Social Network Event Planning Interface

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Solution Overview

Problem

Contemporary social networks do not effectively assist users in deciding on the details of an event, such as date, time, location, and activities, as they primarily allow event creators to specify and alter details without facilitating guest input or consensus.

Innovation Solution

A social network configuration that allows users to propose and invite others to contribute suggestions for event details, enabling voting and recommendation mechanisms to reach a consensus on event plans, incorporating search engine results and visual presentations to facilitate decision-making.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If a user specifies all event details unilaterally, then event creation is simple and quick, but guest participation and consensus are lacking

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent creation speedVSAvoidguest participation

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically adjusts the event planning process based on guest participation. Initially, the event creator specifies details quickly, but the system then enables guests to review, comment, and suggest modifications. This dynamic transition from unilateral specification to collaborative refinement resolves the contradiction by maintaining speed in the initial phase while enabling participation in the subsequent phase.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The event creation process is segmented into distinct phases: initial event specification by the creator, guest review and commentary, and iterative refinement based on feedback. This segmentation allows the system to balance quick initial creation with meaningful guest participation, as each phase serves a specific purpose and can be completed at an appropriate pace.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

2Productivity

If event details are fully determined before invitation, then event planning is efficient, but flexibility to incorporate guest suggestions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveevent planning efficiencyVSAvoidevent detail flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system maintains dynamic flexibility in event details throughout the planning process. While initial details are determined efficiently by the creator, the system remains adaptable by allowing guests to submit suggestions and the creator to modify details based on feedback, thus resolving the contradiction between efficiency and flexibility.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system incorporates feedback loops where guests can review event details, submit comments and suggestions, and the creator can respond by modifying details. This feedback mechanism ensures that while initial planning remains efficient, the event details remain flexible and adaptable to guest input throughout the process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If multiple guests contribute suggestions for event details, then consensus and participation improve, but complexity of coordinating decisions increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecollaborative planningVSAvoiddecision coordination

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system acts as an intermediary that manages the complexity of coordinating multiple guest suggestions. It provides structured mechanisms for submitting, tracking, and resolving suggestions, thereby enabling collaborative planning without proportionally increasing coordination complexity. The system mediates between guest inputs and creator decisions, simplifying the overall coordination process.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Ease of operation

If event creator has full control over details, then decision-making is straightforward, but guest ownership and engagement are reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedecision-making simplicityVSAvoidguest engagement

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSProductivity

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically balances control between the event creator and guests. The creator maintains ultimate control and can make decisions straightforwardly, but the system also provides mechanisms for guest input and suggestions that enhance engagement. This dynamic balance allows simplicity in decision-making while improving guest ownership and participation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Data Source

PatentUS9432826B2Event planning within social networks

Publication Date: 2016.08.30 MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING LLC

AI summary

Generating and updating event presentation user interfaces. Embodiments include identifying a first geographical location of a first computing device corresponding to a first invitee to an event, and a second geographical location of a second computing device corresponding to a second invitee. An event presentation user interface is generated, to include a first invitee presence indicator indicating that the first invitee is within a predetermined distance from a geographical location of the event, and a second invitee presence indicator indicating the second invitee is outside of the predetermined distance from the geographical location of the event. Based at least on the second computing device having moved to a third geographical location that is within the predetermined distance from the geographical location of the event, the second invitee presence indicator is updated to indicate that the second invitee is within the predetermined distance from the geographical location of the event.