Staggered Availability Status Management for Instant Messaging Flood Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users of instant messaging systems often face overwhelming messages when becoming available, leading to discouragement in logging on due to the 'camp-on' service, where automatic notifications flood them with messages upon status changes.
Innovation Solution
Implementing a method that automatically manages communication availability status by establishing a first and second availability status with corresponding time periods, allowing staggered changes in status to reduce simultaneous message inundation, using a messaging application with an automated status module that interfaces with user preferences and calendaring programs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a user logs onto the IM system or changes status to available, then the user can communicate with other users, but the user is inundated with messages from people waiting to contact them
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the availability status management by dividing contacts into different groups (e.g., favorite contacts, regular contacts) and applying different time periods and status changes for each group. This allows the user to control message flow from different contacts separately, preventing simultaneous inundation from all contacts at once.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by automatically establishing a first availability status and time period when the user logs on or changes status, before any messages are sent. The system proactively manages the status change and message delivery timing, preventing the harmful effect of message inundation before it occurs.
2Productivity
If the system automatically notifies other users when a user becomes available, then other users can contact the user promptly, but the user is overwhelmed by simultaneous message notifications
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies periodic action by implementing staggered time periods for different contact groups. Messages are delivered at different intervals and times rather than simultaneously, maintaining productivity through automated notification while preventing the harmful effect of message flood by spacing out the delivery timing.
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by pre-configuring time periods and availability statuses for different contact groups before messages are sent. This automated preliminary setup ensures efficient message delivery while proactively preventing simultaneous message delivery that would cause overwhelm.
3Ease of operation
If a user logs on with an away status and later changes to available, then the user can make presence known to contacts, but the user risks being inundated with messages again
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the status change process by applying different time periods and availability statuses to different contact groups. When a user changes from away to available, the system automatically manages this change differently for different contacts, providing ease of operation through automated segmentation while preventing message inundation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements self-service by automatically managing the availability status changes and message delivery timing without requiring user intervention. The user simply changes their overall status, and the system automatically applies the segmented time periods and status management for different contact groups, providing ease of operation while preventing harmful message floods.
Data Source
AI summary
In response to a first user becoming active on a communication device, a first availability status can be automatically established as a current availability of the first user. A first time period can be automatically identified. During the first time period, the first availability status can be maintained as the current availability of the first user to at least a second user. In response to the first time period elapsing, a second availability status can be automatically established as the current availability of the first user to the second user.