Acquisition and association of data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user

• US 20090292702A1
• Filed: 06/26/2008
• Published: 11/26/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: Searete LLC (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. JR., Lord, Robert W., Jung, Edward K.Y., Levien, Royce A., Wood, Lowell L. JR., Leuthardt, Eric C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,101,263 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0002 Remote monitoring of patients using telemetry, e.g. transmission of vital signals via a communication network A61B5/07 takes precedence; transmission systems for measured values G08C; transmission H04B; transmission of digital information H04L; wireless communication networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4064 Evaluating the brain A61B5/031, A61B5/369, A61B5/14553 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• 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 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/56 Unified messaging, e.g. interactions between e-mail, instant messaging or converged IP messaging [CPM]

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message.

2. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user comprises:

determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

3. The computationally-implemented method of claim 2, wherein said determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message.

4. The computationally-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

sensing at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration associated with the authoring user.

5. The computationally-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

sensing at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, eye movement, or iris dilation associated with the authoring user.

6. The computationally-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

sensing at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the authoring user.

7. The computationally-implemented method of claim 3 wherein said determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

sensing one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user in a response associated with a functional magnetic resonance image procedure on the authoring user.

8. The computationally-implemented method of claim 3, wherein said determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

sensing one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user in a response associated with a functional near infrared procedure on the authoring user.

9. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user comprises:

inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user.

10. The computationally-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user comprises:

inferring a mental state of the authoring user indicating that the authoring user is in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain.

11. The computationally-implemented method of claim 9, wherein said inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user comprises:

inferring a mental state of the authoring user indicating that the authoring user is in at least one of a state of frustration, a state of approval or disapproval, a state of trust, a state of fear, a state of happiness, a state of surprise, a state of inattention, a state of arousal, a state of impatience, a state of confusion, a state of distraction, a state of overall mental activity, a state of alertness, or a state of acuity.

12. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

incorporating the data indicative of the inferred mental sate of the authoring user into the electronic message.

13. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

including into the electronic message an identity of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

14. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

15. The computationally-implemented method of claim 14, wherein said including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

including into the electronic message a hyperlink to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

16. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

pairing an identity of the electronic message with the data indicative of the inferred mental state.

17. The computationally-implemented method of claim 16, wherein said pairing an identity of the electronic message with the data indicative of the inferred mental state comprises:

incorporating the data indicative of the inferred mental state and the identity of the electronic message into another electronic message.

18. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

19. The computationally-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user.

20. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user comprises:

presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

21. The computationally-implemented method of claim 20, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user further comprises:

providing to the authoring user at least one of an option to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user or an option not to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

22. The computationally-implemented method of claim 20, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user further comprises:

providing to the authoring user at least one of an option to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user or an option to select and transmit data indicative of an alternative mental state of the authoring user.

23. The computationally-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user through at least one application.

24. The computationally-implemented method of claim 23, wherein said presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user through at least one application comprises:

presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user via an email application, via an instant message (IM) application, via an audio application, or via a video application.

25. The computationally-implemented method of claim 18, wherein said presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

26. The computationally-implemented method of claim 25, wherein said displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

displaying a number indicative of an inferred mental state of the authoring user.

27. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user.

28. The computationally-implemented method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user further comprises:

transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user.

29. The computationally-implemented method of claim 28, wherein said transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user comprises:

transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user via the electronic message or via another electronic message.

30. The computationally-implemented method of claim 27, wherein said transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user comprises:

transmitting the electronic message through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network.

31. The computationally-implemented method of claim 30, wherein said transmitting the electronic message through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network comprises:

transmitting an email message, an instant message (IM), an audio message, or a video message through the at least one of the wireless network or the wired network.

32. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and

means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message.

33. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user comprises:

means for determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

34. The computationally-implemented system of claim 33, wherein said means for determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message.

35. The computationally-implemented system of claim 34, wherein said means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

means for sensing at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration associated with the authoring user.

36. The computationally-implemented system of claim 34, wherein said means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

means for sensing at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, eye movement, or iris dilation associated with the authoring user.

37. The computationally-implemented system of claim 34, wherein said means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

means for sensing at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the authoring user.

38. The computationally-implemented system of claim 34, wherein said means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

means for sensing one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user in a response associated with a functional magnetic resonance image procedure on the authoring user.

39. The computationally-implemented system of claim 34, wherein said means for determining a result of an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user, the observation of the one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user being performed during or proximate to a composition by the authoring user of the electronic message comprises:

means for sensing one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user in a response associated with a functional near infrared procedure on the authoring user.

40. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user comprises:

means for inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user.

41. The computationally-implemented system of claim 40, wherein said means for inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user comprises:

means for inferring a mental state of the authoring user indicating that the authoring user is in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain.

42. The computationally-implemented system of claim 40, wherein said means for inferring a mental state of the authoring user based, at least in part, on an observation of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user comprises:

means for inferring a mental state of the authoring user indicating that the authoring user is in at least one of a state of frustration, a state of approval or disapproval, a state of trust, a state of fear, a state of happiness, a state of surprise, a state of inattention, a state of arousal, a state of impatience, a state of confusion, a state of distraction, a state of overall mental activity, a state of alertness, or a state of acuity.

43. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

means for incorporating the data indicative of the inferred mental sate of the authoring user into the electronic message.

44. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

means for including into the electronic message an identity of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

45. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

means for including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

46. The computationally-implemented system of claim 45, wherein said means for including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for including into the electronic message a hyperlink to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

47. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, wherein said means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message comprises:

means for pairing an identity of the electronic message with the data indicative of the inferred mental state.

48. The computationally-implemented system of claim 47, wherein said means for pairing an identity of the electronic message with the data indicative of the inferred mental state comprises:

means for incorporating the data indicative of the inferred mental state and the identity of the electronic message into another electronic message.

49. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

50. The computationally-implemented system of claim 49, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user.

51. The computationally-implemented system of claim 50, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user comprises:

means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

52. The computationally-implemented system of claim 51, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user further comprises:

means for providing to the authoring user at least one of an option to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user or an option not to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

53. The computationally-implemented system of claim 51, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user prior to a transmission of the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user further comprises:

means for providing to the authoring user at least one of an option to transmit the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user or an option to select and transmit data indicative of an alternative mental state of the authoring user.

54. The computationally-implemented system of claim 49, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user through at least one application.

55. The computationally-implemented system of claim 54, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user through at least one application comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the authoring user via an email application, via an instant message (IM) application, via an audio application, or via a video application.

56. The computationally-implemented system of claim 49, wherein said means for presenting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user.

57. The computationally-implemented system of claim 56, wherein said means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user comprises:

means for displaying a number indicative of an inferred mental state of the authoring user.

58. The computationally-implemented system of claim 32, further comprising:

means for transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user.

59. The computationally-implemented system of claim 58, wherein said means for transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user further comprises:

means for transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user.

60. The computationally-implemented system of claim 59, wherein said means for transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user comprises:

means for transmitting the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user to the receiving user via the electronic message or via another electronic message.

61. The computationally-implemented system of claim 58, wherein said means for transmitting the electronic message to a receiving user comprises:

means for transmitting the electronic message through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network.

62. The computationally-implemented system of claim 61, wherein said means for transmitting the electronic message through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network comprises:

means for transmitting an email message, an instant message (IM), an audio message, or a video message through the at least one of the wireless network or the wired network.

63. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

circuitry for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and

circuitry for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message.

64. A computer program product comprising:

a signal-bearing medium bearing

(a) one or more instructions for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user; and

(b) one or more instructions for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with an electronic message.