Entity Reference System for Messaging Threads
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing messaging systems lack effective methods to enhance user interactions by clearly referencing entities within messaging threads, leading to confusion and inefficiencies in conveying mentions and augmenting message content.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of an entity reference system that predicts entity invocations, suggests entities, generates and sends entity references, and augments messages with additional information and controls, allowing users to mention users, media, products, and other entities, and provides notifications and visual cues for mentioned users.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If entity references are implemented in messaging threads, then user interaction clarity and engagement are improved, but system complexity and processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an entity reference component as an intermediary layer between the messaging system and users. This component automatically detects, resolves, and inserts entity references (such as user mentions, product references, media items) into messages, thereby improving message clarity without requiring complex user input. The intermediary handles the complexity of entity resolution internally while presenting a simple interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service through automatic entity detection and reference generation. The entity reference component autonomously analyzes message content, identifies relevant entities, and inserts appropriate references without requiring manual user configuration or intervention. This self-service approach maintains message clarity while minimizing the operational complexity users would otherwise need to manage.
2Loss of information
If entity references with augmentation elements are added to messages, then information completeness and user engagement are improved, but message processing time and computational resources increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-generating and caching augmentation elements (such as entity profiles, related information, and interactive controls) before they are needed in message processing. When an entity reference is inserted, the corresponding augmentation elements are already prepared and can be quickly attached to the message, reducing real-time processing requirements while maintaining information completeness.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements local quality by selectively adding augmentation elements only to specific entity references within messages, rather than uniformly processing entire messages. This targeted approach ensures that information is enhanced where needed (at the entity reference level) while minimizing unnecessary processing of other message portions, thereby balancing information completeness with processing efficiency.
3Ease of operation
If predictive entity suggestions are provided to users, then ease of use and user experience are improved, but system computational load and data processing requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by providing entity suggestions only in contexts where they are most beneficial - specifically when users are composing messages that likely contain entity references. The system analyzes message context and selectively activates suggestion features rather than continuously running prediction algorithms, thereby reducing overall computational load while maintaining ease of use when needed. This selective approach avoids excessive processing in situations where entity suggestions would not add value.
Data Source
AI summary
Techniques for communicating entity references in messaging groups are described. In one embodiment, an apparatus may comprise a client messaging component operative to receive a message at a recipient client device from a messaging system, the recipient client device associated with a recipient user account, the message comprising an entity reference, the message addressed to a message thread; and extract an augmentation element for the entity reference from the message; and a user interface component operative to display the augmentation element in a message thread display for the message thread on the recipient client device. Other embodiments are described and claimed.