Dynamic thread management for online conversations

• US 10,050,918 B2
• Filed: 03/27/2015
• Issued: 08/14/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bastide, Paul R., Broomhall, Matthew E., Loredo, Robert E., Schultz, Dale M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Yohannes, Tesfay
• Application Number:
  US14/670,547
• Publication Number:
  US 20160285807A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,236 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles

Abstract

A method for creating at least one new thread associated with an online conversation is provided. The method may include monitoring the online conversation to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation. The method may also include extracting the detected new or updated element. The method may further include analyzing the online conversation and the extracted detected new or updated element to determine if a new online conversation has started. The method may include extracting a plurality of members associated with the online conversation. The method may also include extracting a plurality of content associated with the extracted detected new or updated element. The method additionally include prompting a user to determine if a new online conversation should be created. The method may also include creating the new online conversation. The method may further include notifying the plurality of extracted members about the created new online conversation.

Claims

1. A method for creating at least one new thread associated with an online conversation, the method comprising:

determining if a predetermined time period has elapsed;

in response to determining the predetermined time period has elapsed, monitoring the online conversation to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation;

extracting the detected new or updated element;

analyzing the online conversation and the extracted detected new or updated element to determine if a new online conversation has started;

extracting a plurality of members associated with the online conversation based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

extracting a plurality of content associated with the extracted detected new or updated element based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

prompting a user to determine if a new online conversation should be created, wherein the user created the extracted detected new or updated element;

creating the new online conversation based on the user determining that the new conversation should be created;

in response to creating the new online conversation and in response to the user triggering an interface gesture to start the new online conversation, creating a user profile for the user;

notifying the plurality of extracted members about the created new online conversation;

suggesting a plurality of new participants to the user;

prompting the user to select a plurality of required and optional members from the notified plurality of extracted members and the suggested plurality of new participants to participate in the created new online conversation; and

enabling the added plurality of required and optional members to participate in the created new online conversation.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the detected new or updated element is selected from a group consisting of a new topic, a change of technical detail, a change of tone, a different user, and a time delay.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the online conversation is associated with at least one of an instant messaging (IM) service, a short message service (SMS), a blog, a web site, a community, a news feed, an email application, a forum and a wiki.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein prompting the user to determine if a new online conversation should be created comprises enabling the user to create a new conversation via a hashtag, a button, typing a response, or a plurality of other user interface gestures.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the new online conversation comprises adding at least one link to the online conversation at a point which the online conversation diverged.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein creating the new online conversation comprises prompting the user to add a plurality of required people and a plurality of optional people to a notification of the new conversation.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of metrics is used to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the plurality of metrics includes a difference of a preceding entry timestamp associated with the online conversation and a new entry associated with the online conversation being outside a threshold;

the online conversation being outside a time expiry;

analyzing a subject who is addressed or mentioned in the online conversation;

analyzing a plurality of vectors and a direction of the conversation;

or determining a change in an entry, a subject matter, or a topic associated with the online conversation.

9. A computer system for creating at least one new thread associated with an online conversation, the computer system comprising:

one or more processors, one or more computer-readable memories, one or more computer-readable tangible storage devices, and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more storage devices for execution by at least one of the one or more processors via at least one of the one or more memories, wherein the computer system is capable of performing a method comprising;

determining if a predetermined time period has elapsed;

in response to determining the predetermined time period has elapsed, monitoring the online conversation to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation;

extracting the detected new or updated element;

analyzing the online conversation and the extracted detected new or updated element to determine if a new online conversation has started;

extracting a plurality of members associated with the online conversation based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

extracting a plurality of content associated with the extracted detected new or updated element based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

prompting a user to determine if a new online conversation should be created wherein the user created the extracted detected new or updated element;

creating the new online conversation based on the user determining that the new conversation should be created;

in response to creating the new online conversation and in response to the user triggering an interface gesture to start the new online conversation, creating a user profile for the user;

notifying the plurality of extracted members about the created new online conversation;

suggesting a plurality of new participants to the user;

prompting the user to select a plurality of required and optional members from the notified plurality of extracted members and the suggested plurality of new participants to participate in the created new online conversation; and

enabling the added plurality of required and optional members to participate in the created new online conversation.

10. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the detected new or updated element is selected from a group consisting of a new topic, a change of technical detail, a change of tone, a different user, and a time delay.

11. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the online conversation is associated with at least one of an instant messaging (IM) service, a short message service (SMS), a blog, a web site, a community, a news feed, an email application, a forum and a wiki.

12. The computer system of claim 9, wherein prompting the user to determine if a new online conversation should be created comprises enabling the user to create a new conversation via a hashtag, a button, typing a response, or a plurality of other user interface gestures.

13. The computer system of claim 9, wherein creating the new online conversation comprises adding at least one link to the online conversation at a point which the online conversation diverged.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein creating the new online conversation comprises prompting the user to add a plurality of required people and a plurality of optional people to a notification of the new conversation.

15. The computer system of claim 9, wherein a plurality of metrics is used to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein the plurality of metrics includes a difference of a preceding entry timestamp associated with the online conversation and a new entry associated with the online conversation being outside a threshold;

the online conversation being outside a time expiry;

analyzing a subject who is addressed or mentioned in the online conversation;

analyzing a plurality of vectors and a direction of the conversation;

or determining a change in an entry, a subject matter, or a topic associated with the online conversation.

17. A computer program product for creating at least one new thread associated with an online conversation, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more tangible storage devices, the program instructions executable by a processor via at least one or more memories, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to determine if a predetermined time period has elapsed;

in response to determining the predetermined time period has elapsed, program instructions to monitor, by a processor, the online conversation to detect a new or updated element of the online conversation;

program instructions to extract the detected new or updated element;

program instructions to analyze the online conversation and the extracted detected new or updated element to determine if a new online conversation has started;

program instructions to extract a plurality of members associated with the online conversation based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

program instructions to extract a plurality of content associated with the extracted detected new or updated element based on the determination that a new online conversation has started;

program instructions to prompt a user to determine if a new online conversation should be created, wherein the user created the extracted detected new or updated element;

program instructions to create the new online conversation based on the user determining that the new conversation should be created;

in response to creating the new online conversation and in response to the user triggering an interface gesture to start the new online conversation, program instructions to create a user profile for the user;

program instructions to notify the plurality of extracted members about the created new online conversation;

program instructions to suggest a plurality of new participants to the user;

program instructions to prompt the user to select a plurality of required and optional members from the notified plurality of extracted members and the suggested plurality of new participants to participate in the created new online conversation; and

program instructions to enable the added plurality of required and optional members to participate in the created new online conversation.

18. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the detected new or updated element is selected from a group consisting of a new topic, a change of technical detail, a change of tone, a different user, and a time delay.

19. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the online conversation is associated with at least one of an instant messaging (IM) service, a short message service (SMS), a blog, a web site, a community, a news feed, an email application, a forum and a wiki.

20. The computer program product of claim 17, wherein prompting the user to determine if a new online conversation should be created comprises enabling the user to create a new conversation via a hashtag, a button, typing a response, or a plurality of other user interface gestures.