Handheld Device Availability Protocol Using Step-Wise Status Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging protocols are imprecise in indicating user availability on handheld devices, leading to wasted time and bandwidth as users are often marked as 'available' even when they are not, due to their portable nature and constant connectivity.
Innovation Solution
A method and protocol that provide step-wise availability indications on handheld devices, determining the extent of user activity to generate relative availability values, which are then signaled to other devices, allowing for more accurate representation of user availability, reducing unnecessary communication attempts and bandwidth usage.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional instant messaging protocols are used to indicate user availability, then the device can be simply marked as available or unavailable, but this binary indication is imprecise for handheld devices that remain constantly connected, leading to wasted time and bandwidth when users are actually unavailable
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the binary availability state into multiple discrete availability levels (e.g., currently active, available, away, busy, unavailable). This segmentation allows for more precise indication of user availability while maintaining a structured protocol framework that builds upon existing instant messaging protocols rather than completely replacing them.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of availability indication from a binary state (available/unavailable) to a multi-level state with distinct availability levels. This parameter change enables more nuanced representation of user availability while the protocol structure manages the complexity through standardized level definitions and transition rules.
2Productivity
If multiple availability levels are implemented to provide precise user status information, then communication efficiency improves by reducing messages to unavailable users, but the protocol and device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by proactively determining and broadcasting availability levels before actual messaging occurs. The device continuously monitors its state and pre-establishes its availability level, allowing other users to make informed decisions about whether to initiate communication, thereby preventing wasted messaging attempts before they occur.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements feedback mechanisms where the device continuously monitors its own activity state and automatically updates its availability level accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that availability information remains current and accurate without requiring manual user input, reducing the operational complexity while improving messaging efficiency.
3Measurement precision
If the device continuously monitors user activity to determine availability, then accurate availability data is provided, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements periodic action by monitoring user activity at defined intervals and updating availability levels based on detected state changes rather than continuously monitoring every moment. This approach maintains accurate availability data by detecting significant state transitions while reducing energy consumption by avoiding constant monitoring during stable states.
Data Source
AI summary
An improved handheld electronic device and an associated method are provided in which enhanced information regarding an “availability” of a user of a handheld electronic device is provided to another electronic device in a messaging environment. Such availability data provides step-wise indications of the relative availabilities of one or more users of electronic devices in a messaging environment. The step-wise indications can, for instance, range from an availability level of “currently active” to several levels of nonavailability. The device and method can be incorporated into an existing messaging environment.