only to a subset of contacts (priority contacts) rather than all contacts. This selective approach provides sufficient communication efficiency for the most important updates while significantly reducing device resource consumption compared to universal notification.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Loss of energy

If contact information changes are not relayed to contacts, then device resource usage is minimized, but misdirected or lost communications occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepower consumptionVSAvoidcommunication reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements a feedback mechanism where contacts acknowledge receipt of update messages. This feedback loop ensures that critical contact information changes are successfully communicated, improving communication reliability. The system can retry notifications or alert the user if feedback is not received, maintaining reliability without requiring continuous high-power transmission attempts.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Data Source

PatentEP2357775B1Electronic device and method of providing an update to contact information
Publication Date: 2016.08.10 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2357775B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2357775B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2357775B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method of providing an update to contact information of a user of a portable electronic device includes, determining that the contact information has changed, retrieving contact data of contact data records stored at the portable electronic device, and generating and sending updates from the portable electronic device based on the contact data of the contact data records.