Computational systems and methods for identifying a communications partner

• US 10,263,936 B2
• Filed: 12/16/2011
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 09/07/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Elwha LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Davis, Marc E., Dyor, Matthew G., Gates, William, Huang, Xuedong, Hyde, Roderick A., Jung, Edward K. Y., Kare, Jordin T., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Richard T., Lord, Robert W., Lu, Qi, Malamud, Mark A., Myhrvold, Nathan P., Nadella, Satya, Reed, Daniel, Shum, Harry, Tegreene, Clarence T., Wood, Jr., Lowell L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Tokuta, Shean
• Assistant Examiner(s): Turriate Gastulo, Juan C
• Application Number:
  US13/374,247
• Publication Number:
  US 20130060867A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,678 Days
• Field of Search: 709204
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/48 Message addressing, e.g. address format or anonymous messages, aliases
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 8/005 Discovery of network devices, e.g. terminals

Abstract

Methods, apparatuses, computer program products, devices and systems are described that carry out accepting at least one email communication from at least one member of a network; disambiguating the at least one search term including associating the at least one search term with at least one of network-participation identifier data or device-identifier data; and presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

(a) circuitry for accepting at least one email communication from at least one member of a network, wherein the at least one member is associated with a vehicle;

(b) circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data, including at least;

(1) circuitry for receiving with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number that includes at least a numerical device identification number that identifies at least a mobile telephone in one or more telecommunications carrier databases;

(2) circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers;

(3) circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier; and

(4) circuitry for associating the at least some of the social network data with the at least one email communication as at least a portion of the sender profile; and

(c) circuitry for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for accepting at least one email communication from at least one member of a network comprises:

at least one of;

circuitry for receiving at least one email communication on a mobile telecommunications device;

circuitry for receiving at least one email communication on at least one of a desktop computer or a networked television;

circuitry for accepting at least one email communication from at least one member of a social network;

or

circuitry for receiving at least one email communication from a member of a mobile phone telecommunications network.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the circuitry for receiving at least one email communication on a mobile telecommunications device comprises:

circuitry for receiving at least one email communication on at least one of a mobile telephone, a tablet computer, a notebook computer, or a laptop computer.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data comprises:

circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a set of sender attributes at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein sender attributes include at least one of a social network membership list, one or more social network usernames, one or more social network profile pictures, one or more mutual friend lists, or one or more social networking website-posted items.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein sender attributes include at least one of:

a list of shared contacts;

at least one of a username, an online persona, or an alias;

at least one of a twitter handle, a Facebook page, or a web address for a blog;

or

a history of interactions with a recipient of the at least one email communication.

7. The system of claim 6 wherein the history of interactions with a recipient of the at least one email communication includes at least one of an excerpted history of interactions with a recipient of the at least one email communication, a recent history of interactions with a recipient of the at least one email communication, or a history of interactions with a recipient of the at least one email communication that is keyed to a specific topic.

8. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data comprises:

at least one of;

circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on the sender'"'"'s internet protocol address and the sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data;

or

circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on at least one of subscriber identity module data, integrated circuit card identifier data, mobile equipment identifier data, international mobile subscriber identity data, or electronic serial number data.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the sender'"'"'s device identifier data includes at least one device descriptor.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the device descriptor includes at least one of a device name, a device brand, a device model, or a device location.

11. The system of claim 9 wherein the device descriptor includes at least one of mobile phone, computer, or television.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the device descriptor includes at least one of Apple, Motorola, HTC, LG, Samsung, Blackberry, or Nokia.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the device descriptor includes at least geographical information about the device.

14. The system of claim 13 wherein the geographical information about the device is derived from at least one of internet protocol address, global positioning satellite data, Wi-Fi use, proximity to at least one other device, cellular phone tower proximity, or user-entered location data.

15. The system of claim 1 wherein the network participation identifier data includes at least a name in a telecommunications carrier database.

16. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data comprises:

circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a real-world person at least partly based on the real-world person'"'"'s device-identifier data and the real-world person'"'"'s network-participation identifier data.

17. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data comprises:

at least one of circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile using identity prediction, circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile using de-anonymization, or circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile using real-name profiling.

18. The system of claim 16 wherein the circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a real-world person at least partly based on the real-world person'"'"'s device-identifier data and the real-world person'"'"'s network-participation identifier data includes at least one of (1) circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a real-world person using web history tracking, (2) circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a real-world person using media content tracking, or (3) circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a real-world person using app data tracking.

19. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle comprises:

circuitry for displaying on a mobile device the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle.

20. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle comprises:

circuitry for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle via a personal software assistant.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein the personal software assistant is SIRI.

