IM Contact Server for Content Provider Registration

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current mobile communication systems face challenges in efficiently delivering and managing digital content and services across mobile devices, with complexities in development, payment, licensing, and rights management, as well as limitations in instant messaging and contact management.

Innovation Solution

A communications system that includes a content provider device with an instant message (IM) contact server, allowing subscriber access to content providers, and a communications server for secure content delivery, enabling easy registration, notification, and validation of subscriber devices for content access and updates.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If a mobile application incorporates additional features and services, then functionality and user value increase, but development complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoiddevelopment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements a universal framework that enables mobile devices to access multiple services and features through a single application interface. The system provides email, instant messaging, and other communication services through unified access points, allowing one application to perform multiple functions rather than requiring separate applications for each service.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces an intermediary framework layer between the user interface and various services. This framework handles complex operations such as message routing, contact management, and service coordination, thereby simplifying the user interface while managing the underlying complexity of multiple services and protocols.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If instant messaging service is added to mobile device, then communication capability improves, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoidservice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines instant messaging service with existing mobile device communication capabilities. The IM service is integrated with the device's email, contact management, and messaging infrastructure, allowing instant messaging to share resources and protocols with existing services rather than operating as a completely separate system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The messaging framework is designed to handle multiple communication protocols and service types through a unified interface. The same framework supports email, instant messaging, and other communication services, allowing the device to perform multiple communication functions without requiring separate dedicated systems for each.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If contact management features are enhanced, then user experience improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveuser experienceVSAvoidsystem complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The contact management system automatically performs tasks such as contact discovery, service matching, and message routing without requiring manual user configuration. The system self-configures communication paths and service associations based on contact information, thereby improving ease of use while managing complexity automatically in the background.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system pre-establishes service associations and communication pathways when contacts are added or updated. Contact cards are pre-configured with relevant service information and communication preferences, allowing the system to quickly route messages and notifications without requiring real-time decision-making or complex user input during communication events.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2426875B1Communications system having instant message (im) contact based communications and related methods
Publication Date: 2014.04.23 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2426875B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2426875B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2426875B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4

AI summary

A communications system may include a content provider device having an instant message (IM) content provider contact associated therewith and may be configured to store content. The communications system may include an IM contact server configured to register the content provider device and thereafter allow subscriber access to the IM content provider contact. The communications system may further include a communications server configured to communicate with the content provider device, and a subscriber device configured to access the IM content provider contact from the IM contact server, and download content from the content provider device via the communications server and based upon the IM content provider contact.