User profile opening apparatus and method

• US 8,230,036 B2
• Filed: 06/09/2004
• Issued: 07/24/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/10/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Original Assignee: NEC Corporation
• Inventors: Ishikawa, Hidemi, Takauji, Chikara, Inoue, Masakazu, Ikawa, Tomoko
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US10/863,350
• Publication Number:
  US 20040255304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,967 Days
• Field of Search: 707 3- 10, 709203-229, 715/203, 370/241, 705/35, 4554121-4561
• US Class Current: 709/217
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/102 Bill distribution or payments
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 40/03 Credit; Loans; Processing thereof
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• 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 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/7243 with interactive means for internal management of messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/36 Statistical metering, e.g. recording occasions when traffic exceeds capacity of trunks
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42008 Systems for anonymous communication between parties, e.g. by use of disposal contact identifiers
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 705/909 Usage charge determination

Abstract

The server of a communication system determines a communication growth level that is the level of growth of communication between one user and another user based on the cumulative count of mail send/receive events, and stores the determined growth level in the communication growth level Data Base. When the server receives a profile view request to view the profile of user A from the terminal of user B, the server determines the range of profile information to be opened for user B out of the profile of user A, based on the communication growth level of the pair of user A and user B stored in the communication growth level Data Base.

Claims

1. A method for opening a user profile at an apparatus in a communication system on a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a user profile of a first user from a second user; and

determining contents of said user profile of said first user to be opened to said second user based on mail information on e-mail, which has been communicated between said first user and said second user in the communication system, wherein said contents are determined based on one or more of a group consisting of;

a cumulative count of e-mail events between said first user and said second user, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user,

wherein said contents are determined based on a first time elapsed after said first user receives e-mail from said second user until said first user sends a reply to said second user or a second time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends a reply to said first user, and

wherein charging is performed based on said contents, which have been determined based on said cumulative count of e-mail events and said first time elapsed, or is performed based on said contents, which have been determined based on said cumulative count of e-mail and said second time elapsed.

2. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating said user profile to be opened to said second user from a pre-stored user profile of said first user.

3. The method claimed in claim 1, further comprising generating a picture of said first user to be opened to said second user based on a pre-stored picture.

4. A method for opening a user profile at an apparatus in a communication system on a computer network, the method comprising:

receiving a request for a user profile of a first user from a second user;

determining, from mail information on e-mail, which has been communicated between said first user and said second user in the communication system, a level of growth of communication between said first user and said second user; and

changing said user profile of said first user opened to said second user according to said determined level of growth of communication,

wherein said level is determined based on a first time elapsed after said first user receives e-mail from said second user until said first user sends a reply to said second user or a second time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends a reply to said first user, and

wherein said level is determined based on said mail information, which has been determined based on a cumulative count of e-mail events and said first time elapsed, or is determined based on said mail information, which has been determined based on one or more of a group consisting of;

said cumulative count of e-mail and said second time elapsed, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and

wherein charging is performed based on said determined level of growth of communication.

5. The method claimed in claim 4, further comprising generating said user profile to be opened to said second user from a pre-stored user profile of said first user.

6. The method claimed in claim 4, further comprising generating a picture of said first user to be opened to said second user based on a pre-stored picture.

7. The method claimed in claim 4, further comprising:

charging a higher fee to users who communicate with each other at a higher level of growth of communication.

8. A method for opening a user profile at an apparatus in a communication system on a computer network, comprising allowing a communication system to open a user profile of a first user to a second user if e-mail is sent from said first user to said second user and e-mail is sent from said second user to said first in response to said e-mail sent from said first user to said second user,

wherein allowing said communication system to open said user profile of said first user to said second user is based on time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends email to said first user in response to said e-mail sent from said first user to said second user,

wherein charging is performed based on contents of the user profile as determined based on one or more of a group consisting of:

a cumulative count of e-mail events between said first user and said second user and said time elapsed, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user.

9. The method claimed in claim 8, further comprising opening other party'"'"'s profiles to both said first user and said second user, respectively, at a same time.

10. An apparatus for opening a user profile in a communication system on a computer network, comprising:

a receiver which receives a request for a user profile of a first user from a second user, and

a determining circuit which determines contents of said user profile of said first user to be opened to said second user based on mail information on e-mail, which has been communicated between said first user and said second user in the communication system, wherein

said determining circuit determines said contents based on one or more of a group consisting of;

a cumulative count of e-mail events between said first user and said second user, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and

wherein said determining circuit determines said contents based on a first time elapsed after said first user receives e-mail from said second user until said first user sends a reply to said second user or a second time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends a reply to said first user, and

wherein charging is performed based on said contents, which have been determined based on said cumulative count of e-mail events and said first time elapsed or is performed based on said contents, which have been determined based on said cumulative count of e-mail and said second time elapsed.

11. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, further comprising a generator which generates said user profile to be opened to said second user from a pre-stored user profile of said first user.

12. The apparatus claimed in claim 10, further comprising a generator which generates a picture of said first user to be opened to said second user based on a pre-stored picture.

13. An apparatus for opening a user profile in a communication system on a computer network, comprising:

a receiver which receives a request for a user profile of a first user from a second user;

a determination circuit which determines, from mail information on e-mail between said first user and said second user in the communication system, a level of growth of communication between said first user and said second user; and

a changer which changes said user profile of said first user opened to said second user according to said determined level of communication,

wherein said determination circuit determines said level based on a first time elapsed after said first user receives e-mail from said second user until said first user sends a reply to said second user or a second time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends a reply to said first user, and

wherein said level is determined by said determination circuit based on one or more of a group consisting of;

a cumulative count of e-mail events and said first time elapsed, or said cumulative count of e-mail and said second time elapsed, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and

wherein charging is performed based on said determined level of growth of communication which has been determined based on said mail information.

14. The apparatus claimed in claim 13, further comprising a generator which generates said user profile to be opened to said second user from a pre-stored user profile of said first user.

15. The apparatus claimed in claim 13, further comprising a generator which generates a picture of said first user to be opened to said second user based on a pre-stored picture.

16. An apparatus for opening a user profile in a communication system on a computer network, comprising:

a receiver which receives e-mail; and

an allowing circuit which allows a user profile of a first user to be opened to a second user if said receiver receives e-mail sent from said first user to said second user and e-mail sent from said second user to said first in response to said e-mail sent from said first user to said second user,

wherein said allowing circuit allows said user profile of said first user to be opened by said second user based on time elapsed after said second user receives e-mail from said first user until said second user sends email to said first user in response to said e-mail sent from said first user to said second user,

wherein charging is performed based on contents of the user profile as determined based on one or more of a group consisting of;

a cumulative count of e-mail events between said first user and said second user and said time elapsed, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user.

17. The apparatus claimed in claim 16, further comprising an opening circuit which opens other party'"'"'s profiles to both said first user and said second user, respectively, at a same time.

18. An apparatus for opening a user profile in a communication system on a computer network, comprising:

a transmitter which transmits e-mail to a counterpart user apparatus through a server;

a receiver which receives e-mail from said counterpart user apparatus, and

a viewer which presents a user profile of a user of said counterpart user apparatus sent from said server, wherein said user profile includes contents determined by said server based on a cumulative count of e-mail events for e-mail communicated with said counterpart apparatus, and

wherein said user profile includes contents determined by said server based on time elapsed after said transmitter transmits e-mail to said counterpart user apparatus until said receiver receives e-mail from said counterpart user apparatus,

wherein charging is performed based on said contents of the user profile as determined based on one or more of a group consisting of;

said cumulative count of e-mail events and said time elapsed, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user.

19. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said transmitter transmits a request signal to said server to obtain said user profile.

20. The apparatus claimed in claim 18, wherein said viewer presents a picture of said user of said counterpart apparatus generated by said server based on a pre-stored picture in said server.

21. An apparatus for opening a user profile in a communication system on a computer network, comprising:

transmitting means for transmitting e-mail to a counterpart user apparatus through a server;

receiving means for receiving e-mail from said counterpart user apparatus, and

viewing means for presenting a user profile of a user of said counterpart user apparatus sent from said server, wherein said user profile includes contents determined by said server based on one or more of a group consisting of;

a cumulative count of e-mail events for e-mail communicated with said counterpart apparatus, frequency of e-mail communication between said first user and said second user, a period from when an e-mail is sent or received between said first user and said second user to a present time, a total number of characters in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and a total number of pictorial symbols included in said cumulative count of said e-mail events between said first user and said second user, and

wherein said user profile includes contents determined by said server based on time elapsed after said transmitter transmits e-mail to said counterpart user apparatus until said receiver receives e-mail from said counterpart user apparatus,

wherein charging is performed based on said contents of the user profile as determined based on said cumulative count of e-mail events and said time elapsed.

22. The apparatus claimed in claim 21, wherein said transmitting means transmits a request signal to said server to obtain said user profile.

23. The apparatus claimed in claim 21, wherein said viewing means presents a picture of said user of said counterpart apparatus generated by said server based on a pre-stored picture in said server.