User information management device treating communications from user as information to allow system to access and update information about user without modifying the overall system

• US 5,577,247 A
• Filed: 05/19/1995
• Issued: 11/19/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/1991
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Toshiba (Toshiba Corporation)
• Original Assignee: New Media Development Association
• Inventors: Hidai, Yutaka, Uyama, Masashi
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Von Buhr, Maria N.
• Application Number:
  US08/445,095
• Time in Patent Office: 550 Days
• Field of Search: 364/DIG. 1, 364/DIG. 2, 395/600, 395/725, 395/275, 395/838, 395/893, 395/892, 395/700, 395/600
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A user information management device exploits the contents of all communications as information about an individual user, to allow the system to access and update information about the user without modifying the overall system. The system includes a task execution device and a user interface device which interact to perform a task as directed by a user by message communication through a shared medium. The system includes a user information management device and a reference table which includes message patterns for accessing and updating the information about the user and for launching access and update procedures corresponding to a matched pattern.

Claims

1. A system including a user information management device for managing information about a user to process user operations by using stored information concerning user attributes,

comprising:

a shared medium having a memory, for reading and writing messages in response to external commands;

a task execution device connected for communication with said shared medium, for performing information processing;

a user interface device connected for communication with said shared medium, for interacting with the user by receiving input from the user and providing responses to the user;

a user information management device connected for communication with said shared medium

for storing and updating information concerning the user as user information,

for managing said user information, and

for updating a reference table having procedures for accessing or updating said user information, and message patterns for the initiation of said access procedures and update procedures,

said user information management device comprising

said user information, said reference table, and an updating table,

having procedures for

updating message patterns and procedures in said reference table and

message patterns for performing the initiation of updating said reference table;

said user information management device

monitoring messages sent to said shared medium either by said task execution device or by said user interface device,

performs the initiating of access or update procedures when matching occurs between

said message sent to said shared medium and

said message patterns in said reference table,

whereby information about the user is dynamically acquired,

said user information management device

monitoring messages sent to said shared medium either by said task execution device or by said user interface device,

updates message patterns and procedures in said reference table when matching occurs between said message sent to said shared medium, and said message patterns in said updating table for matching against new messages sent for matching against new messages sent to said shared medium, whereby further information about the user is dynamically acquired and both said task execution device and said user interface device dynamically obtain further user information.

2. A system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said user information management device updates said reference table in response to said further information from the user.