Text Messaging Confirmation via Request-Reply Mapping
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current text messaging technologies fail to uniquely match reply text messages to request text messages, especially when multiple text messages are sent using the same number, making it difficult for sending systems to automatically confirm showing appointment requests.
Innovation Solution
A method is implemented where a sending system selects a telephone number from a list, creates a mapping between the request, the number, and the target contact, and sends a text message indicating the request. The system then receives and compares reply messages to match them with the original request using the created mapping.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If multiple text messages are sent using the same telephone number, then the sending system can efficiently communicate with multiple targets, but the reply text messages cannot be uniquely matched to the corresponding request text messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the text messaging process into distinct identifiable components by introducing unique identifiers (request IDs, conversation IDs) that divide and distinguish between multiple messages sent from the same number. This allows the system to maintain separate tracking for each request-reply pair while using a single telephone number for efficient communication.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces intermediary elements (request IDs, conversation IDs, and a mapping data structure) that act as mediators between the request text messages and reply text messages. These intermediaries enable the system to correctly associate replies with their corresponding requests without requiring the reply to contain the full request content, thus solving the matching problem while maintaining efficiency.
2Reliability
If the reply text message includes the content of the request text message, then the sending system can match replies to requests, but the text messaging system cannot automatically confirm showing appointment requests
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies preliminary action by pre-creating and storing a mapping data structure that associates request text messages with their corresponding reply text messages before the actual matching process. This pre-established mapping enables the system to automatically confirm showing appointment requests without requiring manual intervention or complex real-time analysis of message content.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent uses copying by creating a simplified representation (request ID, conversation ID) of the original request text message content and storing it in the mapping data structure. This copy allows the system to perform automatic matching and confirmation without requiring the full original content to be processed or stored, thus enabling automation while maintaining reliable matching.
3Ease of operation
If the sending system uses a single telephone number for all text messages, then the system is simple to operate, but the system cannot distinguish between different request text messages
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by adding new dimensions of identification (request IDs, conversation IDs, timestamps, and mapping data structures) to the existing single telephone number dimension. This allows the system to maintain operational simplicity using one number while achieving precise message identification through these additional dimensional attributes that are stored and processed by the system.
Data Source
AI summary
A method for providing confirmation of a request for a target communicated using text messaging includes receiving, by a sending system, a request for a target. The method further includes selecting, by the sending system, a telephone number from a list of telephone numbers, wherein a mapping is created between the request, the selected telephone number, the target, and a target contact. Additionally, the method includes sending, by the sending system to the target contact using the selected telephone number, a text message indicating the request for the target. Moreover, the method includes receiving a reply message from the target contact using the selected telephone number, and determining that the reply message comprises a reply to the request for the target by comparing the target contact and the selected telephone number for the reply message to the mapping.