Dynamic Electronic Group Formation via Proximity and Contact Data

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

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, including invitation preparation, permission settings, and managing overlapping or transient group memberships.

Innovation Solution

The use of location information and contact list data to dynamically form and reform electronic groups based on proximity and temporal criteria, with a signature system to identify and manage group membership, allowing for automatic addition or invitation of proximate devices and their contacts, and enabling peer-to-peer communication without requiring a dedicated server.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If manual invitation and administrative processes are used to form electronic groups, then group membership can be established, but the process becomes burdensome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroup formation processVSAvoidtime for invitation preparation and administrative input

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically identifying potential group members based on proximity detection and contact list data before group formation is initiated. This pre-processing of member identification eliminates the need for manual invitation preparation and administrative input during the actual group formation process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing electronic devices to automatically detect proximity, identify candidate members from contact lists, and form groups without requiring manual administrative intervention. The devices serve themselves by autonomously completing tasks that would otherwise require human effort, such as member identification and invitation management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If electronic groups allow dynamic membership with overlapping members, then flexibility is improved, but administrative complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvegroup membership flexibilityVSAvoidadministrative input requirements

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses feedback mechanisms to automatically detect proximity changes and dynamically adjust group membership accordingly. When devices enter or leave proximity zones, the system receives feedback about these changes and automatically updates group composition, eliminating the need for manual administrative management of dynamic membership and overlapping groups.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements dynamic group formation where membership is automatically adjusted based on real-time proximity detection. Groups can form, modify, and dissolve automatically as devices move in and out of proximity zones, providing flexibility and adaptability without requiring administrative intervention to manage changing membership.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9807575B2System and method for forming electronic groups

Publication Date: 2017.10.31 MALIKIE INNOVATIONS LTD

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.