Method and apparatus for distributing information to users

• US 6,578,025 B1
• Filed: 06/11/1999
• Issued: 06/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 06/11/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Abuzz Technologies, Inc. (Times Co. Digital, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Abuzz Technologies, Inc. (Times Co. Digital, Inc.)
• Inventors: Cutts, Shaun, Pollack, Jordan, Stevenson, Jeremy, Rodriguez, Andres, Umanoff, Zak
• Primary Examiner(s): Metjahic, Safet
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHEN, TE Y
• Application Number:
  US09/330,779
• Time in Patent Office: 1,460 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2-10, 709/217-219, 709/206, 709/316, 345/716, 395/200-1-2, 705/8, 706/45, 706/47, 706/925
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99932 Access augmentation or optimizing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99935 Query augmenting and refining, e.g. inexact access

Abstract

A method and apparatus for providing information to a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the users are disclosed. An incoming message is received. Similarity scores are generated indicating similarities of the incoming message to features of a plurality of messages. Relevancy scores are generated for the plurality of users, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the incoming message to the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and a plurality of user profiles including information descriptive of the plurality of users'"'"' preferences for the features of the plurality of users. Message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles is delivered to at least some of the plurality of users.

Claims

1. A method of providing information to at least one of a plurality of users of a system based on the relevancy of the information to the plurality of users, the system having a message feature database including a plurality of records, each record descriptive of the features of a message, and having a user profiles database including a plurality of user profiles, each user profile including information descriptive of one of the plurality of user'"'"'s preferences for the features of the messages described by the plurality of records, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message from a user;

(B) generating a plurality of similarity scores, each similarly score indicating a similarity of the incoming message to the features of a message described by one of the plurality of records, including, for each record, comparing the incoming message to the features of the message described by the record;

(C) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of users, each relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to one of the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and the user profile of the user, including comparing each user profile to the similarity scores to generate each respective relevancy score; and

(D) delivering, to the at least one of the plurality of users, message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (B) comprises steps of:

(B)(1) querying the message feature database using the incoming message to develop search results; and

(B)(2) generating the relevancy scores based on the search results.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the plurality of user profiles include a preference matrix indicating preferences of the plurality of users for the features of the messages described by the records of the message feature database, and wherein the step (C) comprises a step of:

(C)(1) generating the relevancy scores by performing vector multiplication of a vector representing the similarity scores by vectors in the preference matrix.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising steps of:

(E) receiving user feedback from one of the plurality of users; and

(F) modifying the one user'"'"'s profile in the user profiles database based on the user feedback.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (E) comprises a step of receiving an indication from the one user that are the user has expressed a positive preference for the message information.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the step (E) comprises a step of receiving an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a negative preference for the message information.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each user profile includes a relevancy threshold for one of the plurality of users, and wherein the step (D) comprises steps of:

(D)(1) for each user, comparing the relevancy score for the user to the relevancy threshold of the user; and

(D)(2) delivering the message information only to each user whose relevancy score satisfies the user'"'"'s relevancy threshold.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profiles database includes a maximum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) delivering the message information to no greater than the maximum number of users.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the user profiles database includes a minimum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) delivering the message information to no fewer than the minimum number of users.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of sending the message information to the at least one of the plurality of users as at least one electronic mail message.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) displaying the message information to a particular one of the plurality of users in a message display.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the step (D)(1) comprises a step of:

displaying the message information to the particular one of the plurality of users in a message display that indicates the relevancy score of the incoming message for the particular one of the plurality of users in relation to relevancy scores of other messages for the particular one of the plurality of users.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) responding to a request from a process executing on a client computer for message information satisfying specified criteria.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein the process is associated with a particular one of the plurality of users, and wherein the step (D)(1) comprises a step of responding to a request from the process executing on the client computer for message information corresponding to a specified number of messages having optimal relevancy scores for the particular one of the plurality of users.

