Display System Email Scheduling Server Reliability

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing scheduling systems often lead to misunderstandings and resource inefficiencies due to the lack of real-time information display at resource locations, requiring additional software installations on scheduling servers, which are critical and thus avoided by system administrators.

Innovation Solution

An information display system that communicates with scheduling devices via electronic mail messages, allowing data exchange without the need for software installations on the scheduling server, using protocols like WebDAV or EWS, and enabling remote configuration and updates of display devices.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If additional software is installed on the scheduling server to enable communication with display devices, then the functionality of the information display system is improved, but the reliability of the scheduling server deteriorates due to potential malfunctions and errors

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctionality of information display systemVSAvoidreliability of scheduling server
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary component that acts as a bridge between the scheduling server and display devices. This intermediary handles communication protocols and data exchange, allowing the scheduling server to maintain its core functionality without direct software installations for display communication, thus preserving server reliability while enabling display system functionality.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system architecture is segmented into distinct functional modules: the scheduling server, intermediary communication layer, and display devices. This segmentation allows each component to operate independently with well-defined interfaces, reducing the risk that software issues in the display communication layer will affect the core scheduling server operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of information

If display devices are located at resource premises to show real-time scheduling information, then the information availability is improved, but the system complexity increases due to network connections and data exchange requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveinformation availability at resource locationVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The display devices are designed with multi-functionality, serving both as information display units and as networked data exchange nodes. They can display scheduling information, provide user interaction interfaces, and communicate with both the scheduling server and local resources, reducing the need for separate dedicated components for each function.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The display devices are equipped with autonomous capabilities to receive, process, and display scheduling information without requiring complex centralized control for each display operation. They can independently refresh their displays, handle basic user interactions, and manage their own network communications, reducing overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2979232B1Method and system for a scheduling system
Publication Date: 2018.12.26 CEPRO
  • EP2979232B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2979232B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2979232B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention relates to an information display system for displaying scheduling information in regard of at least one resource in a scheduling system, said scheduling system comprising a scheduling server and wherein scheduling of said resource is controlled by said scheduling server, said information display system comprising at least one display device adapted to be, in use, associated with a first resource of said scheduling system for displaying scheduling information with regard to said first resource, said display device including means for, in use with a scheduling system, receiving and displaying scheduling information, said information display system further including a second entity, being different from said display device. The display device and said second entity are adapted for exchanging data between said display device and said second entity by means of electronic mail (e-mail) messages.