Selectable Greeting Messages for Communication Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Managing fixed responses across multiple communications devices and media types is burdensome, as users cannot define different greetings for various groups of individuals or select greetings interactively in response to communications.
Innovation Solution
A system and method that allow for selectable greetings by receiving a request to initiate communication, selecting a greeting from pre-determined options based on the identity of the initiating device and its membership in user-defined groups, and sending the selected greeting to the initiating device, with the option for users to interactively choose from multiple greetings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If fixed responses are used on each device, then device complexity is reduced, but adaptability deteriorates as users cannot define different greetings for different groups
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges multiple devices and their response management into a single centralized system. Users can define and manage all greetings, messages, and response rules in one location, which are then automatically applied across multiple devices. This eliminates the need to configure each device separately while maintaining full adaptability for different contact groups and situations.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal response management platform that works across different communication devices and media types (voice mail, email, instant messaging, etc.). A single greeting definition can be applied universally across all devices, yet the system maintains the flexibility to provide different responses for different groups, times, and situations through centralized configuration.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple greetings are defined for different groups, then adaptability improves, but device complexity increases as users must manage greetings on each device
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the complex task of greeting management from individual devices and concentrates it in a centralized system. Users define all their greetings, contact groups, and response rules in one central location, and the system automatically distributes and applies these settings across all connected devices. This eliminates the burden of managing greetings on each device while maintaining full group-specific customization.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a centralized management platform as an intermediary between the user and multiple devices. This intermediary handles all greeting definitions, group assignments, and response routing, automatically matching incoming communications with the appropriate pre-defined greetings based on contact identity, time, and other criteria, without requiring user intervention on individual devices.
3Productivity
If automatic greeting selection is implemented, then productivity improves, but ease of operation deteriorates as interactive selection is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic response system that can automatically select and apply appropriate greetings based on real-time criteria such as contact identity, time of day, and communication type. The system provides intelligent automation for routine situations while maintaining user control through the ability to review, modify, and override automatic selections, and to adjust the level of automation based on user preferences.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and machine-readable media are disclosed to provide selectable greetings or responses to a request to initiate a communication. In one embodiment, a method of providing selectable greetings in response to a request to initiate a communication can comprise receiving the request to initiate a communication from an initiating device. The request can identify an intended recipient device. A greeting can be selected from a set of pre-determined greetings in user profile information from a user of the recipient device. A response message to the initiating device can be generated where the response message indicates the selected greeting. The response message can be sent to the initiating device.