Virtual Contact Card Distribution via Service Provider
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Solution Overview
Problem
There is a need for a method to efficiently and automatically share and update specific information with multiple recipients without the sender having to manually search for and send it to each individual, particularly for frequent or regular communication of commercial or personal content.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of virtual contact cards, which are digital cards that can contain various types of information, including multimedia, that can be created, registered, and updated through a service or payment provider, allowing easy distribution to designated recipients via their devices, including social network channels and mobile apps.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Productivity
If manual sending of information to each recipient is used, then personalization and control over distribution is maintained, but time consumption and labor effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a server as an intermediary that stores virtual contact cards and automatically distributes information to recipients. The server mediates between the sender and multiple recipients, handling the distribution logic and contact management, thereby eliminating the need for manual contact searching and information sending to each recipient individually.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements preliminary action by pre-storing virtual contact cards with recipient information, contact channels, and distribution rules on the server before information needs to be sent. This advance preparation allows the system to automatically route and deliver information without requiring real-time contact lookup or manual distribution decisions.
2Loss of information
If complete virtual contact card information is transmitted to all recipients, then information completeness is ensured, but data transmission volume and storage requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments virtual contact card information into different sections (e.g., personal information, contact channels, preferences). Only relevant segments are transmitted to each recipient based on their specific needs and the purpose of communication, rather than sending the entire contact card data to everyone.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by customizing the information content sent to each recipient based on their profile, preferences, and the communication context. Different recipients receive different subsets of contact card information tailored to their specific requirements, optimizing data transmission efficiency while maintaining information completeness where needed.
3Extent of automation
If virtual contact card system is implemented, then automated information distribution is achieved, but system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements universality by designing the server to perform multiple functions: storing virtual contact cards, managing recipient profiles, determining distribution rules, routing information, and tracking delivery status. This multi-functional approach consolidates what could be separate complex systems into a single unified platform, reducing overall system complexity.
4Reliability
If frequent updates of contact information are allowed, then data freshness and relevance are maintained, but system processing load and update management complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements self-service by enabling users to automatically update their own virtual contact card information through user interfaces on their devices. When users modify their contact information, preferences, or details, the updates are automatically synchronized to the server and distributed to relevant recipients without requiring manual intervention from system administrators or complex update management processes.
Data Source
AI summary
A service provider receives from a user who has an account with it contact card information and recipient information picture information, therefrom determines a virtual contact card and contact channels through which the virtual contact card is sent to the recipients designated by the user, and sends the virtual contact card to the designated recipients through the contact channels. The virtual contact card and contact channels may be selected from what have been previously registered, either by the user or a third person, with the service provider and stored in the user's account, or just newly created, updated, and sent from the user at the time of transmission request to the designated recipients. The virtual contact card, when updated by the user, may be automatically sent by the service provider to the same recipients that previously received a pre-updated version.