Single-Click Action Item Updates via Pre-Generated Mailto Links

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current email applications lack a mechanism for users to efficiently update various items across different email clients with a single input, requiring multiple steps and authentication processes.

Innovation Solution

Generating a 'mailto' link that includes information about the action item to be created or updated, allowing users to perform updates with a single click, which is automatically processed by the electronic communication server without opening a compose form.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If traditional multiple-step update mechanism is used, then authentication security is maintained, but user operation efficiency deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveupdate efficiencyVSAvoidnumber of steps required
Core Design Contradiction:
ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system pre-generates a mailto link containing all necessary update information and authentication credentials before the user initiates the update. When the user clicks the link, the update is automatically executed without requiring additional authentication steps or manual navigation, thus resolving the contradiction between security and efficiency.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

2Loss of time

If manual navigation through multiple interfaces is required, then system security is maintained, but time consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetime to update itemVSAvoidinterface navigation complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of timeVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention extracts the essential update information and authentication credentials from the complex multi-interface update process and encapsulates them into a single mailto link. This allows the update to be executed by a simple click without requiring users to navigate through multiple interfaces, thereby reducing time loss while maintaining security.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

3Ease of operation

If authentication steps are required for each update, then security is improved, but operation simplicity deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesimplicity of update processVSAvoidauthentication security
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Authentication credentials are pre-configured and embedded in the mailto link generation process. When the user clicks the link, the authentication is automatically performed in the background without requiring manual intervention, thus maintaining security while dramatically simplifying the user operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP3539069B1Performing updates to action items in an electronic communication application with a single input
Publication Date: 2022.08.03 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC
  • EP3539069B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3539069B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3539069B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Described is a system and method for automatically updating an action item in an electronic communication application using a single input or click from a user. In response to received input, an electronic communication having a mailto link is automatically generated. The mailto link includes the email address of the intended recipient, an identifier associated with the action item, and the update that is to be performed on the action item. The electronic communication is then automatically provided to the intended recipient and the update is performed on the action item.