Display of Profile Information Based on Implicit Actions

• US 20090030940A1
• Filed: 07/25/2008
• Published: 01/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 07/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Verizon Patent and Licensing Incorporated (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Smith, Adam, Brezina, Matthew
• Granted Patent: US 8,468,168 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/24575 using context
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/38 Retrieval characterised by using metadata, e.g. metadata not derived from the content or metadata generated manually
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9577 Optimising the visualization of content, e.g. distillation of HTML documents
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/048 Interaction techniques based on graphical user interfaces [GUI]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/14 Tree-structured documents parsing G06F40/205; validation G06F40/226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/00 Arrangements for metering, time-control or time indication ; Metering, charging or billing arrangements for voice wireline or wireless communications, e.g. VoIP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/43 Billing software details
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/44 Augmented, consolidated or itemized billing statement or bill presentation
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/58 : based on statistics of usage or network monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 15/745 : Customizing according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. friends or family
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0104 : Augmented, consolidated or itemised billing statement, e.g. additional billing information, bill presentation, layout, format, e-mail, fax, printout, itemised bill per service or per account, cumulative billing, consolidated billing
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0108 : Customization according to wishes of subscriber, e.g. customer preferences, friends and family, selecting services or billing options, Personal Communication Systems [PCS]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2215/0188 : Network monitoring; statistics on usage on called/calling number
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 24/08 : Testing, supervising or monitoring using real traffic

Abstract

Among other disclosures, a method may include collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications. The method may include generating a profile based on the collected historical communication data and personal data and presenting the profile, in response to user behavior.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

Collecting historical communication data and personal data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications;

Generating a profile containing information about a person using the historical communication data and personal data;

Monitoring user behavior;

Determining if the user has made an implicit request to view the profile; and

Presenting the profile in response to the implicit request.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the monitoring step includes tracking cursor movements, cursor locations, keyboard strokes, cursor clicks, active windows, selection tool interactions, pointing tool movements, touch screen interactions or finger movements.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the implicit request is made by opening a communication sent by the person, opening a communication addressed to the person, opening a communication on which the person has been copied, writing a communication to the person, selecting a communication sent by the person, selecting a communication addressed to the person, selecting a communication on which the person has been copied, copying the person on a communication, initiating a communication with the person, hovering a cursor over a communication to or from the person, selecting a conversation thread in which the person was involved, selecting a file that was sent or received as an attachment to a communication to or from the person, listening to a recorded audio communication with the person, performing a search for the person, selecting the person'"'"'s name, selecting the person'"'"'s screen name, selecting the person'"'"'s e-mail address, selecting the person'"'"'s profile name, viewing or opening a webpage which contains the person'"'"'s name, viewing or opening a webpage owned or written by the person, viewing or opening a webpage about the person, viewing or opening a social network profile for the person, viewing or opening a blog or on-line journal about or written by the person, selecting web content created by the person, typing the persons name, viewing a picture of the person, viewing a video of the person, opening a file created by the person, or selecting an attribute associated with the person.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the collecting step further comprises querying multiple disparate information sources to derive the historical communication data and the personal data.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the information sources are selected from the group comprising e-mail clients, web mail, web search engines, social networks, instant messaging clients, personal web pages, telephone directories, text message clients, picture sharing websites, video sharing websites, blogs, profile pages, telephone communications, and customer relationship management systems.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

Storing the profile in a database external to a system used in making the communications.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the presenting step further comprises displaying the profile in an additional panel within an e-mail client, web browser, or instant message window.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

Identifying one or more identifiers for the person within a currently open media item; and

inserting a link in proximity to one or more of the identifiers for accessing the profile.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 8, wherein the one or more identifiers are selected from the group comprising a name, nick names, e-mail addresses, telephone numbers, screen names, social network profile names, personal website URLs, social network profile URLs, facsimile numbers, physical addresses, or employer names.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the information contained in the profile is selected from the group comprising contact information, communication summaries, conversation threads, attachments to communications, communication statistics, related contacts, and weather information.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the determining step includes evaluating user interaction with a communication associated with a communication system and presenting the profile in response to user interaction.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

Analyzing a communication addressed to more than one person;

Identifying one of the persons;

Displaying a profile containing information about the person.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, further comprising prior to analyzing the communication, viewing, selecting, highlighting, or composing the communication.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 12, wherein identifying one person is based on past behavior of a user.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising:

Collecting historical communication data relating to a portion of a plurality of communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications;

Generating a communication profile containing information about a communication using the historical communication data and personal data;

Enabling a determination if a user has made an implicit request to view information about the communication; and

Enabling presentation of the communication profile in response to the implicit request.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the implicit request is made by opening a communication, viewing a communication, reading a communication, selecting a communication, selecting a summary of a communication, writing a communication, initiating a communication, or receiving a communication.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, wherein the information contained in the communication profile is selected from the group comprising a subject of the communication, a date of the communication, a time of the communication, a summary of the communication, a conversation thread that contains the communication, a summary of a conversation thread that contains the communication, web information derived from links in the communication, information derived from an attachment to the communication, a list of people involved in the communication, a list of people involved in a conversation thread that contains the communication, maps of addresses listed in the communication, attachments to the communication, and attachments to other communications in a conversation thread that contains the communication.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 15, further comprising:

Evaluating user interaction with a communication associated with a communication system; and

Presenting the communication profile in response to user interaction.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising:

Collecting historical communication data relating to a portion of one or more communications, a sender of one or more of the communications or one or more recipients of the communications, the communications being transmitted over plural communications mediums;

Generating a communication profile containing information about a communication using the historical communication data;

Enabling a determination if a user has made an implicit request to view the communication profile; and

Enabling a presentation of the communication profile in response to the implicit request.

20. The method of claim 19 further comprising:

Evaluating user interaction with a communication presented by a communications medium; and

Presenting the communication profile in response to the user interaction.