Social Network Integration Module for Email Contact Aggregation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face inefficiencies in periodically checking multiple social networks, as integrating social networking information into platforms like email applications requires additional software that may not be available or motivating to install.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows social networking information to be displayed on email applications by obtaining and formatting contact information from third-party social networks without requiring additional software on the client computer, using a server to provide instructions for accessing and transforming data from multiple social networks like Facebook, LinkedIn, and Google+, and aggregating this information for display.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If social networking information is integrated into email application, then user efficiency is improved, but additional software installation is required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary component (social network integration module) that acts as a mediator between the email application and third-party social networks. This module enables data exchange and integration without requiring users to install additional software, as the integration is achieved through server-side components and standardized protocols that communicate between the email platform and social network platforms.
2Adaptability or versatility
If additional software is installed to integrate social networks, then social networking updates are displayed, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a universal integration module within the email application that can connect to multiple different social networks (Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, Twitter) through a single unified interface. This multi-functional module eliminates the need for separate software components for each social network, reducing device complexity while maintaining broad adaptability across different platforms.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration module serves as an intermediary that handles all communication and data exchange between the email application and various social networks. By centralizing this functionality in a single module that uses standardized protocols, the system achieves social networking integration without requiring multiple separate software components, thus reducing overall device complexity.
3Loss of information
If users check multiple social networks separately, then contact information is accessed, but time consumption increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges contact information from multiple social networks into a unified view within the email application. By combining data from Facebook, LinkedIn, Google+, and other social networks into a single integrated contact list, users can access all their contact information in one place without needing to separately visit each social network platform, significantly reducing time consumption.
Solution Approach 2:
The integration module provides universal access to contact information across multiple social networks through a single interface. This multi-functional capability allows users to search and access contacts from any connected social network without leaving the email application, eliminating the need to switch between multiple platforms and reducing overall access time.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is presented for obtaining contact information on a client computer. A request is received to display contact information for a person on an email application running on the client computer. A determination is made as to whether third party contact information is available for a user of the email application. Instructions are obtained from a server computer for obtaining the third party contact information from a third party computer associated with a social network. Instructions are obtained from the server computer for formatting the third party contact information on the client computer. Using the instructions from the server computer for obtaining the third party contact information, the third party contact information is obtained from the third party computer. Using the instructions from the server computer for formatting the third party contact information, the obtained third party contact information is formatted and displayed on the client computer.