Associating an event attribute with a user based on a group of electronic messages associated with the user

• US 9,342,597 B1
• Filed: 12/31/2013
• Issued: 05/17/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/31/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Google LLC (Alphabet Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Google Inc. (Alphabet Inc.)
• Inventors: Tomkins, Andrew, Ravikumar, Shanmugasundaram, Agarwal, Shalini, Pang, Bo, Li, Mark Yinan
• Primary Examiner(s): DWIVEDI, MAHESH H
• Application Number:
  US14/145,047
• Time in Patent Office: 868 Days
• Field of Search: 707/705
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/248 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3331 Query processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/95 Retrieval from the web
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/222 using geographical location information, e.g. messages transmitted or received in proximity of a certain spot or area
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal

Abstract

Methods and apparatus related to associating an event attribute with a user based on a group of electronic messages associated with the user. An event may be associated with the group of electronic messages. One or more event attributes of the event may be determined, including an event location identifier that identifies a physical event location. One or more of the event attributes may be determined based on the group of electronic messages. Location data of the user may be identified and a likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location may be determined based on comparing the location data of the user to the event location identifier. The likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location and at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages may be associated with the user.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method, comprising:

identifying a group of electronic messages associated with a user;

identifying an event associated with the group of electronic messages;

determining one or more event attributes of the event, the event attributes including at least an event location identifier identifying a physical event location, wherein determining the one or more event attributes includes determining at least one of the event attributes based on the group of electronic messages;

identifying location data of the user;

determining a likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location, the determining based on comparing the location data of the user to the event location identifier;

associating, with the user, the likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location and at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages;

storing the association with the user in one or more databases;

receiving a query from the user;

utilizing the stored association to identify content responsive to the query; and

providing the identified content to the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining, based on the group of electronic messages, the one or more event attributes includes identifying one or more additional users associated with the event.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising associating, with the user, a likelihood that the user interacted with the one or more additional users at the physical event location.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein associating, with the user, the at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages includes associating, with the user, the one or more additional users.

5. The method of claim 2, further comprising:

identifying additional location data of the one or more additional users;

determining a likelihood that the one or more additional users interacted with the physical event location, the determining based on comparing the additional location data to the event location identifier.

6. The method of claim 3, further comprising:

associating, with the one or more additional users, the likelihood that the one or more additional users interacted with the physical event location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages include one or more of invitees to the event, likely visitors to the physical event location, a date of the event, a time of the event, a dress code for the event, and a type of event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the group of electronic messages associated with the user includes electronic messages generated by the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the location data of the user includes data from a locational query issued by the user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the event location identifier of the event attributes is determined based on the group of electronic messages.

11. A system including memory and one or more processors operable to execute instructions stored in the memory, comprising instructions to:

identify a group of electronic messages associated with a user;

identify an event associated with the group of electronic messages;

determine one or more event attributes of the event, the event attributes including at least an event location identifier identifying a physical event location, wherein determining the one or more event attributes includes determining at least one of the event attributes based on the group of electronic messages;

identify location data of the user;

determine a likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location, the determining based on comparing the location data of the user to the event location identifier;

associate, with the user, the likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location and at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages;

store the association with the user in one or more databases;

receive a query from the user;

utilize the stored association to identify content responsive to the query; and

provide the identified content to the user.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the instructions to determine, based on the group of electronic messages, the one or more event attributes include instructions to identify one or more additional users associated with the event.

13. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions to associate, with the user, a likelihood that the user interacted with the one or more additional users at the physical event location.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the instructions to associate, with the user, the at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages include instructions to associate, with the user, the one or more additional users.

15. The system of claim 12, further comprising instructions to:

identify additional location data of the one or more additional users;

determine a likelihood that the one or more additional users interacted with the physical event location, the determining based on comparing the additional location data to the event location identifier.

16. The system of claim 11, wherein the location data of the user includes data from a locational query issued by the user.

17. The system of claim 11, wherein the event location identifier of the event attributes is determined based on the group of electronic messages.

18. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing computer instructions executable by a processor, the instructions including instructions to:

identify a group of electronic messages associated with a user;

identify an event associated with the group of electronic messages;

determine one or more event attributes of the event, the event attributes including at least an event location identifier identifying a physical event location, wherein determining the one or more event attributes includes determining at least one of the event attributes based on the group of electronic messages;

identify location data of the user;

determine a likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location, the determining based on comparing the location data of the user to the event location identifier;

associate, with the user, the likelihood that the user interacted with the physical event location and at least one of the event attributes determined based on the group of electronic messages;

store the association with the user in one or more databases;

receive a query from the user;

utilize the stored association to identify content responsive to the query; and

provide the identified content to the user.