Transmitting information given constrained resources

• US 6,938,024 B1
• Filed: 05/04/2000
• Issued: 08/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Horvitz, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): STARKS, WILBERT L
• Application Number:
  US09/565,584
• Time in Patent Office: 1,944 Days
• Field of Search: 370/229, 382/239, 706/46, 706/206
• US Class Current: 706/45
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/00 Machine learning
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 20/10 using kernel methods, e.g. support vector machines [SVM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/226 Delivery according to priorities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/58 Message adaptation for wireless communication

Abstract

Prioritizing text such as e-mail messages, given constrained resources, is disclosed. In one embodiment, a method first receives a plurality of messages, such as e-mail messages. The method prioritizes the messages, based on a predetermined criteria given a constrained resource. The method then outputs the messages to a user, as prioritized given the constrained resource. Specific constrained resources include limited bandwidth, limited storage space, and limited time in which to receive the texts. Embodiments include policies that include priority-sensitive truncation and summarization. Furthermore, in one embodiment, if context is detected, the priorities for caching are affected. In another embodiment, the likelihood that a user already knows all or part of the information being transmitted is considered.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

using a text classifier to prioritize at least one text given a constrained resource based on a predetermined criteria; and

transmitting the at least one text as prioritized to a user given the constrained resource.

2. The method of claim 1 further initially comprising receiving the at least one text.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein prioritizing the at least one text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises utilizing a user determined set of rules to prioritize the at least one text.

4. The method of claim 1, the classifier comprises a support vector machine.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the constrained resource comprises at least one of intermittent connectivity;

limited bandwidth; and

, expensive bandwidth.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein prioritizing the at least one text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises, for each text:

determining an expected loss of non-review of the text at a current time;

determining an expected cost of alerting the user of the text at the current time; and

upon determining that the expected loss of non-review exceeds the expected cost of alerting the user, concluding that the text should be transmitted to the user.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the expected loss of non-review of each text at the current time considers the expected loss of non-review of the text at a future time when the user would otherwise review the text.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the expected loss comprises initially determining a current expected rate of lost opportunity as a function of present time.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the expected cost comprises determining a probability inference as to a likelihood of the user being present.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein determining the expected cost comprises utilizing one of a linear function and a nonlinear function.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

prioritizing at least one tent liven a constrained resource based on a predetermined criteria, the prioritizing comprises determining a change in value with delayed review of information contained in the at least one text; and

transmitting the at least one text as prioritized to a user given the constrained resource.

12. A computer-implemented method comprising:

prioritizing at least one text given a constrained resource based on a predetermined criteria, the prioritizing comprises performing a cost-benefit analysis; and

transmitting the at least one text as prioritized to a user given the constrained resource.

13. A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method for text transmission to a user given a constrained resource, comprising:

for each of at least one text,

determining an expected loss of non-review of the text at a current time;

determining an expected cost of alerting the user of the text at the current time;

upon determining that the expected loss of non review exceeds the expected cost of alerting the user, determining that the text should be transmitted to the user; and

,

transmitting only each of the at least one text for which it was determined that the text should be transmitted to the user.

14. The medium of claim 13, wherein determining the expected loss of non-review of each text at the current time considers the expected loss of non-review of the text at a future time when the user would otherwise review the text.

15. The medium of claim 13, wherein determining the expected loss comprises initially determining a current expected rate of lost opportunity as a function of present time.

16. The medium of claim 13, wherein determining the expected cost comprises determining a probability inference as to a likelihood of the user being present.

17. The medium of claim 13, wherein determining the expected cost comprises utilizing one of a linear function and a non-linear function.

18. A computer-based system, comprising:

a statistical classifier that prioritizes, based at least in part upon predetermined criteria, an item given a constrained resource; and

a component that transmits the item as a function of ratio of urgency of the item and size thereof.

19. The system of claim 18, the prioritization is based on a predetermined criteria related to context associated with the texts.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a program to generate the at least one text.

21. The system of claim 18 the statistical classifier performs a probabilistic-based analysis on the item.

22. The system of claim 18 the prioritization is based at least in part on characteristics associated with the text.

23. A computer-based system, comprising:

a statistical classifier that applies a value density analysis in connection with prioritizing an item given a constrained resource; and

a component that transmits and/or receives the item as prioritized given the constrained resource.

24. The system of claim 23, the classifier employs as input features, at least one of time of day the item was sent, single words, phrases, sender information, size of the item, length of the item, linguistic features associated with the item.

25. A computer-based system, comprising:

a statistical classifier that prioritizes, based at least in part upon predetermined criteria, an item given a constrained resource; and

a component that transmits the item as a ratio of urgency of the item and size thereof.

26. A computer-based system, comprising:

a statistical classifier that prioritizes, based at least in part upon predetermined criteria, an item given a constrained resource; and

a component that transmits and/or receives the item as prioritized given the constrained resource, wherein the system downloads the item as a function of loss of value of time associated with delayed review of content of the item.

27. A computer-based system, comprising:

a classifier that prioritizes, based at least in part;

upon predetermined criteria, en item given a constrained resource, the classifier factors;

features associated with unsolicited messages; and

a component that transmits and/or receives the item as prioritized given the constrained resource.

28. A computer-based system, comprising:

a component that performs a utility based analysis in connection with the item;

a statistical classifier that prioritizes, based at least in part upon predetermined criteria, an item given a constrained resource; and

a component that transmits and/or receives the item as prioritized given the constrained resource.

29. The system, of claim 28, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on value of transmitting the item versus amount of resources required to transmit the item.

30. The system of claim 28, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on a value associated with truncating the item.

31. The system of claim 30 the classifier setting a threshold value wherein item(s) that fall below the threshold arc truncated, and items above the threshold are kept intact.

32. The system of claim 28, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on value of presently transmitting the item and the value associated with when the item will be received and/or reviewed.

33. The system of claim 32 the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on a probability distribution corresponding to the time delay.

34. A computer-based system, comprising:

means for prioritizing an item given a constrained resource and predetermined criteria for prioritization; and

means for applying a value density analysis in connection with handling the item.

35. The system of claim 34, further comprising a means for transmitting, whereby it transmits the item as a function of ratio of urgency of the item and size thereof.

36. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for downloading the item as a function of loss of value of tinge associated with delayed review of content of the item.

37. The system of claim 34, further comprising means for performing a utility-based analysis in connection with the item, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on value of transmitting the item versus amount of resources required to transmit the item.

38. The system of claim 37, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on a value associated with truncating the item.