15. A system for providing information to at least one of a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the plurality of users, the system comprising:

a message feature database including a plurality of records, each record descriptive of features of a plurality of messages;

a similarity engine having an input to receive an incoming message from a user and an output to deliver similarity scores, each similarity score indicating a similarity of the incoming message to the features of a message described by one of the plurality of records wherein the similarity engine is operable, for each record, to compare the incoming message to the features of the message described by the record;

a user profiles database including profiles of the plurality of users, each user profile including information descriptive of one of the plurality of user'"'"'s preferences for the features of the messages described by the plurality of records;

a relevancy engine having a first input to receive the similarity scores, a second input to receive the profiles from the user profiles database, and an output to deliver relevancy scores, each relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to one of the plurality of users, wherein the relevancy engine is operable to compare each user profile to the similarity scores to generate each respective relevancy score; and

a delivery mechanism having a first input to receive the incoming message, a second input to receive the relevancy scores, a third input to receive the profiles of the plurality of users, and an output to deliver, to the at least one of the plurality of users, message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the similarity engine is adapted to query the message feature database using the incoming message to develop search results and to generate the relevancy scores based on the search results.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profiles database includes a preference matrix indicating preferences of the plurality of users for the features of the messages described by the records of the message feature database, and wherein the relevancy engine is adapted to generate the relevancy scores by performing vector multiplication of a vector representing the similarity scores by vectors in the preference matrix.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profiles database is adapted to modify one of the plurality of user profiles in the user profiles database based on user feedback received from one of the plurality of users.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user feedback comprises an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a positive preference for the message information.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the user feedback comprises an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a negative preference for the message information.

21. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profiles database includes a relevancy threshold for each of the plurality of users, and wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to compare the relevancy score for each user to the relevancy threshold of the user, and to deliver the message information only to each user whose relevancy score satisfies the user'"'"'s relevancy threshold.

22. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profiles database includes a maximum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to deliver the message information to no greater than the maximum number of users.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the user profiles database includes a minimum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to deliver the message information to no fewer than the minimum number of users.

24. The system of claim 15, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to send the message information to the at least one of the plurality of users as at least one electronic mail message.

25. The system of claim 15, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to display the message information to a particular one of the plurality of users in a message display.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to display the message information to the particular one of the plurality of users in a message display that indicates the relevancy score of the incoming message for the particular one of the plurality of users in relation to relevancy scores of other messages for the particular one of the plurality of users.

27. The system of claim 15, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to respond to a request from a process executing on a client computer for message information satisfying specified criteria.

28. The system of claim 27, wherein the process is associated with a particular one of the plurality of users, and wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to respond to a request from the process executing on the client computer for message information corresponding to a specified number of messages having optimal relevancy scores for the particular one of the plurality of users.

29. A computer-readable medium encoded with a program for execution on a computer processor, wherein the program, when executed on the computer processor, performs a method of providing information to at least one of a plurality of users of a system based on the relevancy of the information to the plurality of users, the system having a message feature database including a plurality of records, each record descriptive of the features of a message, and having a user profiles database including a plurality of user profiles each user profile including information descriptive of one of the plurality of user'"'"'s preferences for the features of the messages described by the plurality of records, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message from a user;

(B) generating a plurality of similarity scores, each similarly score indicating a similarity of the incoming message to the features of a message described by one of the plurality of records, including, for each record, comparing the incoming message to the features of the message described by the record;

(C) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of users, each relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to one of the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and the user profile of the user including comparing each user profile to the similarity scores to generate each respective relevancy score; and

(D) delivering, to the at least one of the plurality of users, message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles.

30. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the step (B) comprises steps of:

(B)(1) querying the message feature database using the incoming message to develop search results; and

(B)(2) generating the relevancy scores based on the search results.

31. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the plurality of user profiles include a preference matrix indicating preferences of the plurality of users ,for the features of the messages described by the records of the message feature database, and wherein the step (C) comprises a step of:

(C)(1) generating the relevancy scores by performing vector multiplication of a vector representing the similarity scores by vectors in the preference matrix.

32. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the method further comprises steps of:

(E) receiving user feedback from one of the plurality of users; and

(F) modifying the one user'"'"'s profile in the user profiles database based on the user feedback.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the step (E) comprises a step of receiving an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a positive preference for the message information.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, wherein the step (E) comprises a step of receiving an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a negative preference for the message information.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein each user profile includes a relevancy threshold for one of the plurality of users, and wherein the step (D) comprises steps of:

(D)(1) for each user, comparing the relevancy score for the user to the relevancy threshold of the user; and

(D)(2) delivering the message information only to each user whose relevancy score satisfies the user'"'"'s relevancy threshold.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the user profiles database includes a maximum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) delivering the message information to no greater than the maximum number of users.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the user profiles database includes a minimum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) delivering the message information to no fewer than the minimum number of users.

