Meeting Session Break Scheduling from Participant Requests

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing meeting applications on mobile devices lack efficient features for managing meeting sessions, particularly in scheduling optimal breaks based on participant engagement and requests, leading to unnecessary downtime.

Innovation Solution

A method and system that utilizes a meeting application on mobile devices to receive break request messages from participants, analyze engagement data, and automatically or manually schedule breaks for optimal timing, with features like break request notifications and snooze options.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If breaks are scheduled manually without participant input, then meeting structure is maintained, but participant engagement and satisfaction decrease

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebreak schedulingVSAvoidmeeting efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback by collecting participant engagement data and break requests during the meeting, then using this information to automatically adjust break scheduling. The server receives real-time feedback from participant devices about engagement levels and break needs, processes this data, and sends automated break notifications back to participants, creating a closed-loop system that continuously optimizes meeting flow based on actual participant needs.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

2Productivity

If breaks are scheduled frequently based on participant requests, then participant engagement improves, but meeting downtime increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveparticipant engagementVSAvoidmeeting downtime
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system changes parameters by dynamically adjusting break timing, duration, and frequency based on analyzed engagement data. Instead of fixed break schedules, the server modifies break parameters in real-time according to participant feedback and engagement metrics, optimizing the balance between maintaining engagement and minimizing time loss.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies partial action by implementing break schedules that are responsive to participant needs but not necessarily every time a break is requested. The server analyzes the aggregate data and may choose to implement only the most critical breaks or combine multiple requests, avoiding excessive breaks while still maintaining engagement.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #16Partial or excessive action

3Productivity

If automated break scheduling is implemented, then meeting efficiency improves, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemeeting management efficiencyVSAvoidmeeting application complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that handles the complex data processing and break scheduling logic, while participant devices maintain relatively simple interfaces for submitting feedback and receiving notifications. This distributes complexity to the server infrastructure rather than requiring complex functionality in each participant's device.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements self-service by enabling participants to automatically provide feedback through the engagement tracking features, and the server automatically processes this data and schedules breaks without requiring manual intervention from meeting organizers. The system serves itself by using participant-generated data to drive scheduling decisions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP4167605B1Method and system for managing a meeting session
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP4167605B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4167605B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4167605B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present disclosure relates to a method for managing a meeting session. In accordance with one example, there is provided a method of managing a meeting session between one or more participant devices, the method performed by a meeting host that manages the meeting session. The method comprises receiving one or more break request messages from the one or more participant devices; and automatically sending a break message to the one or more participant devices in response to at least a threshold number of break request messages being received by the meeting host, the break message causing a break notification to be displayed on a display of the one or more participant devices, wherein at least one of the one or more break request messages includes a time parameter providing an indicator of a desired time of the break.