Email-Based Session Scheduling Without Pre-Existing Accounts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current conferencing systems require users to have an account with the service provider to schedule and launch online and phone sessions, limiting user adoption and flexibility, as they often need to integrate with calendar applications and install additional software, and fail to address how to establish meetings for previously unknown hosts using email.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that allow users to schedule and launch online and phone sessions via email without requiring a pre-existing account with the service provider, by automatically creating a user account and sending session invitations, enabling sessions to be initiated directly from within the user's calendar tool of choice, and specifying the type of session through designated email addresses.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If users are required to have an account with the service provider before scheduling sessions, then the service provider can maintain control and security, but user adoption is limited and the process becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the account creation and authentication steps from the session scheduling process. Users can send meeting requests via email without having an account, and the service provider automatically creates accounts and processes requests in the background, separating the core scheduling function from account management complexity
Solution Approach 2:
The service provider's system automatically creates user accounts, processes meeting requests, and manages session setup without requiring user intervention for account creation or software installation. The system serves itself by handling authentication and session management automatically
2Ease of operation
If the service provider integrates with calendar applications and requires software installation, then session scheduling can be streamlined within existing tools, but the complexity of implementation increases and user adoption decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The service provider's email-based system serves multiple functions: it acts as a calendar, meeting scheduler, and session launcher simultaneously. By using the universally adopted email protocol, the system eliminates the need for separate calendar integrations or additional software installations while maintaining ease of use
Solution Approach 2:
Email serves as an intermediary that bridges users and the conferencing service without requiring direct integration with calendar applications. The email system mediates the scheduling process, allowing users to leverage existing email clients without installing provider-specific software or plugins
3Adaptability or versatility
If the system requires prior account establishment, then service provider control is maintained, but the ability to accommodate unknown hosts initiating meetings is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The service provider's system performs preliminary actions by automatically creating user accounts and preparing session infrastructure before the actual meeting request is processed. This allows unknown hosts to initiate meetings without pre-existing accounts while maintaining system control through automated account creation and verification processes
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and system for scheduling or launching online and phone sessions between two or more people via email and other electronic communication channels without the requirement for an account with the session service provider when scheduling the session. By including a designated service provider email address in the recipient list of the host's email or meeting invitation, a user account can be, and in some embodiments is automatically created by the service provider system in response to receipt of such an Email and session invitations are automatically sent to the host and invitees designated in the host's email or meeting invitation. In this way the host and invites calendars can be automatically updated and populated with session information and information on how to joint the session, e.g., on-line meeting or conference. The Email from the communications provider system can, and in some embodiments does, take the form of an updated invite Email message with the information in the Email from the service provider system updating or replacing information supplied by the original invite from the host.