Embedding Calendar Events in SMS Messages via URL Shortening
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Solution Overview
Problem
Scheduling a technician appointment via SMS is challenging due to character limitations, making it difficult to effectively communicate date, time, and location, and embedding calendaring events within SMS messages is not straightforward.
Innovation Solution
A method involving receiving and parsing SMS messages for appointment details, sending them to a URL shortener and redirector, and appending a shortened URL containing the event information to the message, allowing users to access calendaring events by clicking the link.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If appointment details are communicated through SMS messages, then scheduling information can be delivered to customers, but the character limit of 160 characters makes it difficult to effectively communicate complete date, time, and location information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the appointment details (description, date, time, location) from the SMS message and stores them in a database. The SMS message then contains only a shortened URL link rather than the complete appointment information, effectively removing the bulky data from the message while preserving access to it.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a shortened URL service as an intermediary between the SMS message and the full appointment details. The URL acts as a mediator that the customer clicks to access the complete information stored online, bridging the gap between the character-limited SMS and the comprehensive appointment data.
2Loss of information
If complete appointment information is included in SMS messages, then customers receive full details, but the message exceeds the 160 character limit and cannot be sent
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the appointment information into two parts: essential metadata (URL link) kept in the SMS message, and detailed information (full description, date, time, location) stored separately in a database. This segmentation allows the message to remain within character limits while the complete information remains accessible.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent moves the appointment information from the one-dimensional constraint of SMS character space to a multi-dimensional solution by storing details in an online database accessible via hyperlink. This transitions the information delivery from a linear text format to a web-based interface where complete information can be displayed without character restrictions.
3Ease of operation
If a shortened URL is appended to the SMS message, then the message fits within character limits, but the process requires parsing and URL shortening operations
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary actions by automatically parsing the appointment details and generating the shortened URL before the SMS message is finalized and sent. This automation of the processing steps reduces the perceived complexity for the user, as the system handles the parsing and URL generation in the background without requiring manual intervention.
Data Source
AI summary
A method comprises, receiving a text of an SMS message, parsing a description, date, time and location of appointment from the SMS message, sending the description, date, time and location of appointment to a URL shortener and redirector and appending the shortened and redirected URL to the SMS message.