Keyword-based services for mobile device messages

• US 8,838,079 B2
• Filed: 05/22/2008
• Issued: 09/16/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/22/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nuance Communications, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Wehrs, Michael E., Bargen, Bradley L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Santiago-Cordero, Marivelisse
• Assistant Examiner(s): TAYLOR, NATHAN SCOTT
• Application Number:
  US12/601,004
• Publication Number:
  US 20100279667A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,308 Days
• Field of Search: 705/714, 705/14.64, 455/466, 4554141-4142, 707/765, 707/769
• US Class Current: 455/414.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0251 Targeted advertisements
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/046 Interoperability with other network applications or services

Abstract

A software and/or hardware facility that identifies keywords in a message received by a mobile device and provides advertising and contextual services to the mobile device based on a keyword selection by a user. The facility analyzes a received message to identify keywords in the message. The keywords are identified based on user-specific information that is maintained on the mobile device. The message is displayed to the user with the identified keywords highlighted to the user. When the user selects a keyword, the facility identifies one or more advertisements that are targeted to a user in a manner that takes into account user-specific information. The facility also identifies one or more contexts that are related to the keyword. The facility displays the identified advertisements and contexts to the user. If the user selects an advertisement or context, relevant services are called to deliver responsive content to the user.

Claims

1. A method on a mobile device of providing keyword-based services to message recipients, the method comprising:

receiving a text message at a mobile device of a user;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message, wherein at least some of the plurality of keywords are identified by comparing words in the text message with a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device;

retrieving a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device and further based on profiling messages received by the user;

selecting a subset of the identified keywords based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

displaying the received text message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the text of the displayed message is formatted to distinguish the subset of identified keywords in the text from non-identified keyword text in the displayed message;

associating each of the subset of identified keywords with at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service;

receiving a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message by the user;

displaying to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receiving a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service from the user;

invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service to request additional information associated with the keyword, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal; and

receiving information associated with the keyword from the selected advertisement or contextual service and presenting the received information to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the text message is a SMS message.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises requesting information from a remote service.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected contextual service comprises initiating a call from the mobile device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises requesting information from an advertisement or contextual service on the device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing a record describing the invocation of the selected advertisement or contextual service.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the record comprises an identification of the selected advertisement or contextual service and the selected keyword.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subset of identified words is selected based in part on a frequency of use of the identified words by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes a map or search results.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the user authorization occurs at the time of transmittal.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising a keyword inventory that is maintained on one or more network servers, wherein identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message includes receiving an identification of a keyword from the one or more network servers.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving from a sending device an identification of a keyword in the received text message and contextual information associated with the identified keyword.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the received identification of a keyword includes a name in the received text message and wherein the received contextual information includes a telephone number associated with the identified name.

14. The method of claim 1, wherein the observed user activity on the mobile device includes phone calls placed by the user on the mobile device, or calendar data reflecting meetings of the user on the mobile device, or location data representing movement of the mobile device, or purchases made by the user on the mobile device, or a record of audio and video media titles that the user has stored on or made accessible via the mobile device.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service includes transmitting information identifying the market segment of the user.

16. A system for providing keyword-based services to a user recipient of a message on a mobile device, the mobile device having a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, the system comprising:

a memory storing computer-executable instructions of;

a market segment component configured to determine a market segment of the user based on observed user activity on the mobile device and further based on profiling messages received by the user;

an identification component configured to identify a plurality of keywords in a received text message by comparing text in the text message with the contents of a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device;

a filtering component configured to select a subset of keywords from the identified plurality of keywords, the filtering component selecting the subset of keywords based at least in part on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, that is maintained on the mobile device, each of the subset of keywords having an associated one or more advertisements and contextual services;

a display component configured to display the received text message to the user and to display one or more advertisements and contextual services associated with a keyword when a user selects one of the subset of keywords in the received text message; and

a communication component configured to receive a selection of a keyword and an associated advertisement or contextual service by a user, the communication component invoking the advertisement or contextual service to obtain additional information associated with the selected keyword for display to the user, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

17. The system of claim 16, wherein the user-specific information includes a user location, a date and time, user interests, user behavior, or user preferences and settings.

18. The system of claim 16, wherein the market segment of the user is further based on information received from a service provider of the user.

