Electronic communication reminder technology

• US 8,352,561 B1
• Filed: 07/24/2009
• Issued: 01/08/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/24/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Denise, Jason Adam
• Primary Examiner(s): LIN, WEN TAI
• Application Number:
  US12/509,431
• Time in Patent Office: 1,264 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/207, 340/309.7
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages

Abstract

Techniques are described for providing reminders for electronic communications. For instance, response patterns of a user are determined by communication type based on monitoring past response behavior of the user and the response pattern data is stored for the user by communication type. After storing the response pattern data for the user by communication type, a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender is received. A type of the particular communication is determined and response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication is accessed. A response reminder time for the particular communication is set based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

Claims

1. A method of providing a reminder for an electronic communication, the method comprising:

receiving electronic communications that are for a user and that are initiated by multiple, different senders;

determining one or more types of one or more of the received communications;

monitoring responses by the user to the received communications;

determining, using at least one processor, response patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

storing, in electronic storage, response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns;

after storing, in the electronic storage, the response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns, receiving a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender;

determining a type of the particular communication;

accessing, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, a response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

identifying a day and time of day response pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data; and

determining the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified day and time of the day response pattern.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein:

identifying the day and time of the day response pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data comprises;

identifying a day of week and a time of day during which the user typically responds to communications of the determined type; and

determining the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified day and time of the day response pattern comprises;

setting a response reminder time that occurs at the identified day of week and the time of day during which the user typically responds to communications of the determined type; and

further comprising;

providing a reminder at the identified day of week and the time of day based on the set response reminder time that occurs at the identified day of week and the time of day during which the user typically responds to communications of the determined type.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

identifying a relative response time pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the relative response time pattern being relative to time of receipt or perception of a communication; and

determining the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified relative response time pattern.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein:

identifying the relative response time pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data comprises;

determining an average response time that the user has taken to respond to past communications of the determined type; and

determining the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified relative response time pattern comprises;

determining a time of receipt of the particular communication;

computing a relative reminder time by adding the average response time to the time of receipt of the particular communication; and

setting the response reminder time as the computed relative reminder time; and

further comprising;

providing the reminder at the computed relative reminder time based on the set response reminder time.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

identifying the day and time of the day response pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data;

identifying the relative response time pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the relative response time pattern being relative to the time of receipt of a communication; and

determining the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified day and time of day response pattern and the identified relative response time pattern.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein:

determining one or more types of the one or more of the received communications comprises;

determining a sender of each of the received communications;

determining, using the at least one processor, the response patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring comprises;

determining, using the at least one processor, response patterns of the user by sender;

storing, in the electronic storage, response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns comprises;

storing, in the electronic storage, the response pattern data for the user by sender based on the determined response patterns of the user by sender;

determining the type of the particular communication comprises;

determining a sender of the particular communication;

accessing, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, the response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

accessing, from the response pattern data for the user by sender stored in the electronic storage, response pattern data associated with the determined sender of the particular communication; and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined sender of the particular communication.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

storing, in the electronic storage, the response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns comprises;

storing the response pattern data for the user by sender of communication,

storing the response pattern data for the user by group to which sender of communication belongs,

storing the response pattern data for the user by content of communication, and

storing the response pattern data for the user by priority designation of communication;

determining the type of the particular communication comprises;

determining whether the response pattern data for the user exists for a sender of the particular communication,

determining whether the response pattern data for the user exists for a group to which the sender of the particular communication belongs,

determining whether the response pattern data for the user exists for content of the particular communication, and

determining whether the response pattern data for the user exists for a priority designation of the particular communication;

accessing, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, the response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

accessing the response pattern data for the user for the sender of the particular communication in response to a determination that response pattern data for the user exists for the sender of the particular communication,

accessing the response pattern data for the user for the group to which the sender of the particular communication belongs in response to a determination that response pattern data for the user exists for the group to which the sender of the particular communication belongs,

accessing the response pattern data for the user for the content of the particular communication in response to a determination that response pattern data for the user exists for the content of the particular communication, and

accessing the response pattern data for the user for the priority designation of the particular communication in response to a determination that response pattern data for the user exists for the priority designation of the particular communication; and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data for the user for the sender of the particular communication when response pattern data for the user exists for the sender of the particular communication,

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data for the user for the group to which the sender of the particular communication belongs when the response pattern data for the user exists for the group to which the sender of the particular communication belongs,

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data for the user for the content of the particular communication when the response pattern data for the user exists for the content of the particular communication, and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data for the user for the priority designation of the particular communication when the response pattern data for the user exists for the priority designation of the particular communication.

9. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying response rate data associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the response rate data reflecting how frequently the user has responded to past communications of the determined type;

comparing the identified response rate data to a rate threshold;

determining whether to set a response reminder for the particular communication based on the comparison;

in response to a determination to set a response reminder for the particular communication, automatically setting a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time; and

in response to a determination not to set a response reminder for the received communication, handling the particular communication without providing a response reminder.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

automatically setting a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time;

after setting the response reminder for the particular communication, monitoring for electronic activity related to the particular communication for which the response reminder has been set;

based on the monitoring, modifying the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to a detection of a particular electronic activity related to the particular communication; and

handling the response reminder for the particular communication based on any modification to the set response reminder resulting from the monitoring of the electronic activity related to the particular communication.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein:

monitoring for the electronic activity related to the particular communication for which the response reminder has been set comprises;

monitoring for a response, by the user, to the particular communication, monitoring for perception, by the user, of the particular communication, monitoring for forwarding, by the user, of the particular communication, monitoring for deletion, by the user, of the particular communication, monitoring for a response, by another recipient of the particular communication, to the particular communication, monitoring for receipt, by the user, of an additional communication from the sender of the particular communication, and monitoring for receipt, by the user, of another communication from another recipient of the particular communication; and

modifying the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to the detection of the particular electronic activity related to the particular communication comprises;

modifying the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to detection of a response, by the user, to the particular communication, detection of perception, by the user, of the particular communication, detection of forwarding, by the user, of the particular communication, detection of deletion, by the user, of the particular communication, detection of a response, by another recipient of the particular communication, to the particular communication, detection of receipt, by the user, of an additional communication from the sender of the particular communication, or detection of receipt, by the user, of another communication from another recipient of the particular communication.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein:

monitoring for the electronic activity related to the particular communication for which the response reminder has been set comprises;

monitoring for a response, by the user, to the particular communication; and

modifying the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to detection of particular electronic activity related to the particular communication comprises;

deleting the response reminder corresponding to the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to detection of a response, by the user, to the particular communication.

13. The method of claim 1 wherein:

determining the type of the particular communication comprises;

determining multiple types of the particular communication;

accessing, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

accessing, from the electronic storage, the response pattern data associated with each of the multiple types of the particular communication; and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises;

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with each of the multiple types of the particular communication.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with each of the multiple types of the particular communication comprises:

for each of the multiple types of the particular communication, determining an average response time that the user has taken to respond to past communications of the corresponding type;

computing a reminder time that accounts for each of the determined average response times; and

automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication as the computed reminder time.

15. The method of claim 13 further comprising:

for each of the multiple types of the particular communication, identifying a response rate associated with the corresponding type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the response rate reflecting how frequently the user has responded to past communications of the corresponding type;

computing the response rate for the particular communication that accounts for each of the determined response rates;

comparing the computed response rate to a rate threshold;

determining whether to set a response reminder for the particular communication based on the comparison;

in response to a determination to set a response reminder for the particular communication, automatically setting a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time; and

in response to a determination not to set a response reminder for the received communication, handling the particular communication without providing a response reminder.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with each of the multiple types of the particular communication comprises:

for a first type of the particular communication, determining an average response time that the user has taken to respond to past communications of the first type;

for a second type of the particular communication that is different than the first type of the particular communication, identifying a day of week and a time of day pattern during which the user typically responds to communications of the second type;

determining the time of receipt of the particular communication;

computing the relative reminder time by adding the average response time for the first type of the particular communication to the time of receipt of the particular communication;

comparing the computed relative reminder time to the identified day of week and time of day pattern for the second type of the particular communication;

based on the comparison, determining whether the computed relative reminder time corresponds to the identified day of week and time of day pattern;

in response to a determination that the computed relative reminder time corresponds to the identified day of week and time of day pattern, setting the response reminder time as the computed relative reminder time; and

in response to a determination that the computed relative reminder time does not correspond to the identified day of week and time of day pattern;

adjusting the computed relative reminder time to account for the identified day of week and time of day pattern; and

setting a response reminder time as the adjusted relative reminder time.

17. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

monitoring forward behavior by the user to the received communications;

determining forward patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring of the forward behavior;

storing, in the electronic storage, the forward pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined forward patterns;

accessing, from the forward pattern data stored in the electronic storage, the forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically setting a forward reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

18. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

identifying outgoing communications sent by the user;

determining one or more types of the outgoing communications;

monitoring outgoing communication behavior by the user;

determining outgoing communication patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

storing, in the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined outgoing communication patterns;

after storing the outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type, accessing, from the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data associated with one or more types of communications; and

automatically setting an outgoing communication reminder time for outgoing communications associated with the one or more types of communications based on the accessed outgoing communication pattern data.

19. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

automatically setting, based on the response pattern data stored for the user by communication type, reminders for multiple electronic mail messages that are received for the user and that are initiated by multiple, different senders, and further comprising;

displaying representations of the multiple electronic mail messages in an electronic mail inbox for the user in a list that is ordered based on a time of receipt of each message of the multiple electronic mail messages;

arranging the reminders for the multiple electronic mail messages in a response reminder list that is ordered based on reminder time automatically set for the reminders based on the response pattern data stored for the user by communication type, the arranging including;

ordering a first reminder associated with a first electronic mail message first in the response reminder list because the first reminder has a first reminder time that is most overdue out of the reminder times of the reminders;

ordering a second reminder associated with a second electronic mail message last in the response reminder list because the second reminder has a second reminder time that is furthest away from a current time out of the reminder times of the reminders; and

ordering, in the response reminder list, a third reminder associated with a third electronic mail message prior to a fourth reminder associated with a fourth electronic mail message that was received prior to the third electronic mail message because the user has responded, in the past, to messages having a type corresponding to the third electronic mail message faster than to messages having a type corresponding to the fourth electronic mail message; and

displaying the response reminder list including the arranged reminders for the multiple electronic mail messages, the displaying including distinguishing, in the response reminder list, reminders having overdue response reminder times from reminders having response reminder times that are not yet due.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein automatically setting, using the at least one processor, the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

automatically setting, based on the response pattern data stored for the user by communication type, reminders for a first subset of multiple electronic mail messages that are received for the user and that are initiated by the multiple, different senders;

determining not to automatically set reminders for a second subset of the multiple electronic mail messages that are received for the user and that are initiated by the multiple, different senders, the second subset of the multiple electronic mail messages being different from the first subset of the multiple electronic mail messages;

displaying representations of the multiple electronic mail messages in an electronic mail inbox for the user in a list that is ordered based on a time of receipt of each message of the multiple electronic mail messages;

displaying, in the electronic mail inbox, an indication of reminder time for each of the first subset of the electronic mail messages for which a reminder has been automatically set based on the response pattern data stored for the user by communication type;

displaying, in the electronic mail inbox, a control for each of the second subset of the electronic mail messages for which a reminder has not been automatically set based on the response pattern data stored for the user by communication type, the control indicating that a reminder has not been set for the corresponding electronic mail message and being configured to enable a user to select the control to add a reminder for the corresponding electronic mail massage; and

enabling the user to provide user input to order the representations of the multiple electronic mail messages in the electronic mail inbox for the user based on reminder times associated with the multiple electronic mail messages.

21. The method of claim 1, wherein the response reminder time is displayed to the user who receives the particular communication, based on the user'"'"'s response pattern to previous communications of the same type that are initiated by the first sender.

22. A system, comprising:

one or more processors;

memory; and

one or more programs, wherein the one or more programs are stored in the memory and configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving electronic communications that are for a user and that are initiated by multiple, different senders;

determining one or more types of one or more of the received communications;

monitoring responses by the user to the received communications;

determining response patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

storing, in the electronic storage, response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns;

after storing, in the electronic storage, the response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns, receiving a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender;

determining a type of the particular communication;

accessing, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, the response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically setting a response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

23. The system of claim 22, wherein the response reminder time is displayed to the user, who receives the particular communication, based on the user'"'"'s response pattern to previous communications of the same type that are initiated by the first sender.

24. The system of claim 22, wherein automatically setting the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

identifying a day and time of day response pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data; and

determining a response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified day and time of day response pattern.

25. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

identifying response rate data associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the response rate data reflecting how frequently the user has responded to past communications of the determined type;

comparing the identified response rate data to a rate threshold;

determining whether to set a response reminder for the particular communication based on the comparison;

in response to a determination to set a response reminder for the particular communication, automatically setting a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time; and

in response to a determination not to set a response reminder for the received communication, handling the particular communication without providing a response reminder.

26. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

automatically setting a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time;

after setting the response reminder for the particular communication, monitoring for a particular electronic activity related to the particular communication for which the response reminder has been set;

based on the monitoring, modifying the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to a detection of the particular electronic activity related to the particular communication; and

handling the response reminder for the particular communication based on any modification to the set response reminder resulting from the monitoring of the particular electronic activity related to the particular communication.

27. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

monitoring forward behavior by the user to the received communications;

determining forward patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring of forward behavior;

storing, in the electronic storage, forward pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined forward patterns;

accessing, from the forward pattern data stored in the electronic storage, forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically setting a forward reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

28. The system of claim 22, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

identifying outgoing communications sent by the user;

determining one or more types of the outgoing communications;

monitoring outgoing communication behavior by the user;

determining outgoing communication patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

storing, in the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined outgoing communication patterns;

after storing the outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type,

accessing, from the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data associated with one or more types of communications; and

automatically setting an outgoing communication reminder time for outgoing communications associated with the one or more types of communications based on the accessed outgoing communication pattern data.

29. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, the one or more programs comprising instructions, which when executed by a computer system with one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

receive electronic communications that are for a user and that are initiated by multiple, different senders;

determine one or more types of one or more of the received communications;

monitor responses by the user to the received communications;

determine response patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

store, in the electronic storage, response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns;

after storing, in the electronic storage, the response pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined response patterns, receive a particular communication that is for the user and that is initiated by a first sender;

determine a type of the particular communication;

access, from the response pattern data stored in the electronic storage, response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically set a response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication;

wherein the response reminder time is displayed to the user, who receives the particular communication, based on the user'"'"'s response pattern to previous communications of the same type that are initiated by the first sender.

30. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the response reminder time is displayed to the user who receives the particular communication, based on the user'"'"'s response pattern to previous communications of the same type that are initiated by the first sender.

31. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein automatically setting the response reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication comprises:

identifying a day and time of day response pattern associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data; and

determining a response reminder time for the particular communication based on the identified day and time of day response pattern.

32. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

identify response rate data associated with the determined type of the particular communication based on the accessed response pattern data, the response rate data reflecting how frequently the user has responded to past communications of the determined type;

compare the identified response rate data to a rate threshold;

determine whether to set a response reminder for the particular communication based on the comparison;

in response to a determination to set a response reminder for the particular communication, automatically set a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time; and

in response to a determination not to set a response reminder for the received communication, handle the particular communication without providing a response reminder.

33. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

automatically set a response reminder for the particular communication using the response reminder time;

after setting the response reminder for the particular communication, monitor for a particular electronic activity related to the particular communication for which the response reminder has been set;

based on the monitoring, modify the set response reminder for the particular communication in response to a detection of the particular electronic activity related to the particular communication; and

handle the response reminder for the particular communication based on any modification to the set response reminder resulting from the monitoring of the particular electronic activity related to the particular communication.

34. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

monitor forward behavior by the user to the received communications;

determine forward patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring of forward behavior;

store, in the electronic storage, forward pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined forward patterns;

access, from the forward pattern data stored in the electronic storage, forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication; and

automatically set a forward reminder time for the particular communication based on the accessed forward pattern data associated with the determined type of the particular communication.

35. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 29, wherein the one or more programs further comprising instructions, which when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computer system to:

identify outgoing communications sent by the user;

determine one or more types of the outgoing communications;

monitor outgoing communication behavior by the user;

determine outgoing communication patterns of the user by communication type based on the monitoring;

store, in the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type based on the determined outgoing communication patterns;

after storing the outgoing communication pattern data for the user by communication type,

access, from the electronic storage, outgoing communication pattern data associated with one or more types of communications; and

automatically set an outgoing communication reminder time for outgoing communications associated with the one or more types of communications based on the accessed outgoing communication pattern data.