Presence Server PIM Data Change Notification

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current presence-based technologies primarily focus on user online status and lack integration with personal information management (PIM) systems, limiting broader personal interaction among communication users.

Innovation Solution

Integrating a PIM application with a presence system, where a presence server maintains records of user changes in PIM information and sends notifications to subscribed users, allowing automatic alerts for changes in calendaring, contact, or task information.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If presence-based technology is used to report user status changes, then user online status information is provided, but broader personal interaction among communication users is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvepersonal interaction capabilityVSAvoidPIM information sharing

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the presence system with the PIM application by integrating a presence client into the PIM software. This merging allows the presence system to access and report changes in PIM data (calendar events, contacts, tasks) while maintaining the existing presence functionality for online status, thereby enabling broader personal interaction without losing PIM information

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The integrated presence client serves multiple functions: it monitors presence status (online/offline), tracks PIM data changes (calendar, contacts, tasks), and notifies both the user and subscribed watchers. This multi-functionality resolves the contradiction by making the presence system versatile enough to handle both traditional presence reporting and PIM information sharing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Extent of automation

If PIM application is integrated with presence system, then automatic notification of PIM changes is enabled, but system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveautomatic notification capabilityVSAvoidsystem integration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The presence client automatically monitors PIM data changes and generates notifications without requiring manual intervention. The system self-manages the subscription process, change detection, and notification delivery to both the user and watchers, achieving high automation while keeping the integration architecture relatively simple through standardized presence protocols

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS7730156B1Method and system for reporting changes in PIM data

Publication Date: 2010.06.01 SPRINT SPECTRUM LLC

AI summary

A method and system for reporting changes in personal information management (PIM) data. A user operating a client station subscribes to a presence server to be notified when a change in another user's PIM data occurs. The presence server responsively subscribes to a PIM host. When the designated change occurs, the PIM host notifies the presence server. The presence server then correlates the notification with the user's subscription and responsively notifies the user of the change.