Targeted message response

• US 9,582,571 B2
• Filed: 01/22/2016
• Issued: 02/28/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 07/18/2013
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chakra, Al, Harpur, Liam, Rice, John
• Primary Examiner(s): Tiv, Backhean
• Application Number:
  US15/004,065
• Publication Number:
  US 20160140219A1
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/22 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/3346 using probabilistic model
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/90324 using system suggestions
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/063 Content adaptation, e.g. replacement of unsuitable content
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/16 Implementation or adaptation of Internet protocol [IP], of transmission control protocol [TCP] or of user datagram protocol [UDP]

Abstract

A tool for targeting a message response. The tool monitors reactions of a user to message subject lines, message content, and social networks. The tool analyzes user interest data and calculates a user interest rating per keyword. Rated keywords are stored in association with the user. When a user drafts a message addressed to a recipient, the tool compares rated keywords within the recipient'"'"'s log with the subject line and message content. The tool suggests an alternative subject line likely to elicit a faster and more detailed response from the recipient.

Claims

1. A method for targeting a message response, the method comprising:

monitoring, by one or more computer processors, recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient;

gathering, the by one or more computer processors, recipient interest data, wherein gathering includes collecting one or more keywords that interest the recipient as evidenced by one or more positive indicators of interest associated with the one or more keywords;

storing, the by one or more computer processors, the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient;

calculating, the by one or more computer processors, a recipient interest rating for each of the one or more keywords, wherein the recipient interest rating is based, at least in part, on the recipient activity and an established recipient interest baseline;

in response to a sender drafting a subsequent electronic message addressed to the recipient, comparing, by the one or more computer processors, the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient to a subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message; and

suggesting, by the one or more computer processors, one or more alternative subject lines incorporating at least one of the one or more keywords stored within the database associated with the recipient, wherein suggesting the one or more alternative subject lines includes utilizing a predictive analytics system to determine a relative percentage increase in likelihood that the recipient will respond based on the one or more alternative subject lines.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein monitoring recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient, comprises at least one of:

determining, by one or more computer processors, an order in which the one or more electronic messages are opened;

determining, by one or more computer processors, a length of time spent on each of the one or more electronic messages when opened;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a type of action taken on each of the one or more electronic messages;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a frequency of words used in the one or more electronic messages;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, one or more affiliations of the recipient;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a type of words used in the one or more electronic messages; and

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a format of words used in the one or more electronic messages.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein gathering recipient interest data, further comprises:

extracting, by the one or more computer processors, recipient interest data from one or more social networks.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the recipient interest rating for the one or more keywords, further comprises

assigning, by the one or more computer processors, the one or more keywords a weight based on at least one of:

determining, by the one or more computer processors, one or more actions taken on the one or more electronic messages;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a time spent on the one or more electronic messages by the recipient;

determining, by the one or more computer processors, how quickly the one or more electronic messages was accessed by the recipient; and

determining, by the one or more computer processors, a relationship between the recipient and a sender.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein assigning the one or more keywords a weight based on determining one or more indicators, further comprises:

assigning, by the one or more computer processors, a positive point value for indicators suggesting high user interest, and a negative point value for indicators suggesting low user interest.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein comparing the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient to a subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message, further comprises at least one of;

searching, by the one or more computer processors, for synonyms, of one or more words within the subject line and message content, within the stored rated keywords;

searching, by the one or more computer processors, for one or more stored rated keywords identical to one or more words within the subject line and message content;

searching, by the one or more computer processors, for rated keywords, based on weight, within the stored rated keywords; and

searching, by the one or more computer processors, for one or more stored rated keywords equivalent to one or more words within the subject line and message content.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein suggesting one or more alternative subject lines, further comprises at least one of:

creating, by the one or more computer processors, an alternative subject line from one or more rated keywords with the highest weight;

creating, by the one or more computer processors, an alternative subject line from one or more rated keywords determined to be synonyms of one or more words within the subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message;

creating, by the one or more computer processors, an alternative subject line from one or more rated keywords determined to be equivalent to one or more words within the subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message; and

creating, by the one or more computer processors, an alternative subject line from one or more combinations of rated keywords.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein creating an alternative subject line from one or more rated keywords, further comprises:

creating, by the one or more computer processors, a second alternative subject line, subsequent to creating the alternative subject line, which is proffered to the user to replace the subject line of the subsequent electronic message.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein suggesting one or more alternative subject lines, further comprises:

advising, by the one or more computer processors, the sender of the relative percentage increase in likelihood that the recipient will respond based on the one or more alternative subject lines.

