Email-Based Resource Sharing Protocol for PIM Data

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Solution Overview

Problem

Sharing resources such as calendars, contacts, and tasks lists between users is cumbersome and difficult to initiate and manage in existing personal information manager (PIM) programs.

Innovation Solution

Electronic sharing messages are used to request, accept, and decline resource sharing through email, with a PIM generating sharing messages that include options for permissions and reciprocal sharing requests, and a defined sharing protocol for establishing and managing sharing relationships, including URL protocol, data discovery, periodic replication, synchronization, and conflict resolution.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If traditional file sharing methods are used in PIM programs, then resource sharing functionality is provided, but the process of initiating and setting up sharing is cumbersome and difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveease of initiating resource sharingVSAvoidcomplexity of sharing setup process

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an email message as an intermediary carrier to transmit sharing requests and permissions. Instead of direct complex PIM-to-PIM sharing setup, the system uses email as a mediator to convey sharing intentions, permissions, and confirmations between users, dramatically simplifying the initiation process while maintaining robust sharing functionality

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables users to self-configure sharing relationships by selecting permissions directly in the email message. The recipient can accept or decline sharing by responding to the email, and the PIM automatically processes these responses to establish the sharing relationship without requiring manual configuration or complex setup procedures

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Productivity

If manual sharing configuration is implemented, then sharing relationships can be established, but the process is difficult and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvespeed of establishing sharing relationshipsVSAvoidtime required for sharing setup

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-configuring sharing permissions and embedding them in the email message before sending. The recipient receives a ready-to-accept sharing request with all necessary permissions predefined, eliminating the need for time-consuming back-and-forth configuration and accelerating the establishment of sharing relationships

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If simple permission setting is used, then ease of use is improved, but reciprocal sharing requests and detailed permission control are lost

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepermission control flexibilityVSAvoidsimplicity of sharing process

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different permission levels (read-only, read-write, etc.) to different resources (calendar, contacts, tasks) within the same sharing message. Each resource can have its own specific permissions configured independently, allowing detailed control where needed while maintaining overall process simplicity through the email interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS7587501B2System, method, and computer storage medium for establishing sharing of resources with reciprocal requests included in sharing messages

Publication Date: 2009.09.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Electronic messages are used to request, accept and decline sharing resources. A PIM may be used to generate the sharing messages. A user can accept or decline a resource sharing request (e.g., to share access to a calendar, a contacts list and a tasks list) by selecting an option within the electronic message. In particular, a sharing message can be sent via e-mail which sets permissions for others to view a user's information. The sharing message may include a reciprocal sharing request. The sharing message can include both a statement that the initiator is sharing data as well as a request to allow the initiator to share the recipient's data. A sharing protocol is defined that relates to establishing and managing a sharing relationship between clients and sharing providers. A sharing infrastructure is includes a framework for sharing.