Convergence Gateway for Seamless Cross-Device Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current television viewing experiences disconnect users from the world, as they cannot interact with others while watching programs, and there is no seamless way to communicate or share content across multiple devices.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for social networking across multiple communication devices, enabling message communication between users on set-top boxes, mobile devices, desktops, and telephones, with processing modules on convergence gateways for seamless interaction and presence-based communication, allowing users to send and receive messages, create buddy lists, and interact with multimedia content.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a viewer watches an entertainment program on television, then the viewer can enjoy the program, but the viewer is disconnected from the rest of the world and cannot interact with other people
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the television device with communication capabilities by integrating a convergence gateway that combines set-top box functionality with social networking and messaging capabilities. This allows the television to serve dual purposes: entertainment consumption and communication interaction, resolving the contradiction by combining previously separate functions into a unified device.
Solution Approach 2:
The television system is designed with multi-functionality to perform both entertainment programming and communication tasks. The convergence gateway enables the television to function as a communication device capable of sending and receiving messages, creating buddy lists, and interacting with other devices, thus achieving universality that resolves the disconnection problem.
2Ease of operation
If a viewer uses a mobile phone or telephone to convey messages, then communication is enabled, but the viewer must stop watching the entertainment program
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges communication functionality directly into the television system through the convergence gateway. Viewers can send and receive messages, create buddy lists, and interact with contacts while continuously watching entertainment programs on the television, eliminating the need to switch devices and preserving viewing time.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a television is used for entertainment, then media presentation is achieved, but the television does not facilitate interaction with other people and others cannot know the presence of the viewer
Solution Approach 1:
The television system achieves universality by enabling it to perform communication functions such as sending and receiving messages, creating and managing buddy lists, and displaying presence information. The convergence gateway provides the intelligence and connectivity needed for social interaction, transforming the television from a passive entertainment device to an active communication platform.
4Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication devices are used for social networking, then communication versatility is improved, but the system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The convergence gateway acts as an intermediary device that bridges multiple communication protocols and device types. It manages the complexity of network integration by providing a unified interface that handles communication with mobile phones, telephones, and other devices, thus improving device compatibility while masking the underlying system complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for communication between a plurality of users in a communication network are disclosed. Each of the plurality of users is associated with at least one communication device. The method includes receiving a message from a sender intended for at least one recipient in the communication network wherein the sender has initiated sending of the message using the associated communication device. The message may be selected from a group comprising text, audio, video and multimedia. The method further includes customizing the message for at least one communication device associated with the at least one recipient based on a set of rules. Additionally, the method includes delivering the customized message to the at least one communication device associated with the at least one recipient based on the availability of the at least one recipient on the at least one communication device.