Persistent Connection Management for Fluid Multiparty Communications

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Solution Overview

Problem

Traditional communication networks are inflexible, requiring new connections for each communication, leading to delays and inadequate support for multiple, simultaneous communications, especially in managing different media types and user interactions within groups.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an instant ready-on mode for user devices to maintain connections, allowing seamless communication switching between media types and prioritizing communications based on user activity and bandwidth, with features like contextual communications and composite signals to optimize network usage.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If traditional communication networks establish separate single-use connections for each communication, then connection reliability is improved, but connection establishment time increases and user experience becomes choppy

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveconnection reliabilityVSAvoidconnection establishment time

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system establishes preliminary persistent connections between devices before communications are needed. These pre-established connections remain active in a ready state, allowing communications to begin immediately without connection establishment delays when users initiate interactions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The patent maintains continuous persistent connections between devices rather than establishing and tearing down connections for each communication. This continuity allows multiple communications to flow seamlessly over the same connection infrastructure, eliminating repeated connection establishment times.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

2Device complexity

If traditional networks allow only direct or conference communication types, then system simplicity is maintained, but functionality for multiple simultaneous communications is inadequate

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication type simplicityVSAvoidmulti-communication support

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically allows devices to participate in multiple communication types simultaneously. A single device can be part of a direct communication while also participating in conference calls or group communications, with the ability to fluidly switch between different communication modes without requiring separate dedicated connections for each type.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The persistent connection infrastructure serves multiple communication functions simultaneously. The same connection framework supports direct communications, conference calls, group communications, and media sharing, making the system versatile without requiring separate specialized connection types for each communication mode.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If conference communications treat all user inputs equally, then fairness is improved, but ability to manage multiple simultaneous communications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecommunication fairnessVSAvoidcommunication management efficiency

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies different quality levels or priority treatments to different communications based on local conditions. While all users maintain equal access rights, the system can prioritize certain communications over others based on factors like user activity, bandwidth availability, or communication importance, allowing efficient management of multiple simultaneous communications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

4Device complexity

If traditional networks display communications in parallel with minimal distinction, then system simplicity is maintained, but user ability to manage multiple communications deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedisplay system simplicityVSAvoidcommunication management ease

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses visual differentiation such as color coding, icons, or other visual indicators to distinguish between different types of communications being displayed in parallel. This allows users to quickly identify and manage different communications without increasing system complexity, enhancing ease of operation through intuitive visual cues.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #32Color changes

Data Source

PatentUS9357169B2Multiparty communications and methods that utilize multiple modes of communication

Publication Date: 2016.05.31 SHINDIG

AI summary

Improved methods, systems, and devices for managing communications are provided. A user device may display all ongoing communications so that a user can visualize the communications network or some subset thereof (e.g., a subgroup or group of users). A system may maintain the user device in an instant ready-on mode of communication with the other user devices. A user may then initiate communications with a subgroup (e.g., a pair) or group without initiating a new connection. Accordingly, a user can simultaneously and fluidly communicate at the subgroup level, at the group level, or at the inter-group level. Moreover, users can function as independent actors that can freely form and leave subgroups as well as groups.