Communication Reputation

• US 20080243920A1
• Filed: 03/28/2007
• Published: 10/02/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Newman, Ben, De Oliveira, Jose M
• Granted Patent: US 7,895,154 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/104.1
• 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: H04M 1/663 Preventing unauthorised calls to a telephone set
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/667 Preventing unauthorised calls from a telephone set H04M1/677 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42161 via computer interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

Techniques are described which may provide information regarding the end point'"'"'s reputation, for presentation, or selectively block communications according to user preferences. In an implementation, a request to establish a communication link may include searching a database of reputation data for information regarding at least one of the source'"'"'s reputation data or the intended receiver'"'"'s reputation data.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

requesting establishment of a communication link between a source and an intended receiver;

searching a database, including reputation data, for reputation data associated with at least one of the source or the intended receiver; and

providing reputation data derived from the database search to at least one of the source or the intended receiver.

2. A method as described in claim 1, wherein the communication link is selected from the group consisting of a telephone voice link, a text message link, facsimile link, and an instant message link.

3. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising blocking the request to establish a communication link, if upon searching the database, a criteria is met.

4. A method as described in claim 3, wherein the criteria is a user adjustable threshold.

5. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising blocking the request to establish a communication link based on a heuristic determination of user reputation preferences.

6. A method as described in claim 1, wherein providing reputation data includes presenting a visual cue of a portion of the reputation data.

7. A method as described in claim 1, further comprising soliciting reputation feedback at the end of a communication resulting from the communication request.

8. A method as described in claim 7, further comprising accepting user feedback at the end of a communication resulting from the communication request.

9. A method as described in claim 1, wherein reputation data includes at least one of adult content, fee service, suspected fraud, verified financial service, usage, verified charity, scalar reputation value, classification, or financial solicitation.

10. One or more computer-readable media comprising computer-executable instructions that, when executed, direct a computing system to,

in response to a communication request, compare an end point with a database storing reputation data;

obtain reputation data for the end point; and

based on user selection, utilize the obtained reputation data to at least one of block the communication request or present at least a portion of the reputation data to a user.

11. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein reputation data is scaled.

12. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein the database is maintained by a third party to the communication request.

13. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, further comprising permit reputation feedback upon termination of a communication resulting from the communication request.

14. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 13, wherein reputation feedback is provided to a web page.

15. The one or more computer-readable media as described in claim 10, wherein reputation data is presented audibly.

16. A system comprising:

an assignment module to assign a reputation to a communication end point;

a service module to passively block a communication request or provide reputation data based on the assigned reputation; and

an interface module to interface with the service module to apply user selected rules to the service module.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the service module forwards usage data to the assignment module.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the interface module solicits user feedback at the end of a communication resulting from the communication request.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the communication request is selected from the group consisting of a telephone voice request, a text message request, facsimile request, and an instant message request.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein reputation data is presented at least one of audibly or visually.