Automatic profiler

• US 6,826,574 B1
• Filed: 08/27/1999
• Issued: 11/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Gateway 2000, Inc. (Acer, Inc.), Spotware Technologies Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Gateway Incorporated (Acer, Inc.)
• Inventors: Colbath, Mark Allan
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson, Greta
• Assistant Examiner(s): DODDS, HAROLD E
• Application Number:
  US09/384,490
• Time in Patent Office: 1,922 Days
• Field of Search: 707/1-3, 707/5, 707/6, 707/9, 707/10, 707/100, 707/103, 707/104.1, 707/513, 707/530, 707/532, 707/533, 707/200-205, 345/733, 345/742, 345/744, 345/745, 345/747, 715/513, 715/532, 715/533, 715/530
• US Class Current: 707/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/10 File systems; File servers
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/917 Text
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

A method and system for generating and utilizing a profile of a user of a computer-based information handling system is disclosed. The information handling system is searched by a profiler for files stored thereon that have been edited by the user. A located file is searched for words contained in the file, and a list of words contained in the file is compiled and added to a profile database. Descriptive information to be matched is received and compared to words stored in a profile database. If one or more words in the profile database matches the descriptive information, a match is recorded, and a score is calculated and returned.

Claims

1. A method for generating a profile of a user of a computer-based information handling system, the method comprising the following steps:

searching predetermined files accessible to the information handling system;

determining whether each file is a new file;

if the file is a new file, determining whether said new file is a text file;

if said new file is a text file, determining whether said new text file has been created or edited by the user;

if said new text file has been created or edited by the user, searching said new user created or edited text file for user created or edited content;

processing said user created or edited content; and

storing said user created or edited content into a user profile database.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said monitoring step comprises the following step:

monitoring user keystroke inputs to said information handling system.

3. The method of claim 2, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating files of a predetermined file type from consideration.

4. The method of claim 2, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating binary files from consideration.

5. The method of claim 2, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating executable files from consideration.

6. The method of claim 2, said compiling step including the step of associating a creation or editing date to user created or edited content.

7. The method of claim 2, said compiling step including the step of associating frequency of occurrence to user created or edited content.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising the step of adding user created or edited content having a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency to a common list database.

8. The method of 6, further comprising the step of eliminating user created or edited content from the database having an associated date earlier than a predetermined date.

10. A method for utilizing a profile of a user of a computer-based information handling system, comprising:

receiving descriptive information to be matched from a requester;

comparing the descriptive information to be matched to a database containing user created or edited information indicative of the profile of the user;

determining whether user created or edited information in the database matches the descriptive information to be matched;

in the event the user created or edited information matches the descriptive information, recording a match;

calculating a score indicative of the degree of match between the user created or edited information and the descriptive information; and

returning the match score to the requester.

11. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of determining whether an acceptance of the match occurs, and, in the event an acceptance occurs, associating the descriptive information with the matched user created or edited information in the database.

12. The method as claimed in claim 10, further comprising the step of determining whether a quicker search is desired, and, in the event a quicker search is desired, comparing the descriptive information to be matched to a list containing user created or edited information indicative of the profile of the user wherein said information has a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency, and determining whether user created or edited information in the list matches the descriptive information to be matched, and in the event the user created or edited information matches the descriptive information, continuing the method at said recording step.

13. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising the step of determining whether an acceptance of the match occurs, and, in the event an acceptance occurs, associating the descriptive information with the matched user created or edited information in the database.

14. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a computer-based information handling system to execute steps for generating a profile of a user of the computer-based information handling system, the steps comprising:

searching predetermined files accessible to the information handling system;

determining whether each file is a new file;

if the file is a new file, determining whether said new file is a text file;

if said new file is a text file, determining whether said new text file has been created or edited by the user;

if said new text file has been created or edited by the user, searching said new user created or edited text file for user created or edited content;

processing said user created or edited content; and

storing said user created or edited content into a user profile database.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 14, wherein said monitoring step comprises the following step:

monitoring user keystroke inputs to said information handling system.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 15, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating files of a predetermined file type from consideration.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 15, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating binary files from consideration.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 15, said step of determining whether a file has been created or edited by a user including the step of eliminating executable files from consideration.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 15, said compiling step including the step of associating a creation or editing date to user created or edited content.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 15, said compiling step including the step of associating frequency of occurrence to user created or edited content.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 20, further comprising the step of adding user created or edited content having a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency to a common list database.

21. The computer readable medium of 19, further comprising the step of eliminating user created or edited content from the database having an associated date earlier than a predetermined date.

23. A computer readable medium whose contents cause a computer-based information handling system to execute steps for utilizing a profile of a user of a computer-based information handling system, comprising:

receiving descriptive information to be matched from a requester;

comparing the descriptive information to be matched to a database containing user created or edited information indicative of the profile of the user;

determining whether user created or edited information in the database matches the descriptive information to be matched;

in the event the user created or edited information matches the descriptive information, recording a match;

calculating a score indicative of the degree of match between the user created or edited information and the descriptive information; and

returning the match score to the requester.

24. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of determining whether an acceptance of the match occurs, and, in the event an acceptance occurs, associating the descriptive information with the matched user created or edited information in the database.

25. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 23, further comprising the step of determining whether a quicker search is desired, and, in the event a quicker search is desired, comparing the descriptive information to be matched to a list containing user created or edited information indicative of the profile of the user wherein said information has a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency, and determining whether user created or edited information in the list matches the descriptive information to be matched, and in the event the user created or edited information matches the descriptive information, continuing the method at said recording step.

26. The computer readable medium as claimed in claim 25, further comprising the step of determining whether an acceptance of the match occurs, and, in the event an acceptance occurs, associating the descriptive information with the matched user created or edited information in the database.

27. A computer-based information handling system for creating and utilizing profile information of a user of the computer-based information handling system, comprising:

a processor for interpreting and executing instructions on the computer-based information handling system;

a memory coupled to said processor for storing a file created or edited by the user;

a database, stored in said memory, for storing the profile information; and

a profiler, executing on said processor, for determining whether the file is a new text file created or edited by the user, finding and reading user created or edited information contained in the new text file created or edited by the user, and adding user created or edited information to said database.

28. The computer-based information handling system as claimed in claim 27, further comprising a list of user created or edited information, said profiler adding user created or edited information found in the file having a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency to said list.

29. A computer-based information handling system for creating and utilizing profile information of a user of the computer-based information handling system, comprising:

means for interpreting and executing instructions on the computer-based information handling system;

means coupled to said processor for storing a file created or edited by the user;

means, stored in said memory, for storing the profile information; and

means, executing on said interpreting and executing means, for determining whether the file is a new text file created or edited by the user, finding and reading user created or edited information contained in the new text file created or edited by the user, and adding the user created or edited information to said profile information storing means.

30. The computer-based information handling system as claimed in claim 29, further comprising a means for storing common user created or edited information, said finding and reading means adding user created or edited information found in the file having a frequency of occurrence greater than a predetermined frequency to said common storing means.