BREAK-THROUGH MECHANISM FOR PERSONAS ASSOCIATED WITH A SINGLE DEVICE

• US 20110045806A1
• Filed: 04/07/2008
• Published: 02/24/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hough, Paul J., Ozzie, Raymond E., Curtis, Pavel, McAniff, Richard J., Gupta, Anoop, Czerwinski, Mary P., Barga, Roger S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,892,658 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 455/414.1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/214 using selective forwarding
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/54 Presence management, e.g. monitoring or registration for receipt of user log-on information, or the connection status of the users
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/436 Arrangements for screening incoming calls , i.e. evaluating the characteristics of a call before deciding whether to answer it based on the calling party profile H04M3/42059; based on location H04M3/42348; based on presence H04M3/42365; diversion H04M3/54

Abstract

A single device that receives communications intended for a user having multiple contact addresses associated with different user roles is provided. The single device can receive communications intended for multiple telephone numbers, email aliases, screen names, aliases, other means of contact, or combinations thereof. Since a user engaged in a particular role might not desire to be interrupted with communications intended for a different role, the communications for the other roles can be maintained until the user is actively engaged in the role for which the communication was intended. In situations where there is an important communication sent to a non-active role, selective convergence between roles is initiated and the important communication is presented to the user.

Claims

1. A system for persona breakthrough for priority communications, comprising:

a role component that ascertains a communication role of an incoming communication and an recipient