IMPS Transient Object Notifications for Auction Status Updates

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing online auction systems require users to periodically check for updates on their bids, making it cumbersome to manage and receive notifications about changes in auction item status.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of Immediate Messaging and Presence Services (IMPS) technology using transient objects or object identifiers to notify registered participants of changes in the status of items of interest, allowing for 'push' notifications rather than manual data retrieval.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Loss of information

If users periodically check for auction updates manually, then users can obtain information about bid status changes, but the process becomes cumbersome and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveauction status informationVSAvoiduser time for checking updates

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements automatic feedback by notifying users of auction status changes through IMPS messages. When bid status changes occur, the system automatically sends notifications to registered users, eliminating the need for manual checking and ensuring users receive timely information about auction updates.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system provides self-service by automatically monitoring auction status changes and proactively notifying users. The notification system operates autonomously, detecting status changes and delivering updates without requiring user intervention or manual queries, thus saving user time and effort.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Reliability

If users manually monitor auction status, then users can track bid changes, but the complexity of the system increases due to requiring continuous user initiation

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvebid status trackingVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary notification service that mediates between the auction system and users. This intermediary automatically monitors auction status changes and relays information to users via IMPS, simplifying the overall system architecture by centralizing the monitoring function rather than requiring direct user-auction system interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Reliability

If the system uses persistent identifiers for IMPS communication, then communication reliability improves, but the system cannot handle transient auction objects effectively

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication reliabilityVSAvoidhandling transient objects

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the identifier system by introducing transient object identifiers specifically for auction items, distinct from persistent user identifiers. This segmentation allows the system to maintain reliable communication through IMPS while effectively handling the temporary, transient nature of auction objects, as each auction item receives its own dedicated transient identifier.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentUS7720719B2Method and system for IMPS-based transient objects

Publication Date: 2010.05.18 ORANGE SA

AI summary

By utilizing IMPS technology and transient objects or object identifiers, a method and system can notify registered participants of changes in the status of those transient objects. One use of such technology is in the area of on-line auctions, but other uses include the general area of distributed queuing for an item of interest (or a subject of interest) and dispatching to similarly interested users, through transitive presence, information concerning corresponding transactions or actions.