Aggregating Endpoint Capabilities for User Communication

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Current communication systems fail to accurately determine the most effective mode of communication for reaching a user across multiple devices, leading to time-consuming and frustrating attempts to connect, as they do not distinguish between active and inactive devices or user preferences.

Innovation Solution

A system that aggregates capabilities from multiple user endpoints to provide an aggregate view of available communication modes, designating preferred methods based on device activity, user preferences, and capabilities, and publishes this information to facilitate successful communication attempts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If current systems display all capabilities for reaching a user across multiple devices, then the information about available communication modes is complete, but the sending user cannot determine which capability is currently active or preferred, leading to communication failures and time-consuming trial-and-error attempts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinformation about active devices and user preferencesVSAvoidtime for multiple communication attempts

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system (communication system/server) that aggregates presence information from multiple endpoints and provides it to sending users. This intermediary consolidates scattered device status information into a unified view, enabling senders to identify active devices and user preferences without manually checking each endpoint, thereby resolving the information gap and reducing unsuccessful communication attempts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary aggregation and publication of presence information before communication attempts occur. By pre-consolidating data about which devices are active and what communication modes are preferred, the system enables senders to make informed decisions upfront, avoiding the need for multiple trial-and-error communication attempts and the associated time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If the sending user cycles through multiple communication capabilities to reach the recipient, then the chance of successful delivery increases, but the process becomes time-consuming and frustrating, potentially causing the sender to give up

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication delivery success rateVSAvoidtime for multiple communication attempts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides feedback to sending users about the recipient's current presence state and preferred communication modes. This feedback mechanism allows senders to adjust their communication strategy based on real-time information about device availability and user preferences, increasing the likelihood of successful delivery while minimizing unnecessary attempts and time expenditure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Reliability

If multiple communications are sent to the same user via different modes, then the probability of reaching the user increases, but the recipient becomes annoyed by receiving the same communication repeatedly

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication delivery success rateVSAvoidrecipient annoyance

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The intermediary system acts as a smart router that receives communication requests and directs them to the most appropriate active endpoint based on aggregated presence information. By intelligently selecting which device should receive the communication, the system avoids duplicate deliveries across multiple devices, maintaining high delivery success rates while preventing recipient annoyance from receiving the same message repeatedly

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies different communication routing decisions based on the specific context of each endpoint's state and the recipient's preferences for different communication modes. By tailoring the delivery location and mode to local conditions (which device is active, what mode is preferred), the system optimizes delivery success while minimizing harmful effects of duplicate communications

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Data Source

PatentUS9686368B2Aggregating endpoint capabilities for a user

Publication Date: 2017.06.20 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method and system for aggregating capabilities from multiple endpoints associated with a user are provided. The system aggregates the capabilities of the endpoints associated with a user into an aggregate view of available modes of communication for reaching the user. Then, the system publishes the aggregate view so that other users who want to send communications to the user will know the modes of communication available for that user. In addition, the system may designate certain modes of communication as preferred or as capable of reaching the user.