Method, apparatus, and computer program product for content use assignment by exploiting social graph information

• US 8,244,727 B2
• Filed: 05/29/2008
• Issued: 08/14/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: RPX Corporation
• Original Assignee: Nokia Corporation
• Inventors: Pippuri, Sami
• Primary Examiner(s): Casanova, Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US12/129,200
• Publication Number:
  US 20090299963A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,538 Days
• Field of Search: 707/736, 707/734
• US Class Current: 707/734
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/27453 Directories allowing storage of additional subscriber data, e.g. metadata
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2746 Sorting, e.g. according to history or frequency of use
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/2757 by data transmission, e.g. downloading
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/655 Combination of telephone service and social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/4931 Directory assistance systems

Abstract

An apparatus for automatically assigning content information may include a processor. The processor may be configured to receive content information, and identify the usage type and the sub-usage type of the content information. The content information may comprise an indicator for a usage type and a sub-usage type. The processor may be further configured to automatically assign the received content information to the at least one user contact based on the sub-usage type, and to perform a specified function, based on a usage type. Associated methods and computer program products may also be provided. Another method, apparatus, and computer program product for providing content information may also be provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

maintaining a selection of content information, wherein content information comprises a usage type and a sub-usage type, wherein the usage type comprises a recommended function that is performed by the content information, and wherein the sub-usage type comprises one or more user contacts to which the content information is assigned;

receiving a selection of user contacts associated with a user;

querying the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts, wherein each user contact has at least one social connection with the user;

comparing the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify at least one content information corresponding to the at least one user contact; and

providing for a transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact is based at least in part on the usage type and the sub-usage type of the at least one identified content information and the social connection of the at least one user contact.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of user contacts comprises receiving information related to the selection of user contacts comprising phone communications log, short message service (SMS) messages logs, multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages logs, e-mails logs, file sharing logs, application sharing logs, VoIP logs, instant messaging logs, or other events logs.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of user contacts comprises receiving a selection of user contacts from a server maintaining a selection of user contacts associated with a user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a selection of user contacts comprises receiving a selection of user contacts from at least one electronic device.

6. A method comprising:

receiving at least one content information to be automatically assigned to at least one user contact, wherein the content information comprises an indicator for a usage type and a sub-usage type, wherein the usage type comprises a recommended function that is performed by the content information, and wherein the sub-usage type comprises one or more user contacts to which the content information is assigned;

identifying the usage type and the sub-usage type of the at least one content information; and

automatically assigning the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the usage type is selected from a group comprising ringtone, ringback tone, alert tone, video caller id, picture caller id, themes, screen savers, or application.

8. The method of claim 6, wherein the sub-usage type is selected from a group comprising friends, family, work, and business contacts.

9. The method of claim 6, wherein automatically assigning the received at least one content information comprises automatically assigning the received at least one content information to a group of user contacts.

10. The method of claim 6, wherein receiving at least one content information comprises receiving at least one content information from an online service provider.

11. The method of claim 6, wherein at least one content information comprises receiving at least one content information from at least one electronic device.

12. A computer program product comprising at least one non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable program code portions stored therein, the computer-readable program code portions comprising:

a first program code portion configured to maintain a selection of content information, wherein content information comprises a usage type and a sub-usage type, wherein the usage type comprises a recommended function that is performed by the content information, and wherein the sub-usage type comprises one or more user contacts to which the content information is assigned;

a second program code portion configured to receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user;

a third program code portion configured to query the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts, wherein each user contact has at least one social connection with the user;

a fourth program code portion configured to compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify at least one content information corresponding to the at least one user contact; and

a fifth program code portion configured to provide for a transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

13. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the fourth program code portion being configured to compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact is based at least in part on the usage type and the sub-usage type of the at least one identified content information and the social connection of the at least one user contact.

14. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the second program code portion being configured to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive information related to the selection of user contacts comprising phone communications logs, short message service (SMS) messages logs, multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages logs, e-mails logs, file sharing logs, application sharing logs, VoIP logs, instant messaging log, or other events logs.

15. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the second program code portion being configured to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive a selection of user contacts from a server maintaining a selection of user contacts associated with a user.

16. The computer program product of claim 12, wherein the second program code portion being configured to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive a selection of user contacts from at least one electronic device.

17. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

maintain a selection of content information, wherein content information comprises a usage type and a sub-usage type, wherein the usage type comprises a recommended function that is performed by the content information, and wherein the sub-usage type comprises one or more user contacts to which the content information is assigned;

receive a selection of user contacts associated with a user;

query the selection of user contacts to identify social connections associated with the user contacts, wherein each user contact has at least one social connection with the user;

compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact to identify at least one content information corresponding to the at least one user contact; and

provide for a transmission of the at least one identified content information to the user.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to compare the selection of content information with at least one social connection of at least one user contact is based at least in part on the usage type and the sub-usage type of the at least one identified content information and the social connection of the at least one user contact.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive information related to the selection of user contacts comprising phone communications logs, short message service (SMS) messages logs, multimedia messaging service (MMS) messages logs, e-mails logs, file sharing logs, application sharing logs, VoIP logs, instant messaging logs, or other events log.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive a selection of user contacts from a server maintaining a selection of user contacts associated with a user.

21. The apparatus of claim 18, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive a selection of user contacts comprises being configured to receive a selection of user contacts from at least one electronic device.

22. An apparatus comprising at least one processor and at least one memory including computer program code, the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the processor, cause the apparatus to at least:

receive at least one content information to be assigned to at least one user contact, wherein the content information comprises an indicator for a usage type and a sub-usage type, wherein the usage type comprises a recommended function that is performed by the content information, and wherein the sub-usage type comprises one or more user contacts to which the content information is assigned;

identify the usage type and the sub-usage type of the at least one content information; and

automatically assign the received at least one content information to the at least one user contact, based at least in part on the sub-usage type, to perform a specified function, based at least in part on a usage type.

23. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the usage type is selected from a group comprising ringtone, ringback tone, alert tone, video caller id, picture caller id, themes, screen savers, or application.

24. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the sub-usage type is selected from a group comprising friends, family, work, and business contacts.

25. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to automatically assign the received at least one content information comprises being configured to automatically assign the received at least one content information to a group of user contacts.

26. The apparatus of claim 22, wherein the processor being configured to cause the apparatus to receive at least one content information comprises being configured to receive at least one content information from at least one electronic device.