Dynamic context filters for communication and information management

• US 6,697,842 B1
• Filed: 10/07/1998
• Issued: 02/24/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/07/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Northern Telecom Limited (Nortel Networks Corporation)
• Inventors: Smith, Colin Donald, Beaton, Brian Finlay
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain
• Assistant Examiner(s): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US09/167,494
• Time in Patent Office: 1,966 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206,203,218,219,228,233,250,238,239 370/94.1 379/10 455/166.2
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9537 Spatial or temporal dependent retrieval, e.g. spatiotemporal queries

Abstract

A dynamic context filter for communication and information management filters information using dynamic parameters corresponding to a particular user. Dynamic context filters may represent user location, current time, or past preferences. Filtered information may be prioritized based on proximity, time, or past preferences. The importance of dynamic context filter parameters may be weighted.

Claims

1. A method, performed by a server connected to a mobile communication device, of dynamically filtering information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

creating a profile containing parameters used by a dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user,

receiving from the mobile communication device a request for information from a network;

determining a location of the mobile communication device;

determining a context for the request based on the location and the profile;

providing the dynamic context filter information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received;

providing the dynamic context filter the request and the context for the request; and

dynamically filtering the information from the network based on the request, the information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, and the context using the dynamic context filter.

2. The method of claim 1, further including

transmitting the filtered information to the communication device.

3. The method of claim 1, further including

re-filtering the filtered information using the dynamic context filter.

4. The method of claim 1, further including

modifying values of the parameters for the dynamic context filter based on past preferences.

5. The method of claim 1, further including

modifying values of the parameters for the dynamic context filter based on past preferences.

6. The method of claim 1, further including

weighting one of the parameters for the dynamic context filter.

7. The method of claim 1, further including

prioritizing the filtered information according to a predetermined criteria.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the predetermined criteria includes a parameter selected from a group consisting of user location, time, and past preferences.

9. A method, performed by a mobile communication device connected to a server, of providing dynamically filtered information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

receiving at the mobile communication device a request for information from a network;

transmitting to the server the request for information from the network;

transmitting to the server at least one parameter regarding a profile associated with the mobile communications device;

transmitting to the server information regarding the location of the mobile communication device;

receiving from the server information from the network, wherein the information from the network is dynamically filtered using the dynamic context filter based on the request, and a context for the request that is determined based on information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, the location of the mobile communication device, and the profile.

10. A method, performed by a mobile communication device connected to a server, of dynamically filtering information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

creating a profile containing parameters used by a dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user,

receiving from a user a request for information from a network;

transmitting to the server the request for information from the network;

receiving from the server the requested information;

determining a location of the mobile communication device;

determining a context for the request based on information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, the location, and the profile;

providing the dynamic context filter the context for the request; and

dynamically filtering the information based on the context for the request using the dynamic context filter.

11. The method of claim 10, further including

re-filtering the filtered information using the dynamic context filter.

12. A server, connected to a mobile communication device, for dynamically filtering information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

means for creating a profile containing parameters used by a dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user;

means for receiving from the mobile communication device a request for information from network;

means for determining a location of the mobile communication device;

means for determining a context for the request based on the location and the profile;

means for providing the dynamic context filter the request and the context for the request; and

means for dynamically filtering the information from the network based on the request, information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, and the context using the dynamic context filter.

13. The server of claim 12, further including

means for transmitting the filtered information to the communication device.

14. The server of claim 12, further including

means for re-filtering the filtered information using the dynamic context filter.

15. The server of claim 12, further including

means for predefining values for the parameters of the dynamic context filter before receiving the request for information.

16. The server of claim 12, further including

means for modifying values for the parameters of the dynamic context filter based on past preferences.

17. The server of claim 12, further including

means for weighting one of the parameters for the dynamic context filter.

18. The server of claim 12, further including

means for prioritizing the filtered information according to a predetermined criteria.

19. The server of claim 18, wherein the predetermined criteria includes a parameter selected from a group consisting of user location, time, and past preferences.

20. A mobile communication device, connected to a server, for providing dynamically filtered information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

means for receiving at the mobile communication device a request for information from a network;

means for transmitting to the server the request for information from the network;

means for transmitting to the server at least one parameter regarding a profile associated with the mobile communications device;

means for transmitting to the server information regarding the location of the mobile communication device; and

means for receiving from the server information from the network, wherein the information from the network is dynamically filtered using the dynamic context filter based on the request, and a context for the request that is determined based on information indicating previous requests by the user, the location of the mobile communication device, and the profile.

21. A mobile communication device, connected to a server, for dynamically filtering information using a dynamic context filter, comprising:

means for creating a profile containing parameters used by a dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user;

means for receiving from a user a request for information from a network;

means for transmitting to the server the request for information from the network;

means for receiving from the server the requested information;

means for determining a location of the mobile communication device;

means for determining a context for the request based on information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, the location, and the profile;

means for providing the dynamic context filter the context for the request, and

means for dynamically filtering the information based on the context for the request using the dynamic context filter.

22. The method of claim 21, further including

means for re-filtering the filtered information using the dynamic context filter.

23. An article of manufacture capable of configuring a server to dynamically filter information using a dynamic context filter, the article comprising program code to cause the server to perform the steps of:

creating a profile containing parameters used by the dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user;

receiving from a mobile communication device a request for information from the network;

determining the location of the mobile communication device;

determining a context for the request based on information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, the location, and the profile;

providing the dynamic context filter the context for the request; and

dynamically filtering the information from the network based on the request and the context using the dynamic context filter.

24. An article of manufacture capable of configuring a data processor to dynamically filter information using a dynamic context filter, the article comprising program code to cause the data processor to perform the steps of:

creating a profile containing parameters used by the dynamic context filter in the server, wherein the profile is associated with a user;

receiving from a user a request for information from the network;

transmitting to the server the request for information from the network

receiving from the server the requested information;

determining a location of a mobile communication device;

determining a context for the request based on information indicating requests made by the user before the request was received, the location and the profile;

providing the dynamic context filter the context for the request; and

dynamically filtering the information from the network based on the context using the dynamic context filter.