Unified Menu Generation Across Communication Channels

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing communication channels operate independently, leading to fragmented user experiences and inefficiencies in managing user interactions and notifications across multiple platforms.

Innovation Solution

A centralized server collects and weighs user interaction information from various communication channels to generate a unified menu, applying weighting rules and special considerations for notification and directive information, ensuring consistent and relevant menu options across multiple channels.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If communication channels are managed independently, then each channel can be optimized for its specific function, but user experience becomes fragmented and management efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel optimizationVSAvoiduser experience consistency

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple independent communication channels into a unified menu system. The centralized server consolidates menu data from voice, text, and digital channels, applying weighting rules to harmonize them into a single coherent menu structure that maintains channel-specific optimizations while ensuring consistent user experience across all touchpoints.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The unified menu system serves multiple communication channels simultaneously through a single centralized structure. The menu is designed to be universal, accommodating voice commands, text inputs, and digital interactions through the same weighted menu options, eliminating the need for separate channel-specific menu management.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Ease of manufacture

If communication channels are managed independently, then channel-specific customization is easier, but overall system complexity and management overhead increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvechannel customizationVSAvoidsystem management complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system segments menu management into two distinct layers: centralized weighting rules that apply globally across all channels, and channel-specific transmission parameters that handle local customization needs. This segmentation allows channel customization without increasing overall system complexity, as each channel operates within its own parameter space while adhering to unified weighting principles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The centralized server acts as an intermediary between independent communication channels and the unified menu system. It receives weighted menu data from various channels, reconciles them according to predetermined rules, and distributes the harmonized menu back to channels, thereby simplifying management overhead while preserving channel-specific capabilities.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If menus are updated individually for each communication channel, then channel-specific relevance can be maintained, but time and resources required for updates increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemenu relevanceVSAvoidupdate time

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary weighting and harmonization of menu data at the centralized server before distribution to communication channels. By pre-calculating weighted menu options based on channel performance data and user interactions, the system ensures menu relevance is established in advance, eliminating the need for time-consuming individual channel updates while maintaining precise relevance to each channel's context.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Ease of operation

If a unified menu system is implemented across multiple channels, then user experience consistency improves, but the complexity of integrating and managing multiple channels increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser experience consistencyVSAvoidintegration complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The centralized server functions as an intermediary layer that abstracts the complexity of multi-channel integration. It manages the harmonization of weighted menu data from various channels and handles the coordination required for unified menu deployment, thereby achieving user experience consistency without exposing the integration complexity to end users or channel operators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Data Source

PatentUS10168867B2System and method for generating a unified menu for multiple communication channels

Publication Date: 2019.01.01 AT&T INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY I L P

AI summary

Devices, systems, and methods for generating a unified menu for multiple communication channels are provided. User interaction information received via the multiple communication channels are transmitted to a central server over a network. The central server also receives notification information or directive information from a source external to the central server. The central server weighs the received information and transforms the weighted information into unified menu options in a unified menu. The unified menu is transmitted to the multiple communication channels, such that same unified menu options are provided at each of the multiple communication channels.