38. The computer-readable.medium of claim 29, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of sending the message information to the at least one of the plurality of users as at least one electronic mail message.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) displaying the message information to a particular one of the plurality of users in a message display.

40. The computer-readable medium of claim 39, wherein the step (D)(1) comprises a step of:

displaying the message information to the particular one of the plurality of users in a message display that indicates the relevancy score of the incoming message for the particular one of the plurality of users in relation to relevancy scores of other messages for the particular one of the plurality of users.

41. The computer-readable medium of claim 29, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) responding to a request from a process executing on a client computer for message information satisfying specified criteria.

42. The computer-readable medium of claim 41, wherein the process is associated with a particular one of the plurality of users, and wherein the step (D)(1) comprises a step of responding to a request from the process executing on the client computer for message information corresponding to a specified number of messages having optimal relevancy scores for the particular one of the plurality of users.

43. A system for providing information to at least one of a plurality of users based on the relevancy of the information to the plurality of users, the system having a message feature database including a plurality of records, each record descriptive of the features of a message, and having a user profiles database including a plurality of user profiles each user profile including information descriptive of one of the plurality of user'"'"'s preferences for the features of the messages described by the plurality of records, the system comprising:

(A) means for receiving an incoming message from a user;

(B) means for generating a plurality of similarity scores each similarly score indicating a similarity of the incoming message to the features of a message described by one of the plurality of records, including means for comparing, for each record, the incoming message to the features of the message described by the record;

(C) means for generating relevancy scores for the plurality of users, each relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to one of the plurality of users based on the similarity scores and the user profile of the user, including means for comparing each user profile to the similarity scores to generate each respective relevancy score; and

(D) means for delivering, to the at least one of the plurality of users, message information derived from the incoming message, the relevancy scores, and the plurality of user profiles.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for generating similarity scores comprises:

means for querying the message feature database using the incoming message to develop search results; and

means for generating the relevancy scores based on the search results.

45. The system of claim 43, wherein the plurality of user profiles include a preference matrix indicating preferences of the plurality of users for the features of the messages described by the records of the message feature database, and wherein the means for generating relevancy scores comprises:

means for generating the relevancy scores by performing vector multiplication of a vector representing the similarity scores by vectors in the preference matrix.

46. The system of claim 43, further comprising:

means for receiving user feedback from one of the plurality of users; and

means for modifying the one user'"'"'s profile in the user profiles database based on the user feedback.

47. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for receiving user feedback comprises means for receiving an indication from the one user that the one user has expressed a positive preference for the message information.

48. The system of claim 46, wherein the means for receiving user feedback comprises means for receiving an indication from the user that the user has expressed a negative preference for the message information.

49. The system of claim 43, wherein each user profile includes a relevancy threshold for the user, and wherein the means for delivering message information comprises means for comparing, for each user, the relevancy score to the user'"'"'s relevancy threshold, and means for delivering the message information only to each user whose relevancy score satisfies the user'"'"'s relevancy threshold.

50. The system of claim 43, wherein the user profiles database includes a maximum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the step (D) comprises means for delivering the message information to no greater than the maximum number of users.

51. The system of claim 43, wherein the user profiles database includes a minimum number of users to whom the message information is to be delivered, and wherein the means for delivering message information comprises means for delivering the message information to no fewer than the minimum number of users.

52. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for delivering message information comprises means for sending the message information to the at least one of the plurality of users as at least one electronic mail message.

53. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for delivering message information comprises means for displaying the message information to a particular one of the plurality of users in a message display.

54. The system of claim 53, wherein the means for displaying the message information comprises means for displaying the message information to the particular one of the plurality of users in a message display that indicates the relevancy score of the incoming message for the particular one of the plurality of users in relation to relevancy scores of other messages for the particular one of the plurality of users.

55. The system of claim 43, wherein the means for delivering message information comprises means for responding to a request from a process executing on a client computer for message information satisfying specified criteria.

56. The system of claim 55, wherein the process is associated with a particular one of the plurality of users, and wherein the means for responding comprises means for responding to a request from the process executing on the client computer for message information corresponding to a specified number of messages having optimal relevancy scores for the particular one of the plurality of users.

57. In a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message;

(B) generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user;

(C) determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold; and

(D) if the relevancy score satisfies the relevancy threshold, delivering to the user message information derived from the incoming message and automatically adjusting the relevancy threshold in response to the threshold being satisfied.

