Instant Messaging Alert Volume Control via Event Differentiation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Instant messaging systems lack effective volume control mechanisms to differentiate between initial and subsequent events, leading to undesirably consistent volume levels and potential confusion in identifying different types of events or user identities.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a system that adjusts the volume of audible alerts based on the characteristics of events during an instant messaging session, such as initial versus subsequent messages, and detects lapse conditions to reset volume levels, allowing for distinct volume settings for initial and subsequent events.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If consistent volume levels are used for all audible alerts, then the system is simple to implement, but users cannot effectively differentiate between initial and subsequent events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dynamics by making the audible alert volume variable rather than fixed. The system dynamically adjusts volume based on event characteristics - playing alerts at full volume for initial events and reduced volume for subsequent events. This dynamic volume adjustment enables users to differentiate between event types while maintaining a relatively simple implementation framework.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the volume parameter of audible alerts based on event characteristics. By modifying the volume parameter dynamically - using full volume for initial events and reduced volume for subsequent events - the system provides clear differentiation between event types without requiring complex additional hardware or interfaces.
2Reliability
If high volume alerts are played for all events, then user attention is maintained, but noise pollution increases during inactive periods
Solution Approach 1:
The system dynamically adjusts alert volume based on conversation activity detection. During active conversations, alerts play at full volume to maintain user attention. During inactive periods, the system reduces alert volume to minimize noise pollution. This dynamic adaptation allows the system to maintain reliability of attention during needed periods while reducing harmful noise during inactive periods.
Solution Approach 2:
The system uses feedback from conversation activity detection to control alert volume. By continuously monitoring conversation state and adjusting volume accordingly - high volume during active conversation, low volume during inactivity - the system balances user attention maintenance with noise reduction. The feedback loop ensures appropriate volume levels match actual usage conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
Controlling the volume of an audible alert associated with an instant messaging communications session includes rendering, on a first instant messaging user system, an instant messaging application user interface for an instant messaging communications session involving at least a first instant messaging user and a second instant messaging user, receiving notification of an event related to the instant messaging communications session, determining a characteristic of the event, accessing an audible alert to be rendered to signal existence of the event, adjusting based upon the determined characteristic of the event a volume of the audible alert corresponding to the event, and rendering the audible alert to signal existence of the event.