28. The system of claim 1 wherein the circuitry for receiving with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number that includes at least a numerical device identification number that identifies at least a mobile telephone in one or more telecommunications carrier databases comprises:

circuitry for receiving with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number that includes at least one of subscriber identity module data, integrated circuit card identifier data, mobile equipment identifier data, international mobile subscriber identity data, or electronic serial number data, wherein the circuitry for receiving with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number is configured to receive the sender'"'"'s device identification number as at least part of email ID data determinable from the at least one email communication, the sender'"'"'s device identification number configured to uniquely identify the sender'"'"'s device.

29. The system of claim 1, wherein the circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier comprises:

circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person pursuant to an opt-in allowing the one or more telecommunications carrier databases to allow access to the social network data.

30. The system of claim 1, wherein the one or more telecommunications carrier databases include at least a cellular telecommunications carrier database.

31. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle comprises:

circuitry for presenting information associated with the vehicle that includes at least geo-location data associated with the sender and the vehicle.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the geo-location data associated with the sender and the vehicle includes at least geo-location data obtained at least in part via a global positioning satellite function of a mobile communication device associated with the sender.

33. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data further comprises:

circuitry for receiving as at least portion of the sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data, a photograph associated with the sender; and

circuitry for obtaining social network data associated with a real world person based in part on an application of facial recognition technology to the photograph of the sender.

34. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier comprises:

circuitry for obtaining from one or more telecommunications carriers, based at least in part on the unique identifier, social network data that includes at least one of a social network username, a social network digital image, or a social network profile.

35. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers comprises:

circuitry accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to multiple communication devices.

36. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers comprises:

circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases a unique identifier that that includes at least a globally unique identifier configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in the at least one database of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases that is a cross-carrier database that contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers of a consortium of telecommunications carriers.

37. The system of claim 1, wherein said circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers comprises:

circuitry for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases a directory of unique identifiers, wherein the directory is a cross-carrier directory associated with a plurality of telecommunications carriers, and wherein at least a given unique identifier of the unique identifiers corresponds at least to a communications device and to a real world person associated with the communications device; and

wherein said circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier comprises;

circuitry for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated the real world person based at least in part on the given unique identifier of the unique identifiers.

22. A computer program product comprising:

at least one non-transitory signal-bearing medium bearing at least;

(a) one or more instructions for accepting at least one email communication from at least one member of a network, wherein the at least one member is associated with a vehicle;

(b) one or more instructions for associating the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data, including at least;

(1) one or more instructions for receiving with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number that includes at least a numerical device identification number that identifies at least a mobile telephone in one or more telecommunications carrier databases;

(2) one or more instructions for accessing in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers;

(3) one or more instructions for obtaining at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier; and

(4) one or more instructions for associating the at least some of the social network data with the at least one email communication as at least a portion of the sender profile; and

(c) one or more instructions for presenting the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the at least one non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes at least one of a computer-readable medium or a recordable medium.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the at least one non-transitory signal-bearing medium includes a communications medium.

25. A system comprising:

a computing device; and

instructions that when executed on the computing device cause the computing device to at least;

(a) accept at least one email communication from at least one member of a network, wherein the at least one member is associated with a vehicle;

(b) associate the at least one email communication with a sender profile at least partly based on a sender'"'"'s device-identifier data and a sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data, including at least;

(1) receive with the at least one email communication at least a sender'"'"'s device identification number that includes at least a numerical device identification number that identifies at least a mobile telephone in one or more telecommunications carrier databases;

(2) access in the one or more telecommunications carrier databases, at least in part with the numerical device identification number, a unique identifier that corresponds at least to a real world person and to the mobile telephone and that is associated with social network data associated with the real world person, wherein the unique identifier is at least partially numeric and is configured for uniquely identifying the real world user in one or more telecommunications carrier databases and wherein at least one of the one or more telecommunications carrier databases contains user data for a plurality of telecommunications carriers;

(3) obtain at least some of the social network data associated with the real world person based at least in part on the unique identifier; and

(4) associate the at least some of the social network data with the at least one email communication as at least a portion of the sender profile; and

(c) present the sender profile in association with the at least one email communication and in association with information associated with the vehicle.

26. The system of claim 25 wherein the computing device comprises:

at least one of a personal digital assistant (PDA), a personal entertainment device, a mobile phone, a laptop computer, a tablet personal computer, a networked computer, a computing system comprised of a cluster of processors, a computing system that includes at least a cluster of servers, a workstation computer, or a desktop computer.

27. The system of claim 25 wherein the computing device is operable to present a sender profile at least partly based on at least one of the sender'"'"'s network-participation identifier data or the sender'"'"'s device-identifier data from at least one memory.