Group swarm metrics and content

• US 8,359,310 B1
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 01/22/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/12/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: AT&T Intellectual Property I LP (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Tischer, Steven N., Frank, Scott M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Casanova, Jorge A
• Application Number:
  US11/609,685
• Time in Patent Office: 2,233 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/6, 707/104.1, 707/999.002, 707/999.006, 707/999, 707/705, 707/709, 707/727, 707/748, 707/751, 707/724, 707/788
• US Class Current: 707/724
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

Methods for providing group swarm metrics and content are described herein. In different aspects, the methods may include compiling a content access metric. The methods may also include determining a threshold metric for a user. Further, the methods may include generating a notification message for the user when the compiled content access metric reaches the threshold metric. The methods may additionally include delivering the notification message to the user. The techniques described herein may enable the user to retrieve the content.

Claims

1. A non-transitory storage medium readable by a machine, embodying a program of instructions executable by the machine to perform a method, comprising:

compiling a content access metric, wherein the compiling the content access metric comprises measuring a number of users in a proximity group accessing a content during a defined period of time, wherein the proximity group comprises a plurality of users physically present within a specific geographic constraint during the defined time period;

determining a threshold metric for a user;

generating a notification message for the user when the content access metric reaches the threshold metric; and

delivering the notification message to the user.

2. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the generating the notification message includes:

querying the content access metric based on a plurality of user selected filter criteria; and

enabling the user to retrieve the content.

3. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the plurality of user selected filter criteria includes filtering by a genre.

4. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the plurality of user selected filter criteria includes an interrelationship between another user and the plurality of user selected filter criteria.

5. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 2, wherein the enabling the user to retrieve the content further includes enabling the user to forward the notification message to another user within the proximity group.

6. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the notification message for the user includes a portion of the content access metrics.

7. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the determining the threshold metric for the user includes receiving a user generated value from the user.

8. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the compiling the content access metric includes stigmergic communications occurring within an environment of the user.

9. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 1, wherein the compiling the content access metric and delivering the notification message to the user result in real time alerts to the user.

10. A non-transitory storage medium readable by a computing device, embodying a program of instructions executable by the computing device to perform a method, comprising:

creating content access information, wherein the creating content access information comprises measuring a number of users in a proximity group accessing a content during a defined period of time, wherein the proximity group comprises a plurality of users physically present within a specific geographic constraint during the defined time period;

sending the content access information to an aggregating component;

receiving a content notification message by the aggregating component when a threshold value of the content access information is met for a user; and

displaying the content notification message to the user.

11. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the creating content access information includes selecting a filter to modify compiled content access metrics based on a plurality of user selected filter criteria.

12. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 11, wherein the plurality of user selected filter criteria includes filtering by a genre.

13. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the creating content access information includes selecting a threshold value.

14. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 13, wherein the selecting the threshold value for a user includes receiving a user generated value from the user.

15. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, further comprising:

enabling the user to retrieve the content; and

enabling the user to forward the content notification message to another person within the proximity group.

16. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the displaying the content notification message to the user includes automatically retrieving the content for the user.

17. The non-transitory storage medium of claim 10, wherein the creating content access information includes stigmergic communications occurring within an environment of the user.

18. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer executable instructions that, when executed, perform a method, comprising:

creating content access information, wherein the content access information includes a threshold value;

compiling content access metrics, wherein the compiling content access metrics comprises measuring a number of users within a proximity group accessing a content during a defined period of time, wherein the proximity group comprises a plurality of users physically located present within a specific geographic constraint during the defined time period;

determining when the content access metrics reach the threshold value;

creating a notification message for a user, wherein the notification message includes at least a portion of the content access metrics;

delivering the notification message to the user.

19. The non-transitory computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the content access information is from the proximity group.