Notification System Management via Self-Service Contact Prioritization
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional notification systems are cumbersome to set up and maintain, often result in errors, and fail to efficiently communicate emergency notifications across various communication technologies, lacking real-time tracking and confirmation of receipt.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to directly manage their contact information, prioritize communication paths, and establish notification hierarchies, enabling efficient emergency and non-emergency notifications across multiple terminal types, including voice and text-based systems, with real-time reporting and geographic-specific alerts.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If operators manually type in contact information for notification systems, then the system can be set up, but it results in time-consuming tasks and many errors
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables notification recipients to self-register and self-maintain their own contact information through web-based interfaces. Users can input, update, and manage their own notification preferences and contact details without operator intervention, eliminating manual data entry errors and reducing maintenance time while improving data accuracy through direct user input.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional notification systems use traditional communication methods, then they can operate existing infrastructure, but they fail to provide notifications to modern communication technologies like cell phones and two-way pagers
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a universal notification system that interfaces with multiple communication technologies including cell phones, two-way pagers, SMS messaging, and instant messaging platforms. The system automatically selects and delivers notifications through the most appropriate and fastest available channel for each recipient, ensuring broad compatibility while optimizing delivery speed across diverse communication devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system dynamically adapts to different communication technologies and automatically selects the optimal delivery method based on recipient preferences, message type, and available channels. The system can switch between voice calls, text messages, email, and instant messaging in real-time to ensure fastest possible delivery while maintaining compatibility with various devices.
3Loss of information
If conventional notification systems send notifications without tracking, then they can be simple to operate, but they cannot track whether notifications were received or by which means
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements automatic feedback mechanisms that track notification delivery status, receipt confirmation, and the specific communication channel used. The system monitors whether notifications were successfully delivered, whether recipients acknowledged receipt, and which communication method was most effective, providing comprehensive tracking information back to the notification issuer without requiring manual intervention.
4Loss of time
If conventional notification systems lack real-time reporting, then they can operate with simple infrastructure, but the issuing entity cannot track in real time who has received notification
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides real-time feedback and tracking of notification delivery status through automated monitoring of delivery confirmations, recipient acknowledgments, and communication channel performance. The notification issuer receives immediate updates on which recipients have been contacted, which have confirmed receipt, and which require follow-up, enabling real-time situational awareness without manual tracking efforts.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for providing electronic notifications are described. A server is configured to serve an interface, such as a Web page, to a terminal that requests from a user a first set of user contacts to be used to provide notifications to the user by a telephonic notification system in response to a notification process initiated by an organization associated with the user. The interface further requests a first set of priorities corresponding to the first set of user contacts, wherein the notification system will attempt to provide notifications to the first set user contracts in an order based at least in part on the first set of priorities. A database is configured to store the first set of user contacts and the first set of priorities. A voice interface circuit is configured to transmit a voice notification to at least one of the first set of user contacts.