Enterprise App Professional Network Expansion UI

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional productivity and communication tools lack functionality to guide users in developing, maintaining, and expanding their professional networks, leading to difficulties in professional networking.

Innovation Solution

A data-driven professional network expansion method implemented via a computing system, which executes an enterprise application and surfaces a professional networking UI to generate parameters and friction-reducing UI elements for suggested professional contacts based on enterprise-level data.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If conventional productivity and communication tools are used, then basic communication functionality is provided, but professional network expansion is difficult due to lack of guidance and integrated tools

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofessional network expansion capabilityVSAvoiddifficulty in developing and maintaining professional networks

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines professional networking functionality with existing enterprise productivity and communication tools into an integrated user interface. This merging allows users to expand and manage professional networks without switching between separate applications, thereby improving adaptability while maintaining ease of operation through a unified interface

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The system adds multi-functionality to conventional enterprise tools by incorporating professional network expansion capabilities, contact management, and communication features into a single platform. This universal approach enables the same interface to serve both productivity tasks and professional networking goals

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Productivity

If manual professional network expansion is attempted, then users have control over connections, but the process is time-consuming and lacks data-driven guidance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofessional network expansion efficiencyVSAvoidtime spent on professional networking activities

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by automatically generating contact suggestions and prioritizing potential connections based on enterprise data before users need to act. This pre-processing of networking opportunities reduces the time users spend searching for and evaluating potential contacts, thereby improving productivity while minimizing time loss

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

3Adaptability or versatility

If comprehensive professional networking tools are implemented, then network expansion capability is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprofessional networking functionalityVSAvoidcomplexity of integrated communication and networking tools

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments professional networking functionality into distinct modules within the enterprise application interface, such as contact suggestions, connection management, and communication tools. This segmentation allows comprehensive networking capabilities to be provided while maintaining simplicity through organized, modular presentation that users can access as needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS12271401B2Friction reduction during professional network expansion

Publication Date: 2025.04.08 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

A method for friction reduction during professional network expansion is implemented via a computing system including a processor. The method includes executing, via a network, an enterprise application on a remote computing system operated by a user associated with an enterprise and surfacing a professional networking UI on a display of the remote computing system during execution of the enterprise application. The method includes generating parameters that are representative of a connection between the user and each suggested professional contact based on enterprise-level data corresponding to the user and each suggested professional contact and generating friction-reducing UI elements for each suggested professional contact based on the generated parameters. The method includes receiving, via the professional networking UI, user input including a command to open a contact connection page corresponding to one of the suggested professional contacts and surfacing the corresponding contact connection page including the generated friction-reducing UI elements.