Dynamic Feature Set Adjustment for Collaboration Interruptions

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing systems for managing user status in collaborative computing environments do not dynamically adjust the feature sets of applications to minimize interruptions during online collaboration sessions, relying solely on manual user adjustments or basic activity-based status indicators.

Innovation Solution

Implementing a feature set adjustment process that monitors user status across applications to dynamically suppress notifications and sounds in other applications when hosting an online collaboration session, ensuring a distraction-free environment for users.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual user adjustments or basic activity-based status indicators are used, then system complexity is reduced, but user experience and productivity deteriorate due to interruptions during collaborative sessions

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system automatically monitors user status across applications and dynamically adjusts feature sets without requiring manual user intervention. The status monitoring component detects when a user is hosting a collaboration session, and the system self-adjusts by suppressing notifications and sounds in other applications, making the user experience seamless while avoiding complex manual control interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The status monitoring component serves multiple functions: it tracks user status, determines collaboration session states, and triggers feature set adjustments across different applications. This multi-functional approach improves user experience without proportionally increasing system complexity, as one core component handles multiple tasks

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If dynamic feature set adjustment is implemented, then productivity is improved by preventing interruptions, but device complexity increases due to automated monitoring and control mechanisms

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaboration efficiencyVSAvoidsystem architecture

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into distinct functional components: a status monitoring component that detects collaboration session states, and a feature set adjustment component that suppresses notifications. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently, improving productivity while managing complexity through modular design rather than monolithic architecture

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The status monitoring component acts as an intermediary between user activity and application behavior. It detects when a user is hosting a collaboration session and mediates by triggering feature set adjustments in other applications, preventing interruptions and improving collaboration efficiency without requiring direct complex interactions between all system components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Loss of information

If status indicators are dynamically adjusted, then information accuracy is improved, but ease of operation worsens due to automatic adjustments

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvestatus information accuracyVSAvoiduser control

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The status indicators and feature sets are made dynamic rather than static. The system automatically adjusts status information and application features based on real-time detection of collaboration session states, ensuring information accuracy reflects current user context while removing the need for manual user control adjustments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS8412819B2Dynamically enabling features of an application based on user status

Publication Date: 2013.04.02 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC

AI summary

In one embodiment, a first application detects a user's activity. Based on the user's activity detected by the first application, a type of user status is determined from among a plurality of different types of possible user status. One or more features are determined of a feature set of a second application that correspond to the type of user status detected by the first application. The corresponding one or more features of the feature set of the second application are limited to prevent the one or more features from interrupting the user's activity. One or more other features of the feature set of the second application that do not correspond to the type of user status detected by the first application are permitted.