Presence Information Management via Local Application and Sensor Integration
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications systems lack an efficient method for users to share and manage presence information, such as availability for calls and messages, between mobile phone users, especially in a controlled and secure manner.
Innovation Solution
A system that allows users to send and receive presence information to authorized contacts through a local application on their phones, utilizing either client-server or peer-to-peer architecture, which includes features like manual, semi-automatic, and automatic updates, and integrates with calendar and sensor data for enhanced presence indication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If users manually share presence information with contacts, then user control over privacy is improved, but system complexity increases due to authorization management requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The system automatically manages presence information sharing based on pre-defined contact relationships and authorization rules. The presence server automatically determines which contacts should receive presence information without requiring manual authorization requests from each contact, thereby reducing the complexity of authorization management while maintaining privacy control.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where contacts can respond to presence information sharing requests, and the system automatically adjusts authorization status based on these responses. This feedback loop simplifies the user experience by handling authorization management automatically while maintaining user control over privacy.
2Measurement precision
If the system provides automatic presence updates using sensors and location data, then presence information accuracy is improved, but energy consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of continuous monitoring, the system uses periodic action by triggering presence updates only when specific events occur (such as contact adding/removing, location changes, or sensor threshold breaches). This periodic approach maintains presence information accuracy while significantly reducing energy consumption compared to continuous updates.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically adjusts the level of automatic presence updates based on user-defined parameters and contact priorities. Users can configure which contacts receive automatic updates and what triggers should activate, allowing the system to optimize between accuracy and energy consumption by only updating when necessary based on changed parameters.
3Quantity of substance
If the system integrates multiple data sources for presence updates, then presence information completeness is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system segments the presence information collection process into separate modules, each handling specific data sources (calendar integration, location services, sensor data, contact list monitoring). This segmentation allows the system to maintain completeness by incorporating multiple data sources while reducing overall complexity through modular architecture and independent data collection components.
Solution Approach 2:
The presence server acts as a universal intermediary that handles multiple data sources and update mechanisms through a single integrated platform. This multi-functionality approach consolidates complexity into a centralized service rather than requiring each client application to independently manage multiple data sources, thereby improving information completeness while managing system complexity at the server level.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method for a user to send presence information to authorized contacts in her phone's address book and to receive the presence information of those contacts in her phone's address book that have authorized her. A user can authorize any contact in her address book. Optionally, a user can only authorize a contact and be authorized by a contact if she is in that contact's address book. A local application on the phone interacts with and displays the phone's address book, manages the authorization of contacts, updates the client's presence, and receives and displays the presence of contacts. The local application updates the client's presence manually, semi-automatically, or automatically. Semi-automatic updates involve synchronizing with the phone's calendar. Automatic updates may involve the use of location data, the phone's built-in sensors, and augmented reality.