Messaging App Presence Status for Blocking Voice Calls

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Solution Overview

Problem

Voice and video communications facilitated through messaging services can be disruptive, as they often require users to be available and responsive, leading to potential interruptions and lack of control over communication modes.

Innovation Solution

Implementing presence status settings in messaging applications that allow users to block or divert voice and video communications, enabling greater control over communication modes based on selected presence statuses, such as 'busy' or 'chat only', to minimize disruptions.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If voice and video communications are enabled through messaging services, then communication capability is improved, but user disruption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication capabilityVSAvoiduser disruption

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts communication behavior based on presence status. When presence status indicates availability, voice and video communications are enabled. When presence status indicates unavailability, these communications are blocked. This dynamic switching resolves the contradiction by making communication capability adaptive rather than static.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameter of communication accessibility based on presence status settings. By modifying the accessibility parameter from open to closed (or vice versa) depending on user availability status, the system maintains communication capability when needed while preventing disruption when unavailable.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Ease of operation

If presence status settings are implemented to block voice and video communications, then user control is improved, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser controlVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The presence status mechanism serves multiple functions simultaneously: it indicates user availability, controls communication blocking, and manages different communication modes (text, voice, video) through a single unified system. This multi-functionality approach improves user control without proportionally increasing system complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically manages communication blocking based on presence status without requiring manual intervention for each communication attempt. The presence status settings self-service by automatically triggering appropriate communication handling, reducing the operational burden on users while maintaining simple interaction.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11290399B2System and method for enabling voice and video communications using a messaging application

Publication Date: 2022.03.29 NEC CORP

AI summary

A method and system are provided for enabling voice communications via a messaging application. The method comprises enabling an instant messaging (IM) presence status option to be selected; and blocking an incoming voice communication when the presence status option has been selected. A method and system are also provided comprising displaying a first instant message in an instant messaging conversation user interface comprising call status information; and displaying updated call status information in the instant messaging conversation user interface after determining whether an call attempt has been successful.