Method and apparatus for modifying textual messages

• US 7,890,860 B1
• Filed: 09/28/2006
• Issued: 02/15/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Gen Digital Inc.
• Original Assignee: Symantec Operating Corporation (Gen Digital Inc.)
• Inventors: Thrasher, Russell, Muthiyan, Abhijit
• Primary Examiner(s): SMITH, CREIGHTON H
• Application Number:
  US11/540,819
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 715/210, 715/234, 715/260, 707/E17.094
• US Class Current: 715/260
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/253 Grammatical analysis; Style critique

Abstract

A method and apparatus for modifying the context of messages based on a selected rule set are provided. The method comprises selecting a rule set from the database, scanning the message while comparing content of a textual message to the rule set, and determining textual modifications to the textual message based on the selected rule set to define a modified message having content that is different from the textual message.

Claims

1. A method for scanning and selectively modifying a textual message to alter a context of the textual message comprising:

selecting a rule set from a database of contextual rule sets using a computer;

scanning a textual message using the computer while comparing content of the textual message to the rule set wherein the textual message is sent to or received from a third party, and wherein the scanning process occurs during a sending or receiving process; and

determining textual modifications for the textual message using the computer based on the selected rule set to define a modified message having a content that is different from the textual message.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the textual modifications are used to create the modified message.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the rule set is a particular tonal rule set from a set of tonal rule sets.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the rule set is a particular cultural expectations rule set from a set of cultural expectations rule sets.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the rule set is a particular character rule set from a set of personality role rule sets.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the textual message is authored by a user.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the scanning and determining steps occur while the textual message is being created.

8. The method of claim 7 further comprising:

presenting textual modifications to a user in real-time.

9. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

presenting the modified message to a user;

performing at least one of accepting at least a portion of the textual modifications or rejecting a portion of the textual modifications;

using the accepted textual modifications to create the modified message; and

sending the modified message.

10. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step further comprises:

displaying the modified message containing the textual modifications as highlighted text within the textual message.

11. The method of claim 9 wherein the presenting step further comprises:

displaying a list of suggested textual modifications.

12. Apparatus for scanning and selectively modifying a textual message comprising:

a database of contextual rule sets;

means for selecting a first rule set from the database;

a grammar and content modification engine for scanning a textual message and determines textual modification for the textual message based on the selected rule set, wherein the textual message is sent to or received from a third party.

13. The Apparatus of claim 12 wherein the grammar and content modification engine alters the textual message to include the textual modifications and create a modified message.

14. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rule set is a particular tonal rule set from a set of tonal rule sets.

15. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rule set is a particular cultural expectations rule set from a set of cultural expectations rule sets.

16. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the rule set is a particular character rule set from a set of personality role rule sets.

17. The apparatus of claim 12 wherein the textual message is authored by a user.