Representation, decision models, and user interface for encoding managing preferences, and performing automated decision making about the timing and modalities of interpersonal communications

• US 8,161,165 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2007
• Issued: 04/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Horvitz, Eric J.
• Primary Examiner(s): HIGA, BRENDAN Y
• Application Number:
  US11/965,222
• Publication Number:
  US 20080134069A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,573 Days
• Field of Search: 709238-240, 709204-207, 709227-229, 37920201-20401, 379/211.02, 379/212.02, 379/214.01, 715751-753, 455/412.2, 455/413, 455/414.1, 455/416
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/066 Format adaptation, e.g. format conversion or compression
• 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 67/14 Session management for real-time applications in data packet communications networks H04L65/1066
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/30 Profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/59 Providing operational support to end devices by off-loading in the network or by emulation, e.g. when they are unavailable
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/60 Scheduling or organising the servicing of application requests, e.g. requests for application data transmissions using the analysis and optimisation of the required network resources admission control or resource allocation H04L47/70
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/24 Negotiation of communication capabilities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/2066 Call type detection of indication, e.g. voice or fax, mobile of fixed, PSTN or IP
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 7/12 : for working between exchanges having different types of switching equipment, e.g. power-driven and step by step or decimal and non-decimal
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/252 : Processing of multiple end-users' preferences to derive collaborative data
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 21/4788 : communicating with other users, e.g. chatting arrangements for providing for computer conferences, e.g. chat rooms, to substation in data switching networks H04L12/1813; distributed application using peer-to-peer [P2P] networks H04L67/104

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing a user interface that can be employed by contactors and contactees in conjunction with a communications architecture for identifying and establishing an optimal communication based on preferences, capabilities, contexts and goals of the parties to engage in the communication. The user interface can include a graphical display having a plurality of display objects and associated input fields operable by one or more parties to a communication in order to facilitate convenient access, control, personalization and communications via the communications architecture. For example, configuration capabilities are provided in the user interface to enable operational adjustments to one or more operating parameters, communications groupings, policies and/or context preferences relating to a preferred modality of communication and to potential parties of communication between the contactors and contactees. User interface controls are also provided for defining deterministic policies and for encoding preferences for cost-benefit analyses.

Claims

1. A user interface to facilitate communications between parties, at least one of the parties being a user of the user interface, the user interface comprising:

a display providing one or more display objects associated with configuring a data store, wherein;

the data store is adapted to receive N parameters, N being an integer,

the N parameters relate to at least one of a communications preference, context and policy, and

the N parameters are employed to guide decisions that facilitate communications between the parties; and

one or more inputs associated with the display objects to facilitate configuration of the user interface that receive input from the user specifying a plurality of costs to the user of interrupting the user in real-time with a communication, the costs of interrupting being specified for a context of the user at the time the communication is attempted, the context comprising a plurality of busyness levels of the user, the costs of interrupting comprising a first cost of interrupting specified for each of a plurality of communication modalities used for the communication for a first busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels and a second cost of interrupting specified for each of the plurality of communication modalities for a second busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels.

2. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising one or more inputs to define one or more groups that include at least one of a spouse, friends, family, colleagues, reports or organizational people.

3. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising an input to define one or more groups by relationships.

4. The user interface of claim 3, wherein the input to define one or more groups by relationships is further used to define categories of relationships including at least one of “

my reports and manager,”

“

my reports,”

“

my manager,”

“

my department,”

“

anyone in my organization,”

“

up an org chart”

“

and down the org chart.”

5. The user interface of claim 4, further comprising additional inputs to select an organizational level at which a user defines a relationship with another person or group at different tiers of an organization.

6. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising an input to define one or more dynamic groups.

7. The user interface of claim 6, the dynamic groups further comprising selection options to enable communications with those people who have authored a document or application within a selected timeframe.

8. The user interface of claim 6, further comprising selections that include adding people to groups who have met with the user within a selected time frame.

9. The user interface of claim 6, further comprising selections that include communicating with people that are involved in at least one of an active project and a project that is involved in a shared manner with another activity.

10. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising selections for associating one or more groups to one or more policy categories.

11. The user interface of claim 10, the one or more policy categories further comprising at least one of a breakthrough, high, medium and low priority categories.

12. The user interface of claim 10, further comprising communications options that include a policy setting for a user-defined state.

13. The user interface of claim 12, the user-defined state including an availability level.

14. The user interface of claim 1, further comprising one or more inputs for defining policies that configure at least one of a best effort real time communications policy, a do not attempt scheduling if a delay is greater than a selected timeframe policy, a go to a best effort communications policy immediately policy, a policy to display an amount of time available for other scheduling options.

15. At least one computer-readable storage device storing computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, implement computer-executable components displayed on a user interface that facilitates communications between parties, at least one of the parties being a user of the user interface, the computer-executable components comprising:

a display providing one or more display objects associated with configuring a data store, wherein;

the data store is adapted to receive N parameters, N being an integer,

the N parameters relate to at least one of a communications preference, context and policy, and

the N parameters are employed to guide decisions that facilitate communications between the parties; and

one or more inputs associated with the display objects to facilitate configuration of the user interface that receive input from the user specifying a plurality of costs to the user of interrupting the user in real-time with a communication, the costs of interrupting being specified for a context of the user at the time the communication is attempted, the context comprising a plurality of busyness levels of the user, the costs of interrupting comprising a first cost of interrupting specified for each of a plurality of communication modalities used for the communication for a first busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels and a second cost of interrupting specified for each of the plurality of communication modalities for a second busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels.

16. The at least one computer-readable storage device of claim 15, wherein the user comprises a contactee and wherein the computer-executable components further comprise an input to specify a context of the contactee.

17. The at least one computer-readable storage device of claim 16, wherein the context of the contactee comprises an attentional status of the contactee.

18. A method of operating at least one computer comprising a user interface that facilitates communications between parties, at least one of the parties being a user of the user interface, the method comprising:

providing, on a display of the user interface, one or more display objects associated with configuring a data store, wherein;

the data store is adapted to receive N parameters, N being an integer,

the N parameters relate to at least one of a communications preference, context and policy, and

the N parameters are employed to guide decisions that facilitate communications between the parties;

providing one or more inputs associated with the display objects to facilitate configuration of the user interface; and

receiving, via the one or more inputs, input from the user specifying a plurality of costs to the user of interrupting the user in real-time with the communication, the costs of interrupting being specified for a context of the user at the time the communication is attempted, the context comprising a plurality of busyness levels of the user, the costs of interrupting comprising a first cost of interrupting specified for each of a plurality of communication modalities used for the communication for a first busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels and a second cost of interrupting specified for each of the plurality of communication modalities for a second busyness level of the plurality of busyness levels.

19. A method of claim 18, wherein the plurality of communication modalities comprise at least one of a voice conversation, a voice message, an e-mail alert, and an instant messenger alert.

20. A method of claim 18, wherein specifying the plurality of costs of interrupting the user comprises assessing and encoding the costs of interrupting for each of the plurality of communication modalities and the context of the user, wherein the context comprises context states of availability of the user.