Scheduling Requests During Presentations

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Solution Overview

Problem

In large or geographically distributed audiences, such as lecture halls or online presentations, it is difficult for audience members to ask questions due to the limited availability of microphones, and moderators struggle to manage dynamic interactions when questions are unknown in advance.

Innovation Solution

A system that schedules requests from users using portable devices, queuing and selectively coupling them to a communication channel, allowing users to ask questions remotely or in-person, with features like registration, message conversion, and feedback reduction, enabling more dynamic interactions and broader participation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If questions are known in advance (written down), then moderator control over discussion is improved, but dynamic interaction between speaker and audience is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemoderator controlVSAvoiddynamic interaction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system collects and queues questions in advance before the presentation, allowing the moderator to review and prepare for upcoming questions while maintaining the ability to dynamically select which questions to address and when, thus balancing preparation with adaptability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The question queue is dynamically managed during the presentation, allowing the moderator to adjust the order and selection of questions based on audience response and presentation flow, transforming a static pre-written list into a flexible interactive process

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

2Device complexity

If microphones are limited in number, then device complexity is reduced, but audience participation is restricted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemicrophone availabilityVSAvoidaudience participation

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system uses portable devices (cell phones, PDAs) that audience members already possess as virtual microphones, eliminating the need for physical microphones while enabling widespread participation through the existing personal devices

Inventive Principle:

Principle #26Copying

Solution Approach 2:

Portable devices serve multiple functions: they act as microphones for question submission, queue management interfaces, and communication channels, replacing the need for dedicated microphone equipment while enabling broader audience engagement

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Ease of operation

If portable devices are used for questions, then audience participation is improved, but feedback effects in communication channel increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveaudience participationVSAvoidfeedback effects

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces a central server as an intermediary between audience members' portable devices and the presentation system, routing all communications through this mediator to prevent direct feedback loops and manage communication channels effectively

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS8065367B1Method and apparatus for scheduling requests during presentations

Publication Date: 2011.11.22 INTUIT INC

AI summary

A system that schedules requests and receives scheduling requests from multiple users. The system receives a given scheduling request from a portable device associated with a given user, such that the given scheduling request is associated with a question to be asked by the given user. Next, the system queues the scheduling requests and selectively couples the given user to a communication channel, which allows the given user to ask the question.