Push Notification Payload Image for Backgrounded Call Detection

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Solution Overview

Problem

In traditional peer-to-peer communication systems over packet-based networks, mobile devices with limited resources may have their communication client applications backgrounded, leading to missed calls due to insufficient processing capacity and delayed call signaling, as they cannot detect incoming calls or maintain presence updates effectively.

Innovation Solution

Implementing an augmented push notification mechanism that includes a payload with an image representing the originating user, allowing the destination user to make informed decisions about accepting calls without needing additional server fetches, and using operating system-based push notifications to wake up backgrounded client applications.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Use of energy by moving object

If the communication client application is backgrounded on mobile devices with limited resources, then energy consumption is reduced and device performance is maintained, but call detection capability deteriorates and call signaling delays occur

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveenergy consumptionVSAvoidcall detection capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Use of energy by moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that maintains presence information and receives call requests even when the client application is backgrounded. The server acts as a mediator between the calling and called parties, enabling call detection without requiring the client to remain actively running, thus resolving the contradiction between energy savings and call detection reliability

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary actions by having clients send presence information to the server before being called. This advance preparation allows the server to immediately notify the client of incoming calls even when the client is backgrounded, eliminating the need for continuous client operation while maintaining reliable call detection

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of information

If presence information is updated continuously to ensure availability status is current, then information accuracy is improved, but processing overhead increases and battery life decreases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvepresence information accuracyVSAvoidbattery life
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Clients send their presence information to the server in advance before being called. This preliminary action ensures the server has current presence data without requiring continuous updates, reducing processing overhead and energy consumption while maintaining information accuracy

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The server automatically manages and updates presence information without requiring continuous client intervention. Once presence information is sent to the server, it maintains and utilizes this information independently, reducing the burden on the client device and extending battery life

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Loss of time

If the client application is kept in foreground to ensure immediate call response, then response time is improved, but device resources are consumed continuously and user experience deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecall response timeVSAvoiduser experience
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The server acts as an intermediary that maintains communication availability and relays call requests to backgrounded clients. This allows clients to remain in background (improving user experience) while the server ensures rapid call response by immediately notifying clients of incoming calls without requiring continuous foreground operation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentEP2862342B1Notification of communication events
Publication Date: 2018.09.12 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP2862342B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP2862342B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP2862342B1 patent drawingFigure 5

AI summary

A network element of a communication provider comprises transceiver apparatus arranged to receive a request message from an originating endpoint via a packet-based communication network; and processing apparatus configured to generate, in response to the request message from the originating endpoint, a push notification relating to a communication from the originating endpoint intended for a destination endpoint, the communication to be conducted over the packet-based network. The transceiver apparatus is arranged to send the push notification to the destination endpoint over the packet-based network. The processing apparatus is further configured to generate the push notification with a payload comprising an indication of an image representing an originating user, to be output by the destination endpoint in a user notification notifying a destination user regarding the communication. At least the indication of the image is determined and inserted into the payload of the push notification at the network element.