Automatic subscriptions to documents based on user navigation behavior

• US 20060085379A1
• Filed: 10/18/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: X Corp. (f/k/a Twitter, Inc.) (X Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Heidloff, Niklas, O'Brien, Michael R., Kraenzel, Carl J., Klouda, Gregory R.
• Granted Patent: US 7,693,815 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A network device such as a server monitors user behavior and provides subscriptions to documents based at least in part on that behavior. Subscription triggers include requesting at least a predetermined percentage of the entire document, requesting at least a predetermined number of pages in a document, and requesting a document at least a predetermined number of times. If documents are organized in a root and branch structure, the subscription may be triggered based on the extent to which documents are requested in the structure, e.g., triggered upon request for a branch document related to a root document. Subscriptions may also be limited to a portion of a document, such as a branch document associated with a root document.

Claims

1. A method for providing a subscription to a document that is available to a user via a network comprising the steps of:

monitoring user behavior; and

automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user exhibits a predetermined behavior with respect to the document.

3. The method of claim 1 including the further step of automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined number of pages of the document.

4. The method of claim 1 including the further step of automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses the document a predetermined number of times.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the document is associated with a hierarchy having multiple levels, and including the further step of automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses a predetermined level.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the document is a branch document associated with a root document, and including the further step of limiting the subscription to the branch document.

9. A computer program product operative to provide a subscription to a document that is available to a user via a network comprising:

first program code operative to monitor user behavior; and

second program code operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user exhibits a predetermined behavior with respect to the document.

10. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the second program code is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined portion of the total document.

11. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the second program code is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined number of pages of the document.

12. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the second program code is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses the document a predetermined number of times.

13. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the document is associated with a hierarchy having multiple levels, and wherein the second program code is operative to automatically trigger-a subscription to the document if the user accesses a predetermined level.

2. The method of claim 1 including the further step of automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined portion of the total document.

14. The computer program product of claim 9 wherein the document is a branch document associated with a root document, and wherein the second program code is operative to limit the subscription to the branch document.

15. The product of claim 13 further including means for automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined number of pages of the document.

16. The product of claim 13 further including means for automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses the document a predetermined number of times.

17. The product of claim 13 wherein the document is associated with a hierarchy having multiple levels, and further including means for automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses a predetermined level.

18. The product of claim 13 wherein the document is a branch document associated with a root document, and further including means for limiting the subscription to the branch document.

13-1. A product for providing a subscription to a document that is available to a user via a network comprising:

means for monitoring user behavior; and

means for automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user exhibits a predetermined behavior with respect to the document.

14-2. The product of claim 13 further including means for automatically triggering a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined portion of the total document.

19. Apparatus operative to provide a subscription to a document that is available to a user via a network comprising:

a server operative to monitor user behavior and automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user exhibits a predetermined behavior with respect to the document.

20. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the server is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined portion of the total document.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the server is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses at least a predetermined number of pages of the document.

22. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the server is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses the document a predetermined number of times.

23. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the document is associated with a hierarchy having multiple levels, and wherein the server is operative to automatically trigger a subscription to the document if the user accesses a predetermined level.

24. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the document is a branch document associated with a root document, and wherein the server is operative to limit the subscription to the branch document.