Transmitting information given constrained resources

• US 7,191,159 B2
• Filed: 06/24/2004
• Issued: 03/13/2007
• 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:
  US10/875,867
• Publication Number:
  US 20040236719A1
• Time in Patent Office: 992 Days
• Field of Search: 706/1, 706/45, 380/37, 713/153, 717/106
• US Class Current: 706/1
• 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:

receiving a communication that includes electronic text;

analyzing the electronic text;

prioritizing the electronic text given a constrained resource based on a predetermined criteria; and

transmitting the electronic text as prioritized to a user to mitigate effects of the constrained resource.

2. The method of claim 1, further initially comprising receiving the electronic text.

3. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises utilizing a text classifier to prioritize the electronic text.

4. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises utilizing a user-determined set of rules to prioritize the electronic text.

5. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises utilizing a support vector machine classifier to prioritize the electronic text.

6. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises determining a change in value with delayed review of information contained in each text.

7. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic text given the constrained resource based on the predetermined criteria comprises performing a cost-benefit analysis.

8. The method of claim 1, the constrained resource comprises at least one of:

intermittent connectivity;

limited bandwidth; and

, expensive bandwidth.

9. The method of claim 1, prioritizing the electronic 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.

10. The method of claim 9, 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 fixture time when the user would otherwise review the text.

11. The method of claim 9, determining the expected loss comprises initially determining a current expected rate of lost opportunity as a function of present time.

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

13. The method of claim 9, determining the expected cost comprises utilizing one of a linear function and a non-linear function.

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

receiving a communication that includes electronic text;

analyzing the electronic text;

for each electronic text,

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

determining an expected cost of alerting the user of the electronic 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 electronic text should be transmitted to the user; and

transmitting only the electronic text which should be transmitted to the user as determined to reduce an impact of at least one of a limited bandwidth, a limited time to obtain the electronic text, and a limited amount of memory.

15. The medium of claim 14, 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.

16. The medium of claim 14, determining the expected loss comprises initially determining a current expected rate of lost opportunity as a function of present time.

17. The medium of claim 14, determining the expected cost comprises determining a probability inference as to a likelihood of the user being present.

18. The medium of claim 14, determining the expected cost comprises utilizing one of a linear function and a non-linear function.

19. A computerized system comprising:

a component that receives electronic text;

a prioritization mechanism that prioritizes the electronic text, given a constrained resource, based on a predetermined criteria; and

a device that transmits the electronic text as prioritized by the prioritization mechanism to reduce an impact associated with the constrained resource.

20. The system of claim 19, further comprising a program that generates the electronic text.

21. The system of claim 19, the constrained resource is inherent within the device.

22. A computer-based system, comprising:

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

a component that transmits and/or receives the computer readable item as prioritized to mitigate a cost associated with the constrained resource.

23. The system of claim 22 applies a value density analysis in connection with handling the item.

24. The system of claim 22, the component transmits the item as a function of ratio of urgency of the item and size thereof.

25. The system of claim 22, the statistical classifier performs a probabilistic-based analysis on the item.

26. The system of claim 22 downloads the item as a function of loss of value of time associated with delayed review of content of the item.

27. The system of claim 22, 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.

28. The system of claim 22, the classifier factors features associated with unsolicited messages.

29. The system of claim 22, further comprising a component that performs a utility-based analysis in connection with the item.

30. The system of claim 29, 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.

31. The system of claim 29, the utility-based analysis is based at least in part on a value associated with truncating the item.

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

33. The system of claim 29, 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.

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

35. A computer-based system, comprising:

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

means for transmitting and/or obtaining the computer readable item as prioritized to mitigate an effect of the constrained resource.

36. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for applying a value density analysis in connection with handling the item.

37. The system of claim 35, the means for transmitting transmits the item as a function of ratio of urgency of the item and size thereof.

38. The system of claim 35, further comprising means for downloading the item as a function of loss of value of time associated with delayed review of content of the item.

39. The system of claim 35, 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.

40. The system of claim 39, the utility-based analysis is based at least in pan on a value associated with truncating the item.

41. A computer-based methodology, comprising:

prioritizing electronic item(s), based at least in part upon respective urgency of the electronic item(s) and respective size thereof; and

transmitting and/or obtaining the electronic item(s) as prioritized to reduce an effect of at least one of a limited bandwidth, a limited time to transfer the electronic item(s), and a limited amount of memory.