58. The method of claim 57, further comprising step of:

(E) adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

59. The method of claim 57, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

60. The method of claim 57, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and an amount determined by a time-dependent function of the relevancy threshold.

61. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution on a computer processor in a computer system including a relevancy threshold for a user, wherein the program, when executed on the computer processor, performs a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message;

(B) generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user;

(C) determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold; and

(D) if the relevancy score satisfies the relevancy threshold, delivering to the user message information derived from the incoming message and automatically adjusting the relevancy threshold in response to the threshold being satisfied.

62. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the method further comprising a step of:

(E) adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

63. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

64. The computer-readable medium of claim 61, wherein the step (D) comprises a step of:

(D)(1) adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and an amount determined by a time-dependent function of the relevancy threshold.

65. A system for providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

means for receiving an incoming message;

means for generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user;

means for determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies a relevancy threshold for the user; and

means for delivering to the user message information derived from the incoming message and automatically adjusting the relevancy threshold in the event that the relevancy score satisfies the relevance threshold.

66. The system of claim 65, further comprising a step of:

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

67. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for delivering comprises:

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

68. The system of claim 65, wherein the means for delivering comprises:

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and an amount determined by a time-dependent function of the relevancy threshold.

69. In a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message;

(B) generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user;

(C) calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

(D) determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold; and

(E) delivering the incoming message to the user when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold.

70. The method of claim 69, wherein the step (C) comprises a step of:

(C)(1) calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

71. The method of claim 70, wherein the step (C)(1) comprises steps of:

receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

72. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution on a computer processor in a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, wherein the program, when executed on the computer processor, performs a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving an incoming message;

(B) generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user,

(C) calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

(D) determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold; and

(E) delivering the incoming message to the user when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold.

73. The computer-readable medium of claim 72, wherein the step (C) comprises a step of:

(C)(1) calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

74. The computer-readable medium of claim 73, wherein the step (C)(1) comprises steps of:

receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

75. A system for providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

means for receiving an incoming message;

means for generating a relevancy score for the user, the relevancy score indicating a relevancy of the incoming message to the user;

means for calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

means for determining whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies a relevancy threshold for the user; and

means for delivering the incoming message to the user when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold.

76. The system of claim 75, wherein the means for calculating comprises:

means for calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

77. The system of claim 76, wherein the means for calculating comprises:

means for receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

means for calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

78. In a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

(B) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

(C) delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold, including controlling a frequency at which the user receives messages based on a value specified by the user.

79. In a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

(B) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

(C) delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold at a rate specified by the user;

wherein the step (C) comprises steps of;

(C)(1) calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

(C)(2) determining whether the relevancy scores of the incoming messages satisfy the relevancy threshold;

(C)(3) delivering to the user message information derived from those incoming messages whose relevancy scores satisfy the relevancy threshold; and

(C)(4) adjusting the relevancy threshold when it is determined in the step

(C)(2) that at least one of the relevancy scores satisfies the relevancy threshold.

80. The method of claim 79, wherein the step (C)(1) comprises a step of:

(C)(1)(a) calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

81. The method of claim 80, wherein the step (C)(1)(a) comprises steps of:

receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

82. The method of claim 79, wherein the step (C)(4) comprises a step of:

adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

83. The method of claim 79, wherein the step (C)(4) comprises a step of:

adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount specified by the user.

84. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution on a computer processor in a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, wherein the program, when executed on the computer processor, performs a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

(B) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

(C) delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold, including controlling a frequency at which the user receives messages based on a value specified by the user.

85. A computer-readable medium encoded with a computer program for execution on a computer processor in a system including a relevancy threshold for a user, wherein the program, when executed on the computer processor, performs a method of providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the method comprising steps of:

(A) receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

(B) generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

(C) delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold at a rate specified by the user;

wherein the step (C) comprises steps of;

(C)(1) calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

(C)(2) determining whether the relevancy scores of the incoming messages satisfy the relevancy threshold;

(C)(3) delivering to the user message information derived from those incoming messages whose relevancy scores satisfy the relevancy threshold; and

(C)(4) adjusting the relevancy threshold when it is determined in the step

(C)(2) that at least one of the relevancy scores satisfies the relevancy threshold.

