Mobile Contact Alias Management Across Communication Apps
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional mobile communication devices face difficulties in managing and navigating large contact lists across multiple communication applications, as each contact can have different identifiers for various services, making it cumbersome to access and use contact information efficiently.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of aliases that are easy to remember, allowing users to access contact information across multiple communication applications, such as SMS, IM, and MMS, with a single alias, which can be used to select the appropriate contact identifier for each service.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional address books store detailed contact information for multiple communication applications, then complete contact data is maintained, but the address book becomes difficult to navigate and use
Solution Approach 1:
The contact information is segmented into two parts: a compact display view showing only essential information (name, alias, communication application icon) and a detailed background database containing all contact identifiers. This segmentation allows the address book to maintain complete contact data while presenting a simplified, easy-to-navigate interface to users.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention extracts the navigation burden from the complete contact data. The display view extracts only the most essential identifying information, while the detailed contact identifiers are extracted to the background database, allowing users to navigate using simplified visual cues rather than wading through extensive contact details.
2Speed
If speed dial locations are used to access contacts, then quick access is possible, but users can only remember identifiers for a small number of contacts
Solution Approach 1:
The invention introduces visual aliases and communication application icons as intermediaries between the user and contact identifiers. Instead of directly remembering numeric speed dial identifiers, users interact with meaningful visual representations (aliases and icons) that are easier to remember, thereby expanding the number of contacts that can be quickly accessed.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates visual copies of contact information in the form of aliases and application icons that are displayed in the address book view. These visual copies serve as memorable proxies for the actual contact identifiers, allowing users to quickly identify and access contacts without needing to remember complex identifier systems.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple contact identifiers are stored for each contact across different communication applications, then comprehensive contact support is achieved, but the amount of information becomes overwhelming
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies local quality by displaying different information densities in different parts of the system. The foreground address book view presents simplified contact information tailored for quick identification, while the background database maintains comprehensive contact identifiers for each communication application. This allows the system to support multiple applications without overwhelming the user interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention adds a visual dimension to contact information by incorporating communication application icons alongside aliases. This transforms the contact display from a text-heavy list into a visually distinctive interface where each contact is represented by its alias and associated application icon, making it easier to distinguish between contacts and their associated services without increasing information volume in the display.
Data Source
AI summary
An alias can be used to access address book information across multiple communication applications. The alias can also be a screen name, for example, an instant messenger screen name. However, the alias can be used to access more than just instant messenger contact information; it can be used to access other information, including telephone numbers, SMS, EMS and MMS contact information as well as instant messenger contact information. Additionally, the single alias can be used to access instant messenger contact information across multiple instant messenger services. An alias can be assigned that is easy to remember; for example, it can be a shortened version of the contact's name, or a nickname.