PREDICTING EMAIL RESPONSE PATTERNS

• US 20100169264A1
• Filed: 12/29/2008
• Published: 07/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/29/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Snap, Inc.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Stern, Edith Helen, Willner, Barry E., O'Sullivan, Patrick Joseph, Weir, Robert Cameron
• Granted Patent: US 8,862,519 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/52
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

An email activity pattern of a user is analyzed. A time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is determined based upon, at least in part, the email activity pattern of the user.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

analyzing an email activity pattern of a user;

determining, based upon, at least in part, the email activity pattern, a time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user; and

displaying the time probability for the user to act on the email sent to the user on a computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the email activity pattern of the user comprises determining a previous time for the user to act on one or more previous emails.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein analyzing the email pattern of the user comprises determining a change in time for the user to act on a plurality of previous emails.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the email activity pattern of the user is based upon, at least in part, a work schedule of the user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is the time probability for the user to read the email.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is the time probability for the user to respond to the email.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is based upon, at least in part, timing of the email sent to the user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user comprises determining an inbox status for the user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is based upon, at least in part, an attribute of the email.

10. A computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having a plurality of instructions stored thereon, which, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:

analyzing an email activity pattern of a user;

determining, based upon, at least in part, the email activity pattern, a time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user; and

displaying the time probability for the user to act on the email sent to the user on a computing device.

11. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for analyzing the email activity pattern of the user comprise instructions for determining a previous time for the user to act on one or more previous emails.

12. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for analyzing the email pattern of the user comprise instructions for determining a change in time for the user to act on a plurality of previous emails.

13. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the email activity pattern of the user is based upon, at least in part, a work schedule of the user.

14. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is the time probability for the user to read the email.

15. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is the time probability for the user to respond to the email.

16. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is based upon, at least in part, timing of the email sent to the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein the instructions for determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user comprise instructions for determining an inbox status for the user.

18. The computer program product of claim 10, wherein determining the time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user is based upon, at least in part, an attribute of the email.

19. A computing system comprising:

at least one processor;

at least one memory architecture coupled with the at least one processor;

a first software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the first software module is configured analyze an email activity pattern of a user;

a second software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the second software module is configured to determine, based upon, at least in part, the email activity pattern, a time probability for the user to act on an email sent to the user; and

a third software module executed on the at least one processor and the at least one memory architecture, wherein the third software module is configured to display the time probability for the user to act on the email sent to the user on a computing device

20. The computing system of claim 19, wherein the first software module is further configured to determine a previous time for the user to act on one or more previous emails.