86. The computer-readable medium of claim 85, wherein the step (C)(1) comprises a step of:

(C)(1)(a) calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

87. The computer-readable medium of claim 86, wherein the step (C)(1)(a) comprises steps of:

receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

88. The computer-readable medium of claim 85, wherein the step (C)(4) comprises a step of:

adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

89. The computer-readable medium of claim 85, wherein the step (C)(4) comprises a step of:

adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount specified by the user.

90. A system for providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

means for generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

means for delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold, including means for controlling a frequency at which the user receives messages based on a value specified by the user.

91. A system for providing information to the user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

means for receiving a plurality of incoming messages;

means for generating relevancy scores for the plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of the plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

means for delivering to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold at a rate specified by the user;

wherein the means for delivering comprises;

means for calculating the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time;

means for determining whether the relevancy scores of the incoming messages satisfy the relevancy threshold;

means for delivering to the user message information derived from those incoming messages whose relevancy scores satisfy the relevancy threshold; and

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold when it is determined in the step (C)(2) that at least one of the relevancy scores satisfies the relevancy threshold.

92. The system of claim 91, wherein the means for calculating comprises:

means for calculating the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

93. The system of claim 92, wherein the means for calculating comprises:

means for receiving user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user; and

means for calculating the function of time based on the user volume input.

94. The system of claim 91, wherein the means for adjusting comprises:

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

95. The system of claim 91, wherein the means for adjusting comprises:

means for adjusting the relevancy threshold by an amount specified by the user.

96. A system for providing information to a user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

a user profiles database including a relevancy threshold for the user;

a relevancy engine having an output to deliver a relevancy score indicating a relevancy of an incoming message to the user;

a delivery mechanism having a first input to receive the incoming message, a second input to receive the relevancy score, and an output operable, in the event that the relevancy score satisfies the relevancy threshold, to deliver to the user message information derived from the incoming message and to automatically adjust the relevancy threshold.

97. The system of claim 96, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to adjust the relevancy threshold by an amount determined by a time-dependent function when the relevancy score of the incoming message does not satisfy the relevancy threshold.

98. The system of claim 96, wherein the salience engine is adapted to adjust the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

99. The system of claim 96, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to adjust the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and an amount determined by a time-dependent function of the relevancy threshold.

100. A system for providing information to a user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

a user profiles database including a relevancy threshold for the user;

a relevancy engine having an output to deliver a relevancy score indicating a relevancy of an incoming message to the user; and

a delivery mechanism to calculate the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time, determine whether the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold, and deliver the incoming message to the user when the relevancy score of the incoming message satisfies the relevancy threshold.

101. The system of claim 100, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to calculate the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

102. The system of claim 101, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to receive user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user, and to calculate the function of time based on the user volume input.

103. A system for providing information to a user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

a user profiles database including a relevancy threshold for the user;

a relevancy engine having an output to deliver relevancy scores for a plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of a plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

a delivery mechanism to deliver to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold and to control a frequency at which the user receives messages based on a value specified by the user.

104. A system for providing information to a user based on the relevancy of the information to the user, the system comprising:

a user profiles database including a relevancy threshold for the user;

a relevancy engine having an output to deliver relevancy scores for a plurality of messages, the relevancy scores indicating relevancies of a plurality of incoming messages to the user; and

a delivery mechanism to deliver to the user message information derived from at least some of the incoming messages having relevancy scores satisfying the relevancy threshold at a rate specified by the user;

wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to calculate the relevancy threshold as a predefined decay function of time, determine whether the relevancy scores of the incoming messages satisfy the relevancy threshold, deliver to the user message information derived from those incoming messages whose relevancy scores satisfy the relevancy threshold, and adjust the relevancy threshold when it is determined that at least one of the relevancy scores satisfies the relevancy threshold.

105. The system of claim 104, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to calculate the relevancy threshold as a function of time that is specified by the user.

106. The system of claim 105, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to receive user volume input from the user, the user volume input indicating a desired frequency of message delivery to the user, and calculate the function of time based on the user volume input.

107. The system of claim 104, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to adjust the relevancy threshold by a function of the difference between the relevancy threshold and a maximum relevancy value.

108. The system of claim 104, wherein the delivery mechanism is adapted to adjust the relevancy threshold by an amount specified by the user.