Groupware System Unified Shared Email Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing groupware and shared e-mail systems require users to separately log in and manage multiple interfaces, increasing user time and labor without adequately enhancing convenience.

Innovation Solution

A groupware system that requests and acquires partial data from a shared e-mail system to display a unified shared e-mail screen within the groupware interface, allowing users to access shared e-mails without logging into the shared e-mail service separately.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If users separately log in to groupware and shared e-mail system, then both systems can be accessed, but user time and labor increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser convenienceVSAvoiduser time and labor

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the shared e-mail system with the groupware system by allowing the groupware server to acquire shared e-mail data from the shared e-mail server and display it within the groupware interface. This integration eliminates the need for users to separately log in to both systems, as they can access shared e-mails through a single groupware login, thereby reducing user time and labor while maintaining access to both functionalities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The groupware system is enhanced with multi-functionality by incorporating shared e-mail access capabilities. The groupware server not only manages groupware applications but also acquires and displays shared e-mail data, making the groupware system a universal platform that handles both groupware operations and e-mail management through a single interface and authentication mechanism

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Adaptability or versatility

If separate shared e-mail screens are displayed for groupware and shared e-mail system, then both interfaces are available, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinterface availabilityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple shared e-mail screens into a single unified interface displayed within the groupware system. The groupware server acquires shared e-mail data from the shared e-mail server and presents it alongside groupware content in one integrated screen, eliminating the need for users to switch between separate interfaces while maintaining access to both groupware and e-mail functionalities

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The shared e-mail screen is segmented into multiple display areas that can show different shared e-mail contents simultaneously. The groupware server divides the shared e-mail data into portions and displays them in different regions of the unified interface, allowing comprehensive e-mail access within a single screen without requiring multiple separate interfaces

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS20250030656A1Groupware system, display control method, and information storage medium

Publication Date: 2025.01.23 CYBOZU

AI summary

Provided is a groupware system including at least one processor configured to: request a shared e-mail system, which manages shared e-mails, for partial data indicating a shared e-mail portion, which is a portion for the shared e-mails on a shared e-mail screen of groupware; acquire the partial data from the shared e-mail system; and display the shared e-mail screen including a groupware portion, which is a portion for the groupware, and the shared e-mail portion on a user terminal based on the partial data.