Method and apparatus for ordering communications
First Claim
1. A method for ordering communications stored in a user message box, comprising:
- placing a first plurality of messages in a user message box, wherein the user message box is maintained in data storage;
determining for each of the first plurality of messages an associated identifier using application programming running on a processor, wherein at least a first message included in the first plurality of messages is associated with a first identifier, wherein at least a second message included in the first plurality of messages is associated with a second identifier, and wherein the first and second identifiers are different from one another;
accessing by a user the user message box;
determining using the application programming an amount of a message accessed by the user for each message in the first plurality of messages;
from at least the determined amount of a message accessed by the user for each message in the first plurality of messages, predicting using the application programming a level of interest that the user will have in subsequent messages, wherein a first amount of the first message is accessed by the user, wherein a second amount of the second message is accessed by the user, wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount, wherein a first level of interest is predicted for messages associated with the first identifier, wherein a second level of interest is predicted for messages associated with the second identifier, and wherein the predicted first level of interest is higher than the predicted second level of interest;
from the predicted level of interest, assigning by the application programming a first rank to the first identifier and a second rank to the second identifier.
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Abstract
The present invention provides for the ranking of messages for presentation to a user based on user behavior with respect to previous messages received from ranked communication endpoints. In particular, the percentage of a message played back by a user can be used to assigned a rank for future messages received from the initiating communication endpoint associated with the subject message. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user has listened to all or a large proportion of are associated with a relatively high ranking that is applied to future messages from those communication endpoints. Initiating communication endpoints associated with messages that the user listens to only the message header or a small proportion of the message itself are assigned a relatively low ranking. Messages received as textual communications or by a unified messaging application may be ranked according to the order in which the user selects the messages for retrieval.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method for ordering communications stored in a user message box, comprising:
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placing a first plurality of messages in a user message box, wherein the user message box is maintained in data storage; determining for each of the first plurality of messages an associated identifier using application programming running on a processor, wherein at least a first message included in the first plurality of messages is associated with a first identifier, wherein at least a second message included in the first plurality of messages is associated with a second identifier, and wherein the first and second identifiers are different from one another; accessing by a user the user message box; determining using the application programming an amount of a message accessed by the user for each message in the first plurality of messages; from at least the determined amount of a message accessed by the user for each message in the first plurality of messages, predicting using the application programming a level of interest that the user will have in subsequent messages, wherein a first amount of the first message is accessed by the user, wherein a second amount of the second message is accessed by the user, wherein the first amount is greater than the second amount, wherein a first level of interest is predicted for messages associated with the first identifier, wherein a second level of interest is predicted for messages associated with the second identifier, and wherein the predicted first level of interest is higher than the predicted second level of interest; from the predicted level of interest, assigning by the application programming a first rank to the first identifier and a second rank to the second identifier. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
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12. A system for providing ordered messages, comprising:
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a messaging application operable to receive and store messages addressed to a user; a message ranking application operable to rank a communication endpoint identifier associated with each message received by the messaging application, wherein a predicted order of preference is determined from the past behavior of the user, wherein the past behavior includes an amount of each message accessed by the user, wherein a first communication endpoint identifier associated with a first message is ranked higher than a second communication endpoint identifier associated with a second message where the user accesses more of the first message than the second message, and wherein the received messages are ranked according to the ranking of the communication endpoint identifier associated with the message; a table in data storage containing the ranking determined by the message ranking application for each of a plurality of communication endpoint identifiers, wherein information identifying communication endpoints and an amount of a message accessed by the user from each identified communication endpoint is stored; and a user communication interface operable to access the messages stored by the messaging application, and wherein the messages are presented to the user in an order according to the rank determined by the message ranking application. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A messaging system for predicting a user order of preference, comprising:
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means for receiving and storing messages; means for determining an identifier associated with a received message; means for predicting a user preference comprising a ranking for association with messages from a particular identifier, wherein said predicted user preference is determined from past user action with respect to one or more other messages associated with the particular identifier, wherein said past user action includes a percentage of the one or more other messages associated with the particular identifier that is accessed by the user, and wherein a first identifier having a first percentage of the one or more other messages associated with the first identifier is ranked higher than a second identifier having a second percentage of the one or more messages associated with the second identifier where the first percentage is larger than the second percentage; and means for presenting messages to the user in an order representing the predicted user preference. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21)
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Specification