System and method of searching for classifying user activity performed on a computer system

• US 20070033187A1
• Filed: 06/21/2006
• Published: 02/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 08/03/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Novell Incorporated (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Friedman, Nathaniel, Trowbridge, Jon
• Granted Patent: US 7,707,284 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3466 Performance evaluation by tracing or monitoring
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/337 Profile generation, learning or modification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/338 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9038 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2201/81 Threshold
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access

Abstract

The invention is directed to a system and method of managing information associated with user actions. A monitoring system may gather and store information associated with user actions. Relationships may be inferred between user actions based on time or other criteria. A user may define classifications of user actions. These classifications may be used to retrieve information associated with user actions.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring user activity performed on a computer system, comprising:

creating a category for information related to an action performed by a user;

monitoring user activity on the computer system;

classifying information associated with the action according to the category when performed by the user; and

managing information associated with the action according to the category.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein managing information includes allowing a search of user activity to be limited to the category.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein managing information includes retrieving information related to the category.

4. The method according to claim 1,

wherein creating a category includes creating a plurality of categories related to a plurality of actions performed by a user, and

wherein classifying information includes classifying information associated with each action according to a category of the plurality of categories.

5. The method according to claim 4, wherein a first category of the plurality of categories is nested within a second category of the plurality of categories.

6. The method according to claim 1, wherein a category includes at least one of a work-related category and a non-work related category.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein monitoring includes gathering information associated with user action and storing the information in a chronological timeline.

8. The method according to claim 7, wherein information associated with user action includes content related to (i) applications, (ii) documents, (iii) files, (iv) electronic mail messages, (v) chat sessions, (vi) web sites, (vii) address book entries, (viii) calendar entries or any combination of (i) to (viii).

9. The method according to claim 1, wherein information gathered includes a date, a time, and a length of time for the action.

10. A system for monitoring user activity performed on a computer system, comprising:

a category definer for creating a category for information related to an action performed by a user;

a monitoring system for monitoring user activity on the computer system;

a classifier for classifying information associated with the action according to the category when performed by the user; and

a categorization analyzer for managing information associated with the action according to the category.

11. The system according to claim 10, wherein the categorization analyzer searches user activity within the category.

12. The system according to claim 10, wherein the categorization analyzer retrieves information related to the category.

13. The system according to claim 10,

wherein the category definer creates a plurality of categories related to a plurality of actions performed by a user, and

wherein the classifier classifies information associated with each action according to a category of the plurality of categories.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the category definer creates a first category of the plurality of categories that is nested within a second category of the plurality of categories.

15. The system according to claim 10, wherein a category includes at least one of a work-related category and a non-work related category.

16. The system according to claim 10, wherein the monitoring system gathers information associated with user action and storing the information in a chronological timeline.

17. The system according to claim 16, wherein information associated with user action includes content related to (i) applications, (ii) documents, (iii) files, (iv) electronic mail messages, (v) chat sessions, (vi) web sites, (vii) address book entries, (viii) calendar entries or any combination of (i) to (viii).

18. The system according to claim 10, wherein information gathered by the monitoring system includes a date, a time, and a length of time for the action.