Unified Auto-Reply Manager for Multi-Service Messaging
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current telecommunications systems require separate actions to change outgoing messages for different communication services, such as email and voice mail, which is inefficient and time-consuming.
Innovation Solution
A method that allows users to set and manage auto-reply messages across multiple communication services, including email, voice mail, and instant messaging, with automatic translation and rule-based messaging, enabling unified message management and targeted responses based on time, location, and caller identity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If separate actions are used to change outgoing messages for each communication service, then each service can be configured independently, but the user effort and time required increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the configuration of outgoing messages for multiple communication services (email, voice mail, instant messaging) into a single unified action. When a user sets an away message through one interface, the system automatically propagates the same message configuration across all supported communication services, eliminating the need to separately configure each service while maintaining independent control capabilities.
Solution Approach 2:
The system creates a universal message configuration interface that serves multiple communication services simultaneously. A single action at this universal interface configures outgoing messages for email, voice mail, and instant messaging services all at once, making the system multi-functional rather than requiring separate specialized interfaces for each service type.
2Adaptability or versatility
If separate actions are used to change outgoing messages for each communication service, then service-specific customization is maintained, but the ease of operation decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the operation of configuring messages across multiple services into a single user action. The unified interface consolidates what would otherwise require multiple separate interactions, significantly improving ease of operation while still allowing service-specific customization through the same interface.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces an intermediary configuration interface that mediates between the user and multiple communication services. This intermediary layer handles the propagation of message configurations to different services automatically, shielding the user from service-specific complexities while maintaining customization capabilities.
3Reliability
If manual configuration is used for each communication service, then precise control over each service is achieved, but the productivity of the user decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the configuration process for multiple communication services into a single operation. By propagating the same away message configuration across email, voice mail, and instant messaging services simultaneously, the system achieves both precise control (through the unified interface) and high productivity (through single-action configuration).
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary action by automatically propagating the configured message to all communication services before the user completes the configuration process. This preliminary propagation ensures that all services are ready to send consistent messages immediately, eliminating the need for subsequent manual configuration steps and significantly improving productivity.
Data Source
AI summary
A method is disclosed that enables a user to set their “away” or auto-reply messages for two or more communications services (e.g., e-mail, voice mail, etc.) in one action. Separate actions are required in the prior art to change each outgoing message for every distinct communication service. The illustrative embodiment of the present invention is a method that enables a user to change the auto-reply message for multiple communication services with less effort than was required for multiple services in the prior art. In accordance with the illustrative embodiment, a text auto-reply message intended for e-mail is automatically converted into an abbreviated form for instant messaging and wireless text services and into audio for services like telephony. Furthermore, the illustrative embodiment enables the automatic translation of messages into different natural languages, and can apply rules so that the resulting messages are used appropriately.