Differential IM Availability via Relationship Chart Segmentation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing instant messaging (IM) systems are overly restrictive in managing IM availability, treating all potential interlocutors equally, which can lead to distractions and decreased productivity, as they do not allow for differential display of availability based on the user's relationships and communication needs.
Innovation Solution
A method and system that create a relationship chart of potential interlocutors, define a willingness to communicate with a temporal component, and establish IM availability based on this chart, allowing for differential display and alert generation, enabling users to set specific IM availability for subsets of interlocutors, such as supervisors or coworkers, while blocking or allowing IM invitations accordingly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If a user sets their status to 'do not disturb' to block IM invitations, then the user can avoid distractions and focus on work, but important messages from supervisors or colleagues may be blocked and the user may miss critical communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the single IM availability status into multiple interlocutor-specific availability settings. Instead of a uniform 'do not disturb' status that blocks all IM invitations, the system creates differentiated availability states for different groups of interlocutors (e.g., supervisors, colleagues, external contacts). This allows the user to maintain productivity by blocking general distractions while remaining accessible to important contacts through selective availability segments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by assigning different availability properties to different interlocutors based on their relationship to the user. Each interlocutor group receives a tailored availability setting rather than a uniform status. For example, supervisors may see the user as available while general contacts see the user as unavailable, allowing important messages to pass through while filtering out less critical interruptions.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the system blocks all IM invitations when a user is unavailable, then the user is protected from interruptions, but the system becomes overly restrictive and prevents necessary communications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamics by making IM availability settings adaptable and changeable based on different interlocutors and time periods. The availability configuration is not static but can be dynamically adjusted for different groups of people and time intervals. This allows the system to adapt to varying communication needs while maintaining protection from inappropriate interruptions.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the parameter of availability from a single binary state (available/unavailable) to multiple graded states that can be assigned to different interlocutors. By changing the availability parameter into a multi-dimensional attribute with different levels and interpretations for different people, the system maintains flexibility in communication while still providing protection from harmful interruptions.
3Device complexity
If the system treats all potential interlocutors the same way, then the system is simple to implement, but it cannot differentiate between important and less important contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The patent adds another dimension to the availability system by introducing the interlocutor identity variable. Instead of a one-dimensional availability status, the system creates a two-dimensional matrix of availability settings across different interlocutor groups. This dimensional expansion enables precise differentiation between important and less important contacts while maintaining a structured, manageable framework through predefined interlocutor categories.
Data Source
AI summary
The invention provides a method, system, and program product for differentially displaying an instant messaging (IM) availability to a plurality of potential interlocutors. In one embodiment, the invention includes creating a relationship chart of potential interlocutors based on an organizational chart; defining a willingness to communicate, including a temporal component; establishing an IM availability for each potential interlocutor using the relationship chart and the willingness to communicate; sending the IM availability to a server; transmitting the IM availability from the server to a potential interlocutor's computing device capable of displaying the IM availability; receiving an IM invitation from an interlocutor; and generating an alert based on the IM availability for the interlocutor.