Shared Identity Objects for Unified Communication Interface
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current computer systems present a cluttered and inefficient user experience due to overlapping application windows and lack of unified interfaces for communication tasks, requiring users to manage multiple applications with duplicate contact information and limited search capabilities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of shared identity objects that aggregate and store communication-related information, allowing multiple applications to access and update identity information, providing a unified interface for communication tasks and enabling contextual placement of user interface elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple communication applications are used to perform communication tasks, then communication functionality is improved, but desktop clutter and window overlap increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple communication applications and their windows into a single unified communication application window. This window displays multiple contact lists from different applications and allows switching between them, eliminating the need for multiple separate windows and reducing desktop clutter while maintaining full communication functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified communication application window serves multiple functions: it displays contact lists from multiple applications, allows searching across all contacts, enables switching between different contact lists, and provides communication capabilities for all contacts within a single interface. This multi-functional design replaces the need for multiple separate applications.
2Reliability
If each communication application maintains its own contact information, then application independence is improved, but information redundancy and management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges contact information from multiple communication applications into a single unified contact list within the communication application window. This allows all contact information to be accessed and managed in one place, eliminating redundancy while maintaining the ability to switch between different contact list views.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified communication application window acts as an intermediary that accesses and displays contact information from multiple underlying applications. It provides a centralized interface that manages contact information without requiring changes to the underlying application structures, thus maintaining application independence while reducing information redundancy at the user interface level.
3Adaptability or versatility
If multiple applications are launched to access different contact information, then contact accessibility is improved, but search time and operational efficiency decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines multiple contact lists from different applications into a single unified view within one application window. The search function operates across all contact lists simultaneously, allowing users to find contacts regardless of which original application they belonged to, thereby eliminating the need to search through multiple separate applications and significantly reducing search time.
Solution Approach 2:
The unified communication application window provides universal search capability that works across all contact lists from multiple applications. A single search operation can find contacts from any source application, making the search function universal and eliminating the time loss associated with searching through multiple separate applications.
4Adaptability or versatility
If different user interfaces are used for each communication application, then application specificity is improved, but learning curve and operational complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a single unified user interface that provides universal access to all contact lists and communication functions. The interface maintains consistent controls and display elements regardless of which contact list or application source is being accessed, eliminating the need for users to learn multiple different interfaces while still providing access to application-specific functionality through the unified interface.
Data Source
AI summary
A method, system, and computer accessible medium for maintaining and sharing identity information for identities. Multiple types of identity information, including communication-related information, for multiple identities may be aggregated, stored in, and accessed through, a corresponding shared identity objects. Aggregated identity information for an identity may be stored in a corresponding shared identity object. Aggregated identity information may be accessed by applications through shared identity objects. Communication-related information may include indications of communication mechanisms. Communication with an identity may be initiated through a corresponding shared identity object using the communication mechanisms. The communication related information may also include an indication of the reach-ability of the identity through each of the communication mechanisms and may be requested and received form remote system associated with the identity.