Text Messaging Conference Bridge With Two-Part Identifiers
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current text messaging technologies, such as SMS, are ineffective in supporting conferencing among multiple users, particularly in interactive group communications, as recipients lack indication of the need to respond to multiple parties, leading to a substantial need for effective conferencing solutions.
Innovation Solution
A system and method for initiating a text messaging conference among multiple users by assigning unique two-part identifiers combining a user's mobile device number with a Direct Inward Dial (DID) line, allowing participants to communicate over dedicated conferencing channels and forwarding messages to all participants, enabling multiple simultaneous conferences and command functionality.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If SMS text messaging is used for communication, then messages can be transmitted instantaneously and widely, but conferencing among multiple users is not supported effectively
Solution Approach 1:
A conference bridge is introduced as an intermediary system that receives messages from multiple participants via their respective communication channels and forwards them to all other participants. This mediator enables conferencing functionality without requiring changes to the underlying SMS infrastructure, maintaining fast message transmission while adding group communication capability.
2Ease of manufacture
If traditional SMS communication channels are used, then implementation is simple and widely available, but recipients lack indication of the need to respond to multiple parties
Solution Approach 1:
The communication system is segmented into distinct components: participant devices, communication channels, and a conference bridge. Each participant maintains their original SMS interface simplicity, while the conference bridge handles the complex task of managing multiple participants and providing context information about group communication status.
Solution Approach 2:
The conference bridge acts as an intermediary that adds conferencing context information to messages without requiring changes to participant devices. It manages the complexity of multi-party communication while participants experience simple SMS-like interaction, resolving the contradiction between implementation simplicity and information completeness.
3Adaptability or versatility
If dedicated communication channels are created for each conference participant, then message forwarding to all participants is enabled, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The conference bridge serves as a centralized intermediary that manages all communication channels and message routing. Instead of requiring each participant's device to manage complex multi-channel communication, the bridge handles channel dedication, message collection, and distribution, reducing device complexity while enabling versatile conferencing.
Data Source
AI summary
A system and method are provided which provide a text messaging conference among at least three users who communicate on different first communication channels. A message initiated by a first user is received on one of the first communication channels. The message seeks to initiate a text message conference and includes identities of a plurality of additional users to participate in the messaging conference. Conference participants are identified by a two part identifier, which allows a single participant to participate in multiple ongoing simultaneous conferences.