Preference-based content distribution service

• US 20070124385A1
• Filed: 11/18/2005
• Published: 05/31/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/18/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Denny, Michael, Page, Joseph
• Application Number:
  US11/283,458
• Publication Number:
  US 20070124385A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide methods and devices for distributing content over a network. In this regard, one embodiment of such a method, among others, can be broadly summarized by the following steps: receiving an electronic message addressed to a single network account; categorizing content of the electronic message into at least one content category; and providing access to the content to users that have previously indicated a preference for information corresponding to the categorized content. Other methods and devices are also provided.

Claims

1. A method for distributing content over a network, comprising:

receiving an electronic message addressed to a single network account;

categorizing content of the electronic message into at least one content category; and

providing access to the content to users that have previously indicated a preference for information corresponding to the categorized content.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein access is provided to users by sending the content of the electronic message in an electronic message to network addresses of the users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein access is provided to users by sending a hypertext link to the content of the electronic message, the hypertext link being sent via an electronic message addressed to network addresses of the users.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining user profiles, each user profile specifying at least one preference indicating a category of information that the respective user is interested in receiving.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the content of the electronic message is categorized in a plurality of content categories, such that users having user profiles indicating a preference for any of the content categories is provided access to the content of the electronic message.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving an expression of interest in a type of information that a first user is interested in receiving, wherein the expression of interest comprises a list of keywords provided by the first user.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

associating the list of keywords with a content category.

8. The method of claim 6, further comprising:

searching the content of the electronic message to determine whether any of the keywords are included in the content of the electronic message; and

based upon results of the searching step, determining whether the content of the electronic document is of interest to the first user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein:

a plurality of users subscribe to a plurality of content categories;

the content of the electronic document is categorized as belonging to a plurality of content categories; and

the electronic document is distributed to a plurality of users belonging to a plurality of subscriptions based upon the categorizing step.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein a sender of the electronic message is not required to be a recognized user of a messaging system that manages the single network account, whereas recipients of content of the electronic message are required to be recognized users of the messaging system.

11. A computer readable medium having a computer program for distributing content over a network, the program having instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving an electronic message addressed to a single network account;

categorizing content of the electronic message into at least one content category; and

providing access to the content to users that have previously indicated a preference for information corresponding to the categorized content.

12. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein access is provided to users by sending the content of the electronic message in an electronic message to network addresses of the users.

13. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein access is provided to users by sending a hypertext link to the content of the electronic message, the hypertext link being sent via an electronic message addressed to network addresses of the users.

14. The computer readable medium of claim 11, the program having instructions for performing the step of:

maintaining user profiles, each user profile specifying at least one preference indicating a category of information that the respective user is interested in receiving.

15. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein the content of the electronic message is categorized in a plurality of content categories, such that users having user profiles indicating a preference for any of the content categories is provided access to the content of the electronic message.

16. The computer readable medium of claim 11, the program having instructions for performing the step of:

receiving an expression of interest in a type of information that a first user is interested in receiving, wherein the expression of interest comprises a list of keywords provided by the first user.

17. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the program having instructions for performing the step of:

associating the list of keywords with a content category.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 16, the program having instructions for performing the steps of:

searching the content of the electronic message to determine whether any of the keywords are included in the content of the electronic message; and

based upon results of the searching step, determining whether the content of the electronic document is of interest to the first user.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein:

a plurality of users subscribe to a plurality of content categories;

the content of the electronic document is categorized as belonging to a plurality of content categories; and

the electronic document is distributed to a plurality of users belonging to a plurality of subscriptions based upon the categorizing step.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 11, wherein a sender of the electronic message is not required to be a recognized user of a messaging system that manages the single network account, whereas recipients of content of the electronic message are required to be recognized users of the messaging system.