Dynamic Electronic Group Formation Using Location and Contact Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

The formation of electronic groups, especially with members not already in an existing contact list, is burdensome due to the need for numerous interactions and administrative inputs, and existing systems lack efficient methods for dynamic and temporary group creation based on location and contact information.

Innovation Solution

A method that uses location information and contact list data to dynamically form and reform electronic groups, employing signatures with temporal and location parameters to identify and manage group membership, allowing for automatic addition of proximate devices and contact devices, and enabling peer-to-peer communication without requiring a dedicated server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If electronic groups are formed manually with invitations and administrative inputs, then group membership can be controlled precisely, but the process becomes burdensome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroup formation processVSAvoidtime for administrative input
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables devices to automatically join electronic groups based on location proximity and contact list matching without requiring manual invitations or administrative intervention. The group formation process is self-service oriented, where devices autonomously determine membership eligibility and join groups autonomously

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes grouping criteria including location parameters, contact list relationships, and group formation rules before actual group formation occurs. This preliminary configuration allows rapid automatic group creation when conditions are met, eliminating the need for real-time administrative decisions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Adaptability or versatility

If dynamic group membership is allowed with members joining and leaving at different times, then group flexibility is improved, but administrative complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroup membership flexibilityVSAvoidadministrative management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic group membership where devices can autonomously join and leave electronic groups based on changing location conditions and contact list relationships. Membership status updates automatically as devices move in and out of proximity zones, providing flexibility without administrative overhead

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system continuously monitors location data and contact list information to provide feedback on membership eligibility. This feedback mechanism automatically updates group membership status when devices enter or leave defined proximity areas, maintaining accurate dynamic membership without manual intervention

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Productivity

If location-based automatic group formation is implemented, then ease of forming temporary groups is improved, but information processing requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvegroup formation speedVSAvoidenergy for location processing
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system processes location information and contact list data selectively rather than continuously analyzing all possible grouping parameters. By focusing only on relevant location proximity and pre-defined contact relationships, the system achieves rapid group formation with reduced computational energy consumption

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentEP2728914B1System and method for forming electronic groups
Publication Date: 2018.01.24 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2728914B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2728914B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2728914B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Methods, computer readable media, and electronic devices are provided for forming an electronic group by determining that a plurality of electronic devices satisfy at least one proximity criterion; determining a plurality of candidate members for the electronic group according to contact list information for at least one of the plurality of electronic devices; and forming the electronic group from the plurality of candidate members.