RELATIONSHIP-BASED PROCESSING

• US 20080104084A1
• Filed: 10/26/2006
• Published: 05/01/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 10/26/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Chavda, Ankur, Maguire, Justin M., Monaghan, Mickey, Jacobsen, Lola
• Granted Patent: US 7,836,088 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities

Abstract

A relationship engine provides for the management of relationship information between entities. The relationship information indicates the level (or degree) of relationship between an entity and another entity or entities. The relationship engine allows applications to access the relationship information that is being managed by the relationship engine. For example, when an application needs to process an interaction between one entity and another entity, the application can query the relationship engine for the relationship between the entities. The application can then base its processing behavior at least in part on the relationship information obtained from the relationship engine.

Claims

1. A computer-readable media encoded with computer executable instructions for providing relationship-based processing, by a method comprising:

determining that an indication of a relationship between a first entity and a second entity is to be sent to an application;

determining the relationship between the first entity and the second entity; and

sending the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application,

such that the application bases its processing behaviors at least in part on the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

2. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the processing behaviors determine information regarding the first entity that is made available to the second entity.

3. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the processing behaviors determine the level of interaction between the first entity and the second entity.

4. The computer-readable media of claim 1 including sending a notification to the first entity of the sending of the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

5. The computer-readable media of claim 1 including:

requesting authorization from the first entity to send the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application; and

upon receiving the authorization from the first entity, sending the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application.

6. The computer-readable media of claim 1 including:

detecting a change in the relationship information for the first entity; and

notifying a subscriber of the change in the relationship information for the first entity.

7. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity varies based on time.

8. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity varies based on the first entity'"'"'s current presence.

9. The computer-readable media of claim 1, wherein the relationship between the first entity and the second entity is determined from a plurality of relationship rules.

10. A computer-implemented method for providing relationship-based processing, the method comprising:

receiving a request for an indication of relationship of a second entity to a first entity, the request made by an application upon detecting a need to process an interaction between the first entity and the second entity;

determining the relationship of the second entity to the first entity; and

sending the indication of the relationship of the second entity to the first entity to the application,

such that the application bases its processing of the interaction between the first entity and the second entity at least in part on the indication of the relationship of the second entity to the first entity.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the relationship of the second entity to the first entity is determined from a plurality of relationship rules.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the plurality of relationship rules are ranked according to priority.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the plurality of relationship rules applied in sequence according to their ranking to determine the relationship of the second entity to the first entity.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of rules determines the relationship of the second entity to the first entity based on the proximity of the second entity to the first entity.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of rules determines the relationship of the second entity to the first entity based on employment relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

16. The method of claim 11, wherein one of the plurality of rules determines the relationship of the second entity to the first entity based on familial relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

17. A system for providing relationship-based processing, comprising:

an application that sends a request for the relationship between a first entity and a second entity upon detecting a need to process an interaction between the first entity and the second entity;

a relationship engine that receives the request for the relationship between the first entity and the second entity, determines the relationship between the first entity and the second entity, and sends an indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application.

18. The system of claim 17, wherein the relationship engine further notifies the first entity of the sending of the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity.

19. The system of claim 17, wherein the relationship engine further requests authorization from the first entity to send the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application, and sends the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity to the application upon receiving authorization from the first entity.

20. The system of claim 17, wherein the application processes the interaction between the first entity and the second entity based on the indication of the relationship between the first entity and the second entity.