Advanced text analysis and supplemental content processing in an instant messaging environment

• US 20060085515A1
• Filed: 10/14/2004
• Published: 04/20/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cerulean Studios LLC
• Original Assignee: Cerulean Studios LLC
• Inventors: Werndorfer, Scott, Mak, Pak-Kei, Kurtz, Kevin
• Application Number:
  US10/966,404
• Publication Number:
  US 20060085515A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content

Abstract

A computer-implemented method is described comprising: analyzing text entered by one or more users during an instant messaging session; identifying supplemental content based on the analysis of the text; highlighting the text or portions thereof to indicate to a user that supplemental content associated with the text is available; and providing the supplemental content to the user responsive to the user requesting the supplemental content.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

analyzing text entered by one or more users during an instant messaging session;

identifying supplemental content based on the analysis of the text;

highlighting the text or portions thereof to indicate to a user that supplemental content associated with the text is available; and

providing the supplemental content to the user responsive to the user requesting the supplemental content.

2. The method as in claim 1 wherein analyzing text comprises determining a context in which words in the text are being used.

3. The method as in claim 2 wherein determining a context comprises evaluating a correlation between two or more words in the text, the correlation revealing a particular context.

4. The method as in claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises a definition and/or encyclopedia entry associated with one or more words in the text.

5. The method as in claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises links to one or more network sites associated with one or more words in the text.

6. The method as in claim 1 wherein the supplemental content comprises advertisements associated with one or more words in the text.

7. The method as in claim 1 wherein highlighting the text comprises underlining words in the text for which supplemental content exists.

8. The method as in claim 1 wherein highlighting the text comprises bolding, italicizing and/or changing the color of words in the text for which supplemental content exists or the background of the words.

9. The method as in claim 1 wherein providing the supplemental content comprises:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an informational window containing the supplemental content related to the word or words.

10. The method as in claim 1 further comprising:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an options menu comprising a list of options for different supplemental data related to the word or words.

11. The method as in claim 10 wherein the list of options includes an option to search the Web for the word or words.

12. The method as in claim 11 further comprising:

transmitting the word or words to a search engine;

receiving the results from the search engine; and

presenting the results to the user.

13. A system comprising:

a text analysis module to analyze text entered by one or more users during an instant messaging session;

a supplemental content processing module to identify supplemental content based on the analysis of the text;

an instant messaging graphical user interface (“

IM GUI”

) to highlight the text or portions thereof to indicate to a user that supplemental content associated with the text is available and display the supplemental content to the user responsive to the user requesting the supplemental content.

14. The system as in claim 13 wherein analyzing text comprises determining a context in which words in the text are being used.

15. The system as in claim 14 wherein determining a context comprises evaluating a correlation between two or more words in the text, the correlation revealing a particular context.

16. The system as in claim 13 wherein the supplemental content comprises a definition and/or encyclopedia entry associated with one or more words in the text.

17. The system as in claim 13 wherein the supplemental content comprises links to one or more network sites associated with one or more words in the text.

18. The system as in claim 13 wherein the supplemental content comprises advertisements associated with one or more words in the text.

19. The system as in claim 13 wherein highlighting the text comprises underlining words in the text for which supplemental content exists.

20. The system as in claim 13 wherein highlighting the text comprises bolding, italicizing and/or changing the color of words in the text for which supplemental content exists or the background of the words.

21. The system as in claim 13 wherein providing the supplemental content comprises:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an informational window containing the supplemental content related to the word or words.

22. The system as in claim 13 providing the supplemental content comprising:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an options menu comprising a list of options for different supplemental data related to the word or words.

23. The system as in claim 22 wherein the list of options includes an option to search the Web for the word or words.

24. The system as in claim 23 wherein, responsive to receiving the word or words, the supplemental content processing module transmits the word or words to a search engine, receives the results from the search engine;

and wherein the IM GUI presents the results to the user.

25. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon program code which, when executed by a machine, cause the machine to perform the operations of:

analyzing text entered by one or more users during an instant messaging session;

identifying supplemental content based on the analysis of the text;

highlighting the text or portions thereof to indicate to a user that supplemental content associated with the text is available; and

providing the supplemental content to the user responsive to the user requesting the supplemental content.

26. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein analyzing text comprises determining a context in which words in the text are being used.

27. The machine-readable medium as in claim 26 wherein determining a context comprises evaluating a correlation between two or more words in the text, the correlation revealing a particular context.

28. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein the supplemental content comprises a definition and/or encyclopedia entry associated with one or more words in the text.

29. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein the supplemental content comprises links to one or more network sites associated with one or more words in the text.

30. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein the supplemental content comprises advertisements associated with one or more words in the text.

31. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein highlighting the text comprises underlining words in the text for which supplemental content exists.

32. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein highlighting the text comprises bolding, italicizing and/or changing the color of words in the text for which supplemental content exists or the background of the words.

33. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 wherein providing the supplemental content comprises:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an informational window containing the supplemental content related to the word or words.

34. The machine-readable medium as in claim 25 further comprising:

detecting that the user has moved a mouse pointer over a word or words in the text for which supplemental content exists or that the user has selected a mouse button while positioned over the word or words; and

responsively generating an options menu comprising a list of options for different supplemental data related to the word or words.

35. The machine-readable medium as in claim 34 wherein the list of options includes an option to search the Web for the word or words.

36. The machine-readable medium as in claim 35 further comprising:

transmitting the word or words to a search engine;

receiving the results from the search engine; and

presenting the results to the user.