Message Aggregation Server for Response Consolidation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Managing multiple responses to a request, such as those related to computer security issues, is inefficient due to the need for manual aggregation from a large number of recipients, which can be time-consuming and prone to errors.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that allows senders to indicate within the message that responses should be aggregated, using a message aggregation server to collect and summarize responses based on predefined policies, reducing the workload for the sender and improving efficiency.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If responses are collected directly from all recipients, then complete response data is obtained, but managing and aggregating responses becomes inefficient and time-consuming

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecompleteness of response dataVSAvoidtime for managing responses

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

A message aggregation server is introduced as an intermediary between recipients and the original sender. The server collects responses from multiple recipients, aggregates them according to predefined policies, and delivers consolidated results to the sender, thereby reducing the time and effort required for response management while maintaining data completeness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of information

If manual aggregation of responses is performed, then detailed individual responses are captured, but the process becomes prone to errors and increases workload

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedetail of individual responsesVSAvoidease of managing responses

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The message aggregation server automatically performs the aggregation process without requiring manual intervention. It collects individual responses, applies aggregation policies, and generates consolidated results autonomously, eliminating manual workload and reducing errors while preserving detailed response information for later retrieval if needed

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

3Productivity

If a message aggregation server is used, then response management efficiency is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveefficiency of response collectionVSAvoidcomplexity of messaging system

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The message aggregation server performs multiple functions: collecting responses from multiple recipients, aggregating data according to various policies, managing message routing, and delivering consolidated results. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional component, the system achieves improved efficiency without proportionally increasing overall complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentUS11777879B2Aggregation of widely spread responses

Publication Date: 2023.10.03 INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINE CORPORATION

AI summary

A computer-implemented system and method aggregate electronic response messages. A communication server receives a request message from a sender addressed to a plurality of users. The request message contains within it an aggregation indicator indicating that responses to the request message are to be aggregated. A response address is modified within the request message directing a response message from a user to go to a message aggregation server, and the modified message is sent to each of the plurality of users.