10. A computer program product embodied on a computer-readable storage device for targeting a message response, the computer program product comprising:

one or more computer-readable storage devices and program instructions stored on the one or more computer-readable storage devices, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient;

program instructions to gather recipient interest data, wherein gathering includes collecting one or more keywords that interest the recipient as evidenced by one or more positive indicators of interest associated with the one or more keywords;

program instructions to store the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient;

program instructions to calculate a recipient interest rating for each of the one or more keywords, wherein the recipient interest rating is based, at least in part, on the recipient activity and an established recipient interest baseline;

in response to a sender drafting a subsequent electronic message addressed to the recipient, program instructions to compare the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient to a subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message; and

program instructions to suggest one or more alternative subject lines incorporating at least one of the one or more keywords stored within the database associated with the recipient, wherein suggesting the one or more alternative subject lines includes utilizing a predictive analytics system to determine a relative percentage increase in likelihood that the recipient will respond based on the one or more alternative subject lines.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to monitor recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient, comprise at least one of:

program instructions to determine an order in which the one or more electronic messages are opened;

program instructions to determine a length of time spent on each of the one or more electronic messages when opened;

program instructions to determine a type of action taken on each of the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine a frequency of words used in the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine one or more affiliations of the recipient;

program instructions to determine a type of words used in the one or more electronic messages; and

program instructions to determine a format of words used in the one or more electronic messages.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to gather recipient interest data, further comprise:

program instructions to extract recipient interest data from one or more social networks.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein program instructions to calculate the recipient interest rating for the one or more keywords, further comprise:

program instructions to assign the one or more keywords a weight based on at least one of;

program instructions to determine one or more actions taken on the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine a time spent on the one or more electronic messages by the recipient;

program instructions to determine how quickly the one or more electronic messages was accessed by the recipient; and

program instructions to determine a relationship between the recipient and a sender.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein program instructions to assign the one or more keywords a weight based on determining one or more indicators, further comprise:

program instructions to assign a positive point value for indicators suggesting high user interest, and a negative point value for indicators suggesting low user interest.

15. A computer system for targeting a message response, the computer system comprising:

one or more computer processors;

one or more computer-readable storage media;

program instructions stored on at least one of the one or more computer-readable storage media for execution by at least one of the one or more computer processors, the program instructions comprising;

program instructions to monitor recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient;

program instructions to gather recipient interest data, wherein gathering includes collecting one or more keywords that interest the recipient as evidenced by one or more positive indicators of interest associated with the one or more keywords;

program instructions to store the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient;

program instructions to calculate a recipient interest rating for each of the one or more keywords, wherein the recipient interest rating is based, at least in part, on the recipient activity and an established recipient interest baseline;

in response to a sender drafting a subsequent electronic message addressed to the recipient, program instructions to compare the one or more keywords within a database associated with the recipient to a subject line and message content of the subsequent electronic message; and

program instructions to suggest one or more alternative subject lines incorporating at least one of the one or more keywords stored within the database associated with the recipient, wherein suggesting the one or more alternative subject lines includes utilizing a predictive analytics system to determine a relative percentage increase in likelihood that the recipient will respond based on the one or more alternative subject lines.

16. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to monitor recipient activity related to one or more electronic messages received by a recipient, comprise at least one of:

program instructions to determine an order in which the one or more electronic messages are opened;

program instructions to determine a length of time spent on each of the one or more electronic messages when opened;

program instructions to determine a type of action taken on each of the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine a frequency of words used in the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine one or more affiliations of the recipient;

program instructions to determine a type of words used in the one or more electronic messages; and

program instructions to determine a format of words used in the one or more electronic messages.

17. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to gather recipient interest data, further comprise:

program instructions to extract recipient interest data from one or more social networks.

18. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to calculate the recipient interest rating for the one or more keywords, further comprise:

program instructions to assign the one or more keywords a weight based on at least one of;

program instructions to determine one or more actions taken on the one or more electronic messages;

program instructions to determine a time spent on the one or more electronic messages by the recipient;

program instructions to determine how quickly the one or more electronic messages was accessed by the recipient; and

program instructions to determine a relationship between the recipient and a sender.

19. The computer system of claim 18, wherein program instructions to assign the one or more keywords a weight based on determining one or more indicators, further comprise:

program instructions to assign a positive point value for indicators suggesting high user interest, and a negative point value for indicators suggesting low user interest.

20. The computer system of claim 15, wherein program instructions to suggest one or more alternative subject lines, further comprise:

program instructions to advise the sender of the relative percentage increase in likelihood that the recipient will respond based on the one or more alternative subject lines.