Electronic Message Reconfiguration for Enhanced Notifications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Online service providers face challenges in effectively communicating time-sensitive information to users due to lack of functionality in their electronic messages, which often lack timely and relevant delivery mechanisms.

Innovation Solution

A system that reconfigures electronic messages into enhanced notifications by using a matching engine to determine if the message corresponds to a predefined notification definition, and an enhancement engine that modifies the message based on recipient preferences and presence information, allowing for cascaded delivery and a defined lifespan to ensure timely and relevant delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If basic electronic messages are used for communication, then simplicity and ease of implementation are maintained, but functionality and timeliness of delivery are insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovefunctionalityVSAvoidcomplexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces an intermediary system comprising a matching engine and enhancement engine that sits between the message source and recipient. This intermediary reconfigures basic electronic messages into enhanced notifications by matching messages against predefined notification definitions and applying enhancements based on recipient preferences and presence information, thereby adding functionality without requiring changes to the underlying message infrastructure

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent segments the notification delivery system into distinct functional components: a matching engine that identifies relevant notifications, an enhancement engine that applies customizations, and a delivery mechanism that handles distribution. This segmentation allows each component to specialize in specific tasks, improving overall functionality while maintaining manageable complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Loss of time

If enhanced notifications with multiple delivery mechanisms are implemented, then timeliness and relevance of delivery are improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

ImprovetimelinessVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements preliminary action by pre-defining notification definitions with associated preferences and delivery mechanisms before messages arrive. The system pre-configures multiple delivery options and establishes presence information thresholds in advance, allowing rapid selection and delivery when a matching message is received, thereby ensuring timeliness without adding complex real-time decision logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces dynamics by making the notification delivery system adaptive to changing conditions. The enhancement engine dynamically selects delivery mechanisms based on real-time presence information and recipient preferences, and can adjust delivery timing and channels based on current system state, enabling timely delivery while managing complexity through adaptive rather than rigid logic

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

3Loss of information

If presence information and user preferences are utilized, then relevance and user engagement are enhanced, but processing requirements and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproverelevanceVSAvoidprocessing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies local quality by customizing notifications specifically for each recipient based on their individual preferences and presence information. Rather than applying universal processing to all messages, the enhancement engine tailors each notification's delivery mechanism, timing, and format to the specific recipient's characteristics, maximizing relevance while processing only the necessary personalized data

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Reliability

If cascaded delivery with multiple mechanisms is implemented, then delivery reliability is improved, but resource consumption and system complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedelivery reliabilityVSAvoidresource consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent implements periodic action through cascaded delivery, where notifications are delivered through multiple mechanisms in sequence rather than simultaneously. The system attempts delivery through preferred channels first, then periodically tries alternative channels if initial delivery fails or is not acknowledged, improving reliability while consuming resources only when necessary rather than continuously

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS7640306B2Reconfiguring an electronic message to effect an enhanced notification

Publication Date: 2009.12.29 META PLATFORMS INC

AI summary

An electronic message may be reconfigured to effect an enhanced notification using an input interface to receive at least one electronic message created by or on behalf of a message source for delivery to an intended recipient. A matching engine determines whether the electronic message corresponds to a predetermined definition of an enhanced notification. An enhancement engine reconfigures the electronic message to the enhanced notification if stored information related to the intended recipient indicates that the intended recipient is subscribed to receive the enhanced notification. Reconfiguring the electronic message may include reconfiguring the message to provide special handling, routing or presentation.