19. The system of claim 16, wherein the mobile device is a mobile phone.

20. The system of claim 16, wherein the additional information includes a map or search results.

21. The system of claim 16, wherein the subset of keywords is a proper subset.

22. The system of claim 16, wherein the invoked contextual service is a remote service.

23. The system of claim 16, wherein the display component further formats the text of the subset of keywords in the received text message differently than other text in the text message.

24. A tangible computer-readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a mobile device of a user, cause the mobile device to:

receive a message at the mobile device;

identify at least one keyword in the received message, wherein the at least one keyword is identified by comparing words in the message with a keyword inventory;

retrieve a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device and further based on profiling messages received by the user;

select a subset of the at least one identified keyword based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

display the received message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the message is formatted to distinguish the selected subset from non-identified keywords in the displayed message;

receive from the user a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message;

display to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receive from the user a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service; and

invoke the selected advertisement or contextual service, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

25. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24, wherein the subset of the at least one identified keyword is selected based in part on a frequency of use of the identified words by the user.

26. The computer-readable storage device of claim 24, wherein the user authorization occurs at the time of transmittal.

27. A method on a mobile device of providing keyword-based services to message recipients, the method comprising:

receiving a text message at a mobile device of a user;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message, wherein at least some of the plurality of keywords are identified by comparing words in the text message with a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device, and wherein the keyword inventory includes information describing frequency of use by the user or among a population of users, such that less frequently used words are more likely to be identified as keywords;

retrieving a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

selecting a subset of the identified keywords based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

displaying the received text message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the text of the displayed message is formatted to distinguish the subset of identified keywords in the text from non-identified keyword text in the displayed message;

associating each of the subset of identified keywords with at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service;

receiving a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message by the user;

displaying to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receiving a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service from the user;

invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service to request additional information associated with the keyword, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal; and

receiving information associated with the keyword from the selected advertisement or contextual service and presenting the received information to the user.

28. The method of claim 27, further comprising a keyword inventory that is maintained on one or more network servers, wherein identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message includes receiving an identification of a keyword from the one or more network servers.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising receiving from a sending device an identification of a keyword in the received text message and contextual information associated with the identified keyword.

30. The method of claim 29, wherein the received identification of a keyword includes a name in the received text message and wherein the received contextual information includes a telephone number associated with the identified name.

31. The method of claim 27, wherein the observed user activity on the mobile device includes phone calls placed by the user on the mobile device, or calendar data reflecting meetings of the user on the mobile device, or location data representing movement of the mobile device, or purchases made by the user on the mobile device, or a record of audio and video media titles that the user has stored on or made accessible via the mobile device.

32. The method of claim 27, wherein the received information includes a map or search results.

33. A system for providing keyword-based services to a user recipient of a message on a mobile device, the mobile device having a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, the system comprising:

a memory storing computer-executable instructions of;

a market segment component configured to determine a market segment of the user based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

an identification component configured to identify a plurality of keywords in a received text message by comparing text in the text message with the contents of a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device, wherein the keyword inventory includes information describing frequency of use by the user or among a population of users, such that less frequently used words are more likely to be identified as keywords;

a filtering component configured to select a subset of keywords from the identified plurality of keywords, the filtering component selecting the subset of keywords based at least in part on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, that is maintained on the mobile device, each of the subset of keywords having an associated one or more advertisements and contextual services;

a display component configured to display the received text message to the user and to display one or more advertisements and contextual services associated with a keyword when a user selects one of the subset of keywords in the received text message; and

a communication component configured to receive a selection of a keyword and an associated advertisement or contextual service by a user, the communication component invoking the advertisement or contextual service to obtain additional information associated with the selected keyword for display to the user, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the user-specific information includes a user location, a date and time, user interests, user behavior, or user preferences and settings.

35. The system of claim 33, wherein the additional information includes a map or search results.

36. A tangible computer-readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a mobile device of a user, cause the mobile device to:

receive a message at the mobile device;

identify at least one keyword in the received message, wherein the at least one keyword is identified by comparing words in the message with a keyword inventory, and wherein the keyword inventory includes information describing frequency of use by the user or among a population of users, such that less frequently used words are more likely to be identified as keywords;

retrieve a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

select a subset of the at least one identified keyword based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

display the received message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the message is formatted to distinguish the selected subset from non-identified keywords in the displayed message;

receive from the user a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message;

display to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receive from the user a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service; and

invoke the selected advertisement or contextual service, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

37. A method on a mobile device of providing keyword-based services to message recipients, the method comprising:

receiving a text message at a mobile device of a user;

identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message, wherein at least some of the plurality of keywords are identified by comparing words in the text message with a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device, and wherein the keyword inventory is described by a search tree comprised of a plurality of nodes representing characters, such that one or more nodes linked together define a keyword;

retrieving a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

selecting a subset of the identified keywords based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

displaying the received text message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the text of the displayed message is formatted to distinguish the subset of identified keywords in the text from non-identified keyword text in the displayed message;

associating each of the subset of identified keywords with at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service;

receiving a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message by the user;

displaying to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receiving a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service from the user;

invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service to request additional information associated with the keyword, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal; and

receiving information associated with the keyword from the selected advertisement or contextual service and presenting the received information to the user.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein identifying a keyword includes searching the tree for the longest keyword match in the search tree.

39. The method of claim 37, further comprising a keyword inventory that is maintained on one or more network servers, wherein identifying a plurality of keywords in the received text message includes receiving an identification of a keyword from the one or more network servers.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising receiving from a sending device an identification of a keyword in the received text message and contextual information associated with the identified keyword.

41. The method of claim 40, wherein the received identification of a keyword includes a name in the received text message and wherein the received contextual information includes a telephone number associated with the identified name.

42. The method of claim 37, wherein the observed user activity on the mobile device includes phone calls placed by the user on the mobile device, or calendar data reflecting meetings of the user on the mobile device, or location data representing movement of the mobile device, or purchases made by the user on the mobile device, or a record of audio and video media titles that the user has stored on or made accessible via the mobile device.

43. The method of claim 37, wherein the received information includes a map or search results.

44. A system for providing keyword-based services to a user recipient of a message on a mobile device, the mobile device having a processor for executing computer-executable instructions, the system comprising:

a memory storing computer-executable instructions of;

a market segment component configured to determine a market segment of the user based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

an identification component configured to identify a plurality of keywords in a received text message by comparing text in the text message with the contents of a keyword inventory that is maintained on the mobile device, wherein the keyword inventory is described by a search tree comprised of a plurality of nodes representing characters, such that one or more nodes linked together define a keyword;

a filtering component configured to select a subset of keywords from the identified plurality of keywords, the filtering component selecting the subset of keywords based at least in part on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, that is maintained on the mobile device, each of the subset of keywords having an associated one or more advertisements and contextual services;

a display component configured to display the received text message to the user and to display one or more advertisements and contextual services associated with a keyword when a user selects one of the subset of keywords in the received text message; and

a communication component configured to receive a selection of a keyword and an associated advertisement or contextual service by a user, the communication component invoking the advertisement or contextual service to obtain additional information associated with the selected keyword for display to the user, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

45. The system of claim 44, wherein identifying a keyword includes searching the tree for the longest keyword match in the search tree.

46. The system of claim 44, wherein the user-specific information includes a user location, a date and time, user interests, user behavior, or user preferences and settings.

47. The system of claim 44, wherein the additional information includes a map or search results.

48. A tangible computer-readable storage device encoded with instructions that, when executed by a mobile device of a user, cause the mobile device to:

receive a message at the mobile device;

identify at least one keyword in the received message, wherein the at least one keyword is identified by comparing words in the message with a keyword inventory, and wherein the keyword inventory is described by a search tree comprised of a plurality of nodes representing characters, such that one or more nodes linked together define a keyword;

retrieve a market segment of the user, the market segment determined based on observed user activity on the mobile device;

select a subset of the at least one identified keyword based on user-specific information, including the market segment of the user, stored on the mobile device;

display the received message to the user of the mobile device, wherein the message is formatted to distinguish the selected subset from non-identified keywords in the displayed message;

receive from the user a selection of an identified keyword in the displayed message;

display to the user at least one advertisement and at least one contextual service associated with the selected keyword;

receive from the user a selection of a displayed advertisement or contextual service; and

invoke the selected advertisement or contextual service, wherein invoking the selected advertisement or contextual service comprises transmitting the user-specific information to the selected advertisement or contextual service provided that the user has authorized such transmittal.

49. The computer-readable storage device of claim 48, wherein identifying a keyword includes searching the tree for the longest keyword match in the search tree.