Event notification based on subscriber profiles

• US 20050132016A1
• Filed: 12/16/2003
• Published: 06/16/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Boone, Joan P.
• Granted Patent: US 8,856,265 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method, system, and computer program product is disclosed that evaluates the characteristics of a new content source with respect to subscriber profiles. The subscriber profile attributes are evaluated and weighted algorithmically to produce an “inference score” that is a measure used to predict the interest that subscribers may have with respect to the new content. If the inference score is significant enough (e.g., above a certain threshold value), then the service provider can take measures to inform those subscribers deemed to have a high level of interest in the new content of its existence, e.g., by sending a simple notification to the subscriber with a response link for setting up a subscription.

Claims

1. A method of identifying new content sources of potential interest to a subscriber, comprising the steps of:

analyzing existing subscriber information for said subscriber;

inferring additional subscriber information for said subscriber based on said existing subscriber information;

analyzing characteristics of new content sources; and

identifying new content sources of potential interest to said subscriber based on said inferring step and said analyzing steps.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said identifying step comprises at least the steps of:

generating an inference score for said content with respect to said subscriber, said inference score being based on said inferred additional subscriber information; and

identifying as a new content source of potential interest to said subscriber any content having an inference score that exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said existing subscriber information comprises current subscription information, location information and device delivery information.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said inferred additional subscriber information comprises priority information inferred from the existing subscription/delivery associations in said existing subscriber information.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said existing subscriber information is time bounded.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein said time bounded subscriber information comprises a snapshot of subscriber information from within the last 30 days.

7. The method of claim 5, wherein said time bounded subscriber information comprises a snapshot of subscriber information from within the last 10 days.

8. The method of claim 5, wherein said time bounded subscriber information comprises a snapshot of subscriber information from within the last 48 hours.

9. The method of claim 4, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to a telephone are considered to be a request to deliver high-priority information.

10. The method of claim 4, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to a pager are considered to be a request to deliver high-priority information.

11. The method of claim 4, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to an email address are considered to be a request to deliver low-priority information.

12. The method of claim 4, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to a PDA are considered to be a request to deliver medium-priority information.

13. A system for identifying new content sources of potential interest to a subscriber, comprising:

means for analyzing existing subscriber information for said subscriber;

means for inferring additional subscriber information based on said existing subscriber information;

means for analyzing characteristics of new content sources; and

means for identifying new content sources of potential interest to said subscriber based on said inferring step and said analyzing steps.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein said means for identifying new content sources comprises at least:

means for generating an inference score for said content with respect to said subscriber, said inference score being based on said inferred additional subscriber information; and

means for identifying as a new content source of potential interest to said subscriber any content having an inference score that exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein said existing subscriber information comprises current subscription information, location information and device delivery information.

16. The system of claim 15 wherein said inferred additional subscriber information comprises priority information inferred from the existing subscription/delivery associations in said existing subscriber information.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to a telephone are considered to be a request to deliver high-priority information.

18. A computer program product recorded on computer readable medium for identifying new content sources of potential interest to a subscriber, comprising:

computer readable means for analyzing existing subscriber information for said subscriber;

computer readable means for inferring additional subscriber information based on said existing subscriber information;

computer readable means for analyzing characteristics of new content sources; and

computer readable means for identifying new content sources of potential interest to said subscriber based on said inferring step and said analyzing steps.

19. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said computer readable means for identifying new content sources comprises at least:

computer readable means for generating an inference score for said content with respect to said subscriber, said inference score being based on said inferred additional subscriber information; and

computer readable means for identifying as a new content source of potential interest to said subscriber any content having an inference score that exceeds a predetermined threshold level.

20. The computer program product of claim 18, wherein said existing subscriber information comprises current subscription information, location information and device delivery information.

21. The computer program product of claim 20 wherein said inferred additional subscriber information comprises priority information inferred from the existing subscription/delivery associations in said existing subscriber information.

22. The computer program product of claim 21, wherein subscription/delivery associations that request that information be delivered to a telephone are considered to be a request to deliver high-priority information.