Email Client UI Controls for Business Application Input

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional business processes face delays and inefficiencies due to users' unfamiliarity with business application UIs, requiring navigation away from email clients and limited connectivity, leading to latency in providing necessary input for automated processes.

Innovation Solution

A method that allows users to interact with business processes directly from an email client by sending UI controls within email messages, enabling users to provide input without leaving the email client and function with limited or no corporate network connectivity, using a process ID to correlate responses with specific workflow instances.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users interact with business process applications through dedicated application UIs, then the applications can collect necessary input data, but users experience delays and confusion due to unfamiliarity with the application UI and context switching from email client

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser familiarity with interfaceVSAvoidlatency in providing input

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent uses email as an intermediary communication channel between the business process application and the user. Instead of requiring users to access the business application directly, the system sends email notifications containing interactive UI elements that allow users to provide input within their familiar email client environment, eliminating context switching while still collecting necessary process input data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The email client serves multiple functions: it acts as both the user's primary communication tool and the interface for interacting with business process applications. By embedding interactive UI controls within email messages, the system allows the email client to handle both traditional email communication and business process input collection, reducing the need for users to learn and switch between multiple application interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If users access business applications to provide input, then the process can proceed, but users are limited to working only when connected to the corporate network

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveability to complete workVSAvoidwork environment flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

Email serves as a portable intermediary that decouples the user from the corporate network infrastructure. Users can receive and respond to business process requests via email while offline or on mobile devices with limited network access. The email system delivers process notifications and collects user input without requiring continuous connection to the corporate network, enabling flexible work environments

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system prepares and delivers business process requests to users via email in advance, allowing users to review and respond to process inputs at their convenience. Email messages containing interactive UI elements are delivered to users' devices beforehand, enabling them to provide input whenever they have network access, rather than requiring immediate interaction with the business application

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Reliability

If the business application sends notifications to users, then users are alerted of needed input, but delays occur because users must switch contexts and navigate to external websites

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoidresponse time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the notification delivery mechanism with the input collection interface by embedding interactive UI controls directly within the email message. Instead of sending separate notifications that require users to navigate to external websites, the system combines the alert and the response interface into a single email message, allowing users to provide input immediately without context switching or navigation delays

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

Email acts as an intermediary that delivers both the notification and the response interface simultaneously. The email message contains embedded UI elements that enable users to interact with the business process directly within the email client, eliminating the need to navigate to external websites while maintaining reliable notification delivery

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8694895B2Human interaction with application from email client

Publication Date: 2014.04.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

The embodiments described herein generally relate to systems and methods for providing human interaction with a business application from an email client. To complete a business process, individuals often must provide information to a business application. However, it may be difficult for the individual to interact with the application if the user is not familiar with the application's user interface (UI) or if it is necessary to navigate to the application's UI. Accordingly, it may be more efficient to interact with the application using a UI within an email client. User input for an automated business process can be submitted from a general-purpose email client. Benefits from such include providing input to a business application while working within the familiar email interface; not needing to switch contexts to complete work for the application; and completing work for the application while being offline or having limited corporate network connectivity.