Message Update Service for Inbox Clutter Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Consumers face an influx of obsolete electronic messages related to deals and events, leading to inbox inundation and confusion, as these messages expire or become irrelevant over time or upon occurrence of specific events, making it burdensome to sort through irrelevant information.
Innovation Solution
A networked environment with a message generator service and update notification generator tracks and updates time and event-based messages, altering their status by moving, deleting, or changing their appearance when obsolete, ensuring recipients are not burdened with outdated information.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If consumers receive multiple electronic messages from multiple merchants, then consumers receive comprehensive deal and event information, but consumers' inboxes become inundated with obsolete messages
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary actions by detecting expiration dates and events associated with messages before they become obsolete. The message updater service proactively identifies messages that will expire or become obsolete based on predetermined criteria, and automatically alters their appearance or moves them to archive folders before they clutter the inbox, preventing the inbox inundation problem from occurring in the first place
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes parameters of messages by altering their visual appearance (e.g., fading, dimming, changing color) or their location (moving to archive folders) based on their expiration status. This transforms the state of messages from visible and prominent to subdued or archived, effectively reducing the perceived quantity of messages in the active inbox while preserving the information
2Duration of action of moving object
If consumers do not access messages for a period of time, then messages remain in the inbox, but the inbox becomes burdened with outdated information
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements feedback mechanisms by continuously monitoring messages for expiration dates and associated events. The message updater service receives feedback about message status (expired, about to expire, or still valid) and automatically adjusts the message state accordingly. This feedback loop ensures that messages are updated or archived at the appropriate time without requiring consumer intervention, maintaining information relevance while preserving it for future reference
3Quantity of substance
If obsolete messages are not managed, then inbox contains all historical messages, but recipients experience confusion and burden
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments messages into different categories based on their expiration status and relevance. Messages are divided into active messages (currently valid and prominently displayed) and archived messages (expired or obsolete and moved to separate folders). This segmentation allows the inbox to maintain only relevant messages for easy management while preserving obsolete messages in organized archive folders, reducing recipient confusion without losing historical information
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses visual changes including color modifications, fading, dimming, or other appearance alterations to distinguish obsolete messages from active ones. These visual transformations make it clear which messages are no longer relevant, reducing recipient confusion by clearly indicating the status of each message without requiring manual sorting or review
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed are various embodiments relating to the creation, tracking, and modification of electronic messages that may become obsolete or irrelevant to the message recipient after a specific time or occurrence of an event. Upon detection of an event, the message may be altered so that the message recipient is not burdened by obsolete or irrelevant messages. The alteration may include moving to another folder, changing the appearance, deletion, and/or any other alteration that would reflect that the message is longer valid.