Variable Path Contact Management on Telecommunications Devices
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current contact management approaches in telecommunications devices become inefficient as the number of contacts grows, making it difficult for users to identify and access specific contact information and initiate desired communications, especially when limited by the number of contacts displayed and the lack of consideration for preferred communication methods.
Innovation Solution
A contact management system that identifies a subset of user-selected contacts and displays graphical identifiers along multiple paths on a telecommunications device's display, with positions determined by frequency of communication and user selection order, allowing for rotation and emphasis on priority contacts, facilitating easy communication initiation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If all known contact information for an identified entity is presented in a list-based format, then complete contact information is provided, but user difficulty increases in identifying specific contact information as the number of contacts grows
Solution Approach 1:
The contact list is segmented into multiple pages or groups, allowing users to navigate through contacts in manageable portions rather than presenting all contacts at once. This segmentation reduces the visual complexity and helps users quickly locate specific contacts by scrolling through smaller sets.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces additional navigation dimensions beyond simple linear listing, such as alphabetical indexing, category grouping, or search functionality that operates across multiple dimensions. This allows users to access contacts through different organizational perspectives, reducing the effort needed to find specific contacts even in large contact sets.
2Quantity of substance
If the number of incoming or outgoing communications increases, then more contact information is available, but typical call list approaches become limited in the number of contacts identified in the user interfaces
Solution Approach 1:
The contact management system is designed to handle multiple functions within a unified interface, including but not limited to calling, messaging, email, and social media integration. This multi-functionality allows the system to adapt to various communication types and present relevant contacts across different communication contexts, rather than being limited to a single contact list view.
Solution Approach 2:
The contact presentation is made dynamic, allowing the system to automatically adjust which contacts are displayed based on communication frequency, recency, and user behavior patterns. Frequently contacted individuals are prioritized in the display, and the contact list adapts its organization and presentation based on the type of communication being initiated.
3Loss of information
If typical contact management approaches present the entire set of contacts, then all contact information is accessible, but users have increased difficulty in identifying contact information of specific entities
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary organization and filtering of contacts before presentation, pre-sorting them by relevance criteria such as communication frequency, recency, and importance. This preliminary action ensures that the most likely contacts of interest appear first in the list, reducing the time and effort users need to spend searching for specific contacts while maintaining accessibility to the entire contact set.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces manual mechanical searching through long contact lists with automated information retrieval mechanisms, such as intelligent search algorithms, predictive text input, and voice-activated contact selection. These substitutions allow users to quickly locate specific contacts without manually scrolling through entire contact lists.
4Quantity of substance
If all known contact information is identified for each contact, then complete contact details are provided, but the approach does not consider a desired or preferred communication method
Solution Approach 1:
The contact information presentation is customized with local quality, where different contacts display different sets of information based on user preferences and communication context. For example, work contacts may prominently display email and office phone, while personal contacts may show mobile numbers and instant messaging handles. This localized customization allows users to quickly identify the preferred communication method for each contact without being overwhelmed by all available contact details.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically determines and presents the preferred communication method for each contact based on stored user preferences, communication history, and contact properties. This self-service approach eliminates the need for users to manually review all contact information to determine the best communication channel, as the system proactively highlights the most appropriate method for initiating contact.
Data Source
AI summary
Systems, methods, and computer-readable mediums for managing a subset of contacts on a telecommunications device are provided. In one embodiment, a software application executed by a processor of a telecommunications device identifies a subset of contacts selected at least in part by a user of the telecommunications device. The subset of contacts includes a portion of the user's contacts accessible by the telecommunications device. The software application causes display of a first portion of graphical identifiers associated with a first portion of the subset of contacts along a first path on a display of the telecommunications device about an axis positioned external to the display of the telecommunications device. The software application further causes display of a second portion of graphical identifiers associated with a second portion of the subset of contacts along a second path on the display of the telecommunications device about the external axis.