System and method for providing argument maps based on activity in a network environment

• US 8,667,169 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2010
• Issued: 03/04/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 12/17/2010
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Patil, Deepti, Gannu, Satish K., Malegaonkar, Ashutosh A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Daftuar, Saket K
• Application Number:
  US12/971,852
• Publication Number:
  US 20120158989A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,173 Days
• Field of Search: 709/227, 709/228, 709/229, 709/232, 709/233, 709/234, 709/235, 370/229, 370/230, 370/230.1, 370/231, 370/232, 370/233, 370/234, 370/235, 370/237, 704/270.1, 707/770, 707966-974, 707/999.01, 715234-242
• US Class Current: 709/235
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 47/10 Flow control; Congestion control
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/966 Distributed
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/967 Peer-to-peer
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/968 Partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/969 Horizontal partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/97 Vertical partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/971 Federated
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/972 Partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/973 Horizontal partitioning
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/974 Vertical partitioning

Abstract

A method is provided in one example and includes receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user; evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users; determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user; determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user; and generating an argument map based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for a network sensor configured to interface with memory and processor, comprising:

receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user;

evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users;

determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user;

determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user;

deriving one or more statements from the network traffic;

categorizing the one or more derived statements into argument map attributes, wherein the deriving and the categorizing comprise at least one activity selected from a group consisting of speech recognition, sentiment analysis and basic linguistic models; and

generating an computer-automated argument map comprising the argument map attributes based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment, wherein the automated argument map comprises a visual representation of a structure of an argument in informal logic, wherein the argument map includes components of the argument, comprising main contentions, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals, and lemmas.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

converting a portion of the network traffic from a speech format to a text format in order to determine the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the argument map is delivered to the first user and the second user as a result of a discussion terminating between the first user and the second user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein timestamps and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the first user and the second user are identified, and wherein an interaction associated with the topic of discussion is chronologically ordered before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the network traffic includes email data, media data, video data, and audio data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the network traffic includes video data from a video conference that is tagged.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein email header information and signatures are removed before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

8. Logic encoded in one or more tangible non-transitory media that includes code executable by one or more processors, wherein the code causes the one or more processors to perform operation, comprising:

receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user;

evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users;

determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user;

determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user;

deriving one or more statements from the network traffic;

categorizing the one or more derived statements into argument map attributes, wherein the deriving and the categorizing comprise at least one activity selected from a group consisting of speech recognition, sentiment analysis and basic linguistic models; and

generating an computer-automated argument map comprising the argument map attributes based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment, wherein the automated argument map comprises a visual representation of a structure of an argument in informal logic, wherein the argument map includes components of the argument, comprising main contentions, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals, and lemmas.

9. The logic of claim 8, the operations comprising:

converting a portion of the network traffic from a speech format to a text format in order to determine the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

10. The logic of claim 8, wherein the argument map is delivered to the first user and the second user as a result of a discussion terminating between the first user and the second user.

11. The logic of claim 8, wherein timestamps and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the first user and the second user are identified, and wherein an interaction associated with the topic of discussion is chronologically ordered before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

12. The logic of claim 8, wherein the network traffic includes email data, media data, video data, and audio data.

13. The logic of claim 8, wherein at least a portion of the network traffic includes video data from a video conference that is tagged.

14. The logic of claim 8, wherein email header information and signatures are removed before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

15. An apparatus, comprising:

a memory element configured to store data;

a processor operable to execute instructions associated with the data;

a network sensor configured to interface with the memory and the processor, wherein the apparatus is configured for;

receiving network traffic associated with a first user and a second user;

evaluating keywords in the network traffic in order to identify a topic of discussion involving the first and the second users;

determining a first sentiment associated with a first data segment associated with the first user;

determining a second sentiment associated with a second data segment associated with the second user;

deriving one or more statements from the network traffic;

categorizing the one or more derived statements into argument map attributes, wherein the deriving and the categorizing comprise at least one activity selected from a group consisting of speech recognition, sentiment analysis and basic linguistic models; and

generating an computer-automated argument map comprising the argument map attributes based on the first data sentiment and the second data sentiment, wherein the automated argument map comprises a visual representation of a structure of an argument in informal logic, wherein the argument map includes components of the argument, comprising main contentions, premises, co-premises, objections, rebuttals, and lemmas.

16. The apparatus of claim 15, the apparatus further configured for:

converting a portion of the network traffic from a speech format to a text format in order to determine the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

17. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein the argument map is delivered to the first user and the second user as a result of a discussion terminating between the first user and the second user.

18. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein timestamps and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses associated with the first user and the second user are identified, and wherein an interaction associated with the topic of discussion is chronologically ordered before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.

19. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein at least a portion of the network traffic includes video data from a video conference that is tagged.

20. The apparatus of claim 15, wherein email header information and signatures are removed before determining the first sentiment and the second sentiment.