SINGLE DEVICE WITH MULTIPLE PERSONAS

• US 20110061008A1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Published: 03/10/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Curtis, Pavel, McAniff, Richard J., Norlander, Rebecca, Gupta, Anoop, Czerwinski, Mary P., Ozzie, Raymond E., Barga, Roger S.
• Application Number:
  US12/098,805
• Publication Number:
  US 20110061008A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

A single device that receives communications, resources, data, and/or other information intended for a user having multiple contact addresses is provided. The single device can receive various information intended for multiple telephone numbers, email aliases, screen names, aliases, other means of contact, or combinations thereof. The device can selectively forward the information to the user based on a current user role, user preferences, contact information, or based on other criteria. If information is to be forwarded to the user at substantially the same time as receipt, automatic means of notifying the user of the role for which the communication is intended are provided.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating receipt of information based on a user role, comprising

a receiver component that accepts information intended for a device user;

an identifier component that determines an intended user role from at least a first user role and a second user role;

an activity component that determines a current user role; and

a transmit component that selectively renders the accepted information based on the intended user role and the current user role.

2. The system of claim 1, the transmit component conveys the information if the intended user role matches the current user role.

3. The system of claim 2, the transmit component places the information in a queue if the intended user role does not match the current user role and presents the information when there is a transition to the intended user role.

4. The system of claim 1, the information is a communication, a resource, or combinations thereof.

5. The system of claim 1, the transmit component identifies the accepted information as a specific ring tone based on the intended user role.

6. The system of claim 5, the transmit component allows the user to accept or deny the information.

7. The system of claim 1, the identifier component matches an identification of the sender of the incoming information with an address book.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising an interface component that allows a manual override of a current user role.

9. The system of claim 1, the current user role is based on historical information, location of a device, time of day, activity of a user, or combinations thereof.

10. The system of claim 1, the receiving component accepts information intended for multiple aliases on a single device.

11. A method for receiving data intended for multiple user roles at a single device, comprising:

receiving data intended for multiple user roles;

determining a role for which the data is intended;

ascertaining a current user role; and

selectively rendering the data to the user in a perceivable format based on defined criteria relating to the intended role and the current user role.

12. The method of claim 11, the data is rendered at substantially the same time as received if the intended role matches the current user role.

13. The method of claim 11, the data is not rendered if the intended role does not match the current user role.

14. The method of claim 13, further comprises retaining the data in storage until the intended role matches the current user role.

17. The method of claim 11, ascertaining a current user role comprises determining a current user activity.

18. The method of claim 11, ascertaining an intended role comprises comparing a sender of the data with information contained in a contact database.

15. The method of 11, the data is rendered by an indication of the intended role.

16. The method of claim 15, the indication is a distinct ring tone for each intended role.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the following computer executable components:

means for accepting a communication;

means for evaluating a persona associated with the communication;

means for establishing a persona in which a user is currently engaged; and

means for transmitting the communication to the user based in part on the communication persona and the current persona.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, the means for transmitting the communication places the information in a queue and presents the information when the persona associated with the communication and the person in which the user is currently engaged match.