Methods, systems, and products for producing persona-based hosts

• US 20090006525A1
• Filed: 06/26/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Moore, Darryl Cynthia
• Granted Patent: US 8,078,698 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0278 Product appraisal
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0603 Catalogue ordering
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/16 Real estate
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/163 Real estate management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/165 Land development

Abstract

Methods, systems, and products are disclosed for producing a virtual host. The virtual host is generated. A demographic trait of a user, interacting with the virtual host, is acquired. The virtual host is endowed with the demographic trait, thereby enriching the virtual host to appeal the user.

Claims

1. A method of producing a virtual host, comprising:

generating the virtual host;

acquiring a demographic trait of a user interacting with the virtual host; and

endowing the virtual host with the demographic trait.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

querying for an additional trait that is associated with the user'"'"'s demographic trait; and

endowing the virtual host with the additional trait, thereby further enhancing the virtual host to appeal to the user.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying for a physical address associated with an Internet Protocol address, the Internet Protocol address associated with the user.

4. The method according to claim 3, further comprising querying for census data associated with the physical address.

5. The method according to claim 4, further comprising querying for the demographic trait associated with the census data, whereby the virtual host is demographically tailored to the census data.

6. The method according to claim 3, further comprising querying for property records associated with the physical address.

7. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

inspecting the property records for a date of transfer;

comparing the date of transfer to a current date to determine a term of ownership;

inferring an age of the user from the term of ownership; and

endowing the virtual host with demographic traits associated with the age of the user.

8. The method according to claim 6, further comprising:

inspecting the property records for a sales price;

inferring an income level of the user from the sales price; and

endowing the virtual host with demographic traits associated with the income level of the user.

9. The method according to claim 1, further comprising querying for a telephone number associated with an Internet Protocol address, the Internet Protocol address associated with the user.

10. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

querying for a physical address associated with the telephone number;

querying for census data associated with the physical address; and

querying for the demographic trait associated with the census data, whereby the virtual host is demographically tailored to the census data.

11. The method according to claim 9, further comprising:

querying for a central office associated with the telephone number;

querying for a physical address of the central office;

querying for census data associated with the physical address of the central office; and

querying for the demographic trait associated with the census data, whereby the virtual host is demographically tailored to the census data.

12. The method according to claim 11, further comprising:

receiving an audible response to a prompt;

comparing the audible response to responses in a database of responses;

when a match is found, then selecting a speech characteristic associated with the audible response; and

endowing the virtual host with the speech characteristic such that the virtual host has audible traits matching the user.

13. The method according to claim 12, further comprising querying for the demographic trait that is associated with the speech characteristic.

14. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

receiving a time between keystrokes of the user; and

querying for the demographic trait that is associated with the time between keystrokes.

15. The method according to claim 14, further comprising comparing the time between keystrokes to a threshold time and inferring at least one of i) an elderly age of the user and ii) a young age of the user.

16. The method according to claim 15, further comprising endowing the virtual host with the demographic trait associated with the user'"'"'s age.

17. The method according to claim 14, further comprising i) prompting the user with scripted questions to infer the user'"'"'s age and ii) endowing the virtual host with the demographic trait associated with the user'"'"'s age.

18. A system for producing a virtual host, comprising:

means for generating the virtual host;

means for acquiring a demographic trait of a user interacting with the virtual host; and

means for endowing the virtual host with the demographic trait.

19. The system according to claim 18, further comprising:

means for querying for a physical address associated with an Internet Protocol address, the Internet Protocol address associated with the user;

means for querying for census data associated with the physical address; and

means for querying for the demographic trait associated with the census data, whereby the virtual host is demographically tailored to the census data.

20. A computer program product storing computer-readable instructions for performing a method of producing a virtual host, the method comprising:

generating the virtual host;

acquiring an Internet Protocol address associated with a user;

querying for a physical address associated with the Internet Protocol address;

querying for census data associated with the physical address;

querying for a demographic trait associated with the census data; and

endowing the virtual host with the demographic trait to demographically tailor the virtual host to the census data.