Contextual Conversation Framework for Automated Context Management

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Solution Overview

Problem

Modern communication systems, even unified communications, fail to efficiently establish and maintain context during conversations, leading to wasted time and effort in setting up and continuing discussions, as users manually retrieve and share contextual items and struggle to understand the conversation context.

Innovation Solution

A contextual communications framework that enables developers to add context to conversations through a communication application user interface or associated documents, allowing context to be exchanged and updated, stored for subsequent conversations, facilitating efficient task completion and user productivity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual context management is used in communication systems, then users can share contextual items, but time and effort are wasted in setting up and maintaining conversation context

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversation setup efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent on context management

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically capturing, storing, and organizing contextual information (documents, files, communication history) before conversations begin. Context is pre-prepared and made available to users, eliminating the need for manual context setup during conversations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The communication system provides self-service context management by automatically retrieving, organizing, and presenting relevant contextual information without requiring user intervention. The system independently manages context lifecycle including capture, storage, retrieval, and updates across multiple conversations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If context is manually retrieved and shared during conversations, then contextual information can be exchanged, but user effort and time consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecontext sharing operationVSAvoidtime for context retrieval and sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically retrieves and shares contextual information without requiring manual user actions. Context is self-managed through automated capture, organization, and distribution to conversation participants, making the operation effortless and time-efficient.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system acts as an intermediary that automatically manages context between users. It captures context from various sources, processes and organizes it, then delivers relevant contextual information to appropriate conversations without requiring direct user-to-user context transfer.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Duration of action of stationary object

If conversations continue without automated context updates, then communication flow is maintained, but users lose track of the latest context state

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconversation continuityVSAvoidcontext state updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Duration of action of stationary objectVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains continuous context management throughout the conversation lifecycle. Context is continuously captured, updated, and synchronized across all conversation participants, ensuring that the latest context state is always available without interrupting the natural flow of communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback mechanisms that automatically detect and capture context changes during conversations. Updated context information is fed back to all participants in real-time or near-real-time, ensuring everyone remains informed of the latest context state without requiring manual synchronization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

4Productivity

If comprehensive context management is implemented, then productivity is enhanced, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask completion efficiencyVSAvoidcontext management system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system achieves multi-functionality by integrating multiple context management capabilities into a unified platform. It simultaneously performs context capture, storage, retrieval, sharing, updating, and synchronization across various communication modes (instant messaging, voice, video, email), reducing the need for separate systems and lowering overall complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The complex context management system is segmented into modular functional components that can operate independently but work together seamlessly. Context capture, processing, storage, and distribution are divided into separate modules, making the system easier to implement, maintain, and scale while delivering comprehensive productivity benefits.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS8543654B2Contextual conversation framework

Publication Date: 2013.09.24 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A platform and end user interface are provided as part of a contextual communications framework for enabling developers to add context to conversations before they start or as they occur. The context may be consumed through a communication application user interface or through an application associated with a contextual document or file. The exchanged context and any updates to it may be stored following the conversation such that subsequent continuations of the conversation may be provided with the updated context.