Attachment suggestion technology

• US 8,286,085 B1
• Filed: 10/04/2009
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/04/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Uber Technologies, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Jason Adam Denise
• Inventors: Denise, Jason Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Ting
• Application Number:
  US12/573,151
• Time in Patent Office: 1,101 Days
• Field of Search: 715/752, 715/780, 709/204, 707/705
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/453 Help systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing attachment suggestions for electronic communications. For instance, text entered in an interface defining an outgoing communication is compared with file storage information. Based on the comparison, an attachment suggestion is determined for the outgoing communication and a representation of the determined attachment suggestion is displayed. The attachment suggestion may include a suggested folder location from which to attach a file and/or a suggested file to attach.

Claims

1. A method of providing an attachment suggestion for an electronic communication, the method comprising:

receiving, at an electronic device, a user input command to initiate sending of an outgoing electronic communication;

in response to receiving the user input command to initiate sending of the outgoing electronic communication, causing display, on a display associated with the electronic device, of an interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

subsequent to causing display of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication, receiving, at the electronic device from a user, text corresponding to one or more input fields of the displayed interface, wherein the one or more input fields of the displayed interface comprises at least one of an address field, a subject field, or a body field in the outgoing communication;

accessing, at the electronic device, file storage information that is descriptive of files stored in electronic storage accessible to the electronic device;

comparing, by the electronic device, the received text corresponding to the one or more input fields of the displayed interface with the accessed file storage information that is descriptive of files stored in electronic storage accessible to the electronic device;

based on the comparison of the received text with the accessed file storage information, determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication, the attachment suggestion including at least one of a suggested folder location and a suggested file,

wherein determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises;

identifying a file or folder name in the accessed file storage information that includes a file storage path that matches the received text defining the outgoing communication based on the comparison of the received text with the accessed file storage information, the file storage path of the identified file or folder name matching multiple words in the received text defining the outgoing communication,

computing a score for the identified file or folder name in the accessed file storage information based on a number of words in the received text defining the outgoing communication that match the file storage path of the identified file or folder name and a percentage of the file storage path that matches the received text defining the outgoing communication, and

determining to suggest the identified file or folder name for the outgoing communication based on the computed score; and

subsequent to determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication, displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, a representation of the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the attachment suggestion includes a suggested file and displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, the representation of the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises displaying the suggested file in a list of one or more suggested files for the outgoing communication.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the attachment suggestion includes a suggested folder and displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, the representation of the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises displaying a representation of the suggested folder, rather than a default folder, in response to receipt of an attach command.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises:

determining the number of words in the received text defining the outgoing communication that match the file storage path of the identified file or folder name;

for each of the multiple words, identifying, from among at least the address field, the subject field, and the body field, a field in the outgoing communication at which the corresponding word is located;

for each of the multiple words, identifying, from among at least a folder portion and a file name portion, a portion of the file storage path that the corresponding word matches;

determining the percentage of the file storage path that matches the received text defining the outgoing communication;

computing the score for the identified file or folder name in the accessed file storage information based on the determined number of words in the received text defining the outgoing communication that match the file storage path of the identified file or folder name, the identified fields in the outgoing communication, the identified portions of the file storage path, and the determined percentage; and

determining an order for the identified file or folder name in a list of suggested file or folder names for the outgoing communication based on the computed score.

5. The method of claim 1:

wherein receiving, at the electronic device, the user input command to initiate sending of the outgoing electronic communication comprises receiving, at the electronic device, a user input command to initiate sending of an additional electronic communication in a string of one or more past electronic communications;

wherein causing display, on a display associated with the electronic device, of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication comprises, in response to receiving the user input command to initiate sending of the additional electronic communication, causing display, on a display associated with the electronic device, of an interface that enables user entry of information defining the additional communication and that displays at least a portion of the one or more past electronic communications in the string;

wherein receiving, at the electronic device, text corresponding to one or more input fields of the displayed interface comprises receiving text entered in defining the additional communication and accessing text included in at least a portion of the one or more past electronic communications;

wherein comparing, by the electronic device, the received text corresponding to one or more input fields of the displayed interface with the accessed file storage information that is descriptive of files stored in electronic storage accessible to the electronic device comprises comparing the received text entered in defining the additional communication with the accessed file storage information and comparing the accessed text included in at least a portion of the one or more past electronic communications with the accessed file storage information; and

wherein determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises determining an attachment suggestion for the additional communication based on the comparison of the received text entered in defining the additional communication with the accessed file storage information and the comparison of the accessed text included in at least a portion of the one or more past electronic communications with the accessed file storage information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises:

monitoring, by the electronic device, text entered into the one or more input fields of the displayed interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

based on the monitoring, identifying newly-entered text in the one or more input fields of the displayed interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

dynamically comparing, by the electronic device, the identified newly-entered text along with previously-entered text to the accessed file storage information; and

dynamically determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the comparison of the newly-entered text to the accessed file storage information.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

maintaining a suggested attachment interface area displayed with the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

automatically, without human intervention, updating the suggested attachment interface area based on attachment suggestions dynamically determined as text is entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

receiving user input indicative of a desire to attach, to the outgoing communication, one or more of the suggested attachments displayed in the suggested attachment interface area; and

in response to receiving the user input indicative of the desire to attach, to the outgoing communication, one or more of the suggested attachments displayed in the suggested attachment interface area, attaching the one or more suggested attachments to the outgoing communication.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein automatically, without human intervention, updating the suggested attachment interface area based on attachment suggestions dynamically determined as text is entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication comprises:

receiving first text defining a recipient of the outgoing communication;

at a first point in time, determining a first attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the first text defining the recipient of the outgoing communication, the first attachment suggestion including a first set of suggested files and the only text defining the outgoing communication at the first point in time is the first text;

displaying the first attachment suggestion, including the first set of suggested files, in the suggested attachment interface area;

receiving second text defining a subject of the outgoing communication;

at a second point in time that is subsequent to the first point in time and the displaying of the first attachment suggestion, determining a second attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the first text defining the recipient of the outgoing communication and the second text defining the subject of the outgoing communication, the second attachment suggestion including a second set of suggested files that is different than the first set of suggested files and the only text defining the outgoing communication at the second point in time is the first text and the second text;

updating the suggested attachment interface area to replace the display of the first attachment suggestion, including the first set of suggested files, with a display of the second attachment suggestion, including the second set of suggested files that is different than the first set of suggested files;

receiving third text defining a portion of a body of the outgoing communication;

at a third point in time that is subsequent to the first point in time, the second point in time, and the updating of the suggested attachment interface area to replace the display of the first attachment suggestion, determining a third attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the first text defining the recipient of the outgoing communication, the second text defining the subject of the outgoing communication, and the third text defining the portion of the body of the outgoing communication, the third attachment suggestion including a third set of suggested files that is different than the first set of suggested files and the second set of suggested files and the only text defining the outgoing communication at the third point in time is the first text, the second text, and the third text; and

updating the suggested attachment interface area to replace the display of the second attachment suggestion, including the second set of suggested files, with a display of the third attachment suggestion, including the third set of suggested files that is different than the first set of suggested files and the second set of suggested files.

9. The method of claim 8:

wherein the first set of suggested files includes a first file that is not included in the second set of suggested files, the second set of suggested files includes a second file that is not included in the first set of suggested files, and the first set of suggested files and the second set of suggested files include a common file that is found in both sets;

wherein updating the suggested attachment interface area to replace the display of the first attachment suggestion with a display of the second attachment suggestion comprises removing the first file from the suggested attachment interface area, adding the second file to the suggested attachment interface area, and maintaining the common file in the suggested attachment interface area;

wherein the third set of suggested files includes the same files as the second set of suggested files, but arranged in a different order; and

wherein updating the suggested attachment interface area to replace the display of the second attachment suggestion with a display of the third attachment suggestion comprises maintaining which files are displayed in the suggested attachment interface area while updating an order of the suggested files displayed in the suggested attachment interface area.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing text being entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

comparing, by the electronic device, the accessed text to the accessed file storage information;

based on the comparison of the accessed text to the accessed file storage information, identifying, by the electronic device, one or more potential file name matches included in the accessed file storage information;

determining, for each of the identified one or more matches, a score that reflects how closely the corresponding file name matches the accessed text;

comparing each of the one or more scores for the one or more potential matches to a threshold score;

based on the comparison of the one or more scores for the one or more potential matches to the threshold score, determining whether each of the one or more scores exceeds the threshold score;

in response to a determination that a particular score included in the one or more scores for the one or more potential matches exceeds the threshold score, causing display, while text is being entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication, of an interface element suggesting the file name corresponding to the particular score as an attachment for the outgoing communication; and

in response to a determination that no score included in the one or more scores for the one or more potential matches exceeds the threshold score, maintaining display of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication without providing an additional attachment suggestion while text is being entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing text entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

determining whether to convert the accessed text in determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication;

in response to a determination to convert the accessed text, converting the accessed text to modified text and determining an attachment suggestion based on the modified text; and

in response to a determination not to convert the accessed text, determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the accessed text without conversion.

12. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing text entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

determining whether to expand the accessed text in determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication;

in response to a determination to expand the accessed text, expanding the accessed text to modified text and determining an attachment suggestion based on the modified text; and

in response to a determination not to expand the accessed text, determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the accessed text without expansion.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying text, entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication, that matches at least one folder included in the accessed file storage information; and

ignoring the identified text in determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication despite the text matching the at least one folder included in the file storage information.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the ignoring the identified text in determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication despite the text matching the at least one folder included in the file storage information comprises determining that the identified text matches a system folder that stores system files associated with operation of the electronic device and ignoring the identified text that matches the system folder based on the determination that the identified text matches the system folder.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

tracking attachment behavior of a user in sending outgoing communications;

based on the tracked attachment behavior, storing, in electronic storage, data indicative of the tracked attachment behavior, the stored data indicating one or more popular folders from which the user relatively frequently attaches a file and one or more unpopular folders from which the user relatively infrequently attaches a file; and

determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the stored data indicative of the tracked attachment behavior.

16. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying an attribute of a file other than file name and folder information, the identified attribute being an identity of a user that manipulated the file;

comparing text, entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication, to the identified attribute other than file name and folder information; and

determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication based on the comparison of the text to the identified attribute.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

accessing text entered into the one or more input fields of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

performing natural language processing and context analysis on the accessed text; and

determining an attachment suggestion based on the natural language processing and context analysis performed on the accessed text.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying a folder to display in response to a user inputting a command to attach a file to the outgoing communication;

determining a focus to display in the identified folder based on the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication; and

in response to receiving a user input command to attach a file, displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, the identified folder using the determined focus.

19. The method of claim 18:

wherein determining the focus to display in the identified folder based on the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises;

identifying a particular file name that is located within the identified folder and that matches text defining the outgoing communication based on the comparison of the received text with the accessed file storage information; and

determining a subset of file names to display representations of within a representation of the identified folder by causing the particular file name to be located at a center of the representation of the identified folder; and

wherein displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, the identified folder using the determined focus comprises displaying the representation of the identified folder including the representations of the subset of file names with the particular file name located at the center of the representation of the identified folder.

20. An electronic device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one computer-readable storage medium encoded with executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, causes the at least one processor to perform operations comprising;

receiving, at the electronic device, a user input command to initiate sending of an outgoing electronic communication;

in response to receiving the user input command to initiate sending of the outgoing electronic communication, causing display, on a display associated with the electronic device, of an interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication;

subsequent to causing display of the interface that enables user entry of information defining the outgoing communication, receiving, at the electronic device from a user, text corresponding to one or more input fields of the displayed interface, wherein the one or more input fields of the displayed interface comprises at least one of an address field, a subject field, or a body field in the outgoing communication;

accessing, at the electronic device, file storage information that is descriptive of files stored in electronic storage accessible to the electronic device;

comparing, by the electronic device, the received text corresponding to the one or more input fields of the displayed interface with the accessed file storage information that is descriptive of files stored in electronic storage accessible to the electronic device;

based on the comparison of the received text with the accessed file storage information, determining an attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication, the attachment suggestion including at least one of a suggested folder location and a suggested file,

wherein determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication comprises;

identifying a file or folder name in the accessed file storage information that includes a file storage path that matches the received text defining the outgoing communication based on the comparison of the received text with the accessed file storage information, the file storage path of the identified file or folder name matching multiple words in the received text defining the outgoing communication,

computing a score for the identified file or folder name in the accessed file storage information based on a number of words in the received text defining the outgoing communication that match the file storage path of the identified file or folder name and a percentage of the file storage path that matches the received text defining the outgoing communication, and

determining to suggest the identified file or folder name for the outgoing communication based on the computed score; and

subsequent to determining the attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication, displaying, on the display associated with the electronic device, a representation of the determined attachment suggestion for the outgoing communication.