Dynamic Menu Generation in Unified Messaging Systems

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing unified messaging and telephony systems do not accommodate user actions based on information contained within messages, requiring users to manually note or replay messages to take subsequent actions, such as calling a number or sending an email, which is inconvenient.

Innovation Solution

A unified messaging system that parses messages for actionable items like phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs, dynamically generating menu options allowing users to take corresponding actions directly after listening to a message, using natural language semantic parsing and automated speech recognition to identify and contextualize these items.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If standard fixed menu options are provided in unified messaging systems, then system simplicity is maintained, but user convenience deteriorates when actions based on message content are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser convenienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The menu options are transformed from static to dynamic by automatically generating context-specific options based on message content. The system analyzes message text to identify actionable items (phone numbers, email addresses, URLs) and dynamically adds relevant options to the menu, allowing the interface to adapt to each message's specific content rather than presenting the same fixed options for all messages

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs automatic content analysis and menu generation without requiring user intervention. The messaging system itself parses the message content, identifies actionable items, and constructs the appropriate menu options, eliminating the need for users to manually note information or request specific actions

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If users manually note or replay messages to take subsequent actions, then system simplicity is maintained, but time efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent on manual note-taking
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of the message content before presenting it to the user. By pre-identifying actionable items such as phone numbers, email addresses, and URLs within the message, the system prepares context-specific options in advance, allowing users to immediately select desired actions without needing to replay the message or manually extract information

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system acts as an intermediary between the message content and the user by automatically parsing the message, extracting actionable information, and translating it into user-friendly menu options. This intermediary processing eliminates the need for users to directly interact with raw message content through replaying or note-taking

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP1982266B1Messaging system with content-based dynamic menu generation
Publication Date: 2019.09.11 CISCO TECHNOLOGY INC
  • EP1982266B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP1982266B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP1982266B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A unified messaging system for an enterprise includes a messaging module operable to store a message sent by a first user to a second user in a first media type, and to deliver the message to the second user in either the first type or a second media type. A natural language speech parsing (NLSP) module coupled with the messaging module is operable to detect an actionable item contained within the message, the messaging module dynamically modifying a response menu to include an option corresponding to the actionable item, and then presenting the modified response menu to the second user concurrent with or following delivery of the message. It is submitted with the understanding that it will not be used to interpret or limit the scope or meaning of the claims.