Primary Device Alert Acknowledgment for Redundant Notification Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

The generation of alerts across multiple communication devices associated with the same account leads to inefficient use of device resources, as all devices may generate alerts for the same notifications, resulting in unnecessary resource utilization and potential confusion for users.

Innovation Solution

A method where one device, designated as the primary device, acknowledges notifications and transmits this acknowledgment to other associated devices, causing them to delay or cease generating alerts, thereby optimizing resource usage and minimizing redundant alerts.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If alerts are generated on all communication devices associated with the same account, then users receive comprehensive notifications, but device resources are inefficiently utilized due to redundant alert generation

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoiddevice resource usage
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments the alert generation function by designating one device as the primary alerting device while suppressing alert generation on secondary devices. This segmentation resolves the contradiction by maintaining comprehensive notification coverage through the primary device while eliminating redundant resource consumption on secondary devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by enabling alert generation only at the primary device location while disabling it at secondary device locations. This localized approach ensures that notification reliability is maintained where needed (primary device) while resource efficiency is improved where redundant (secondary devices).

Inventive Principle:
Principle #3Local quality

2Reliability

If multiple devices generate alerts for the same notification, then users are ensured to be notified, but user experience deteriorates due to potential confusion from redundant alerts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenotification deliveryVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

By segmenting the alert generation responsibility to a single primary device, the system eliminates the confusion caused by multiple simultaneous alerts while maintaining reliable notification delivery. Users receive comprehensive notifications through the primary device without the interference of redundant alerts from secondary devices.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

3Adaptability or versatility

If all associated devices generate alerts independently, then each device operates autonomously, but system efficiency decreases due to redundant resource utilization

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedevice autonomyVSAvoidsystem efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements feedback mechanisms where the primary device communicates acknowledgment status to secondary devices. When the primary device acknowledges a notification, this feedback signal suppresses alert generation on secondary devices. This feedback loop maintains device autonomy while dramatically improving system efficiency by eliminating redundant resource utilization.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Solution Approach 2:

The system merges the alert generation function across multiple devices by designating a single primary device to perform this function while secondary devices defer to the primary device's decisions. This merging approach maintains the versatility of having multiple associated devices while improving productivity by eliminating redundant operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP2747499B1Method and apparatus for processing alerts and acknowledgments
Publication Date: 2015.02.18 BLACKBERRY LTD
  • EP2747499B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2747499B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2747499B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A method, system and apparatus for processing alerts and acknowledgments is provided. The method, in a communication device (104a) having a processor, a memory, an input device and an output device, comprises: detecting a notification message at the processor (205); determining whether the communication device is a primary device (210); and, when the determination is affirmative: controlling the output device with the processor to generate an alert (215); receiving an acknowledgement at the processor from the input device (220); and transmitting an acknowledgment message to an other communication device for causing the other communication device to interrupt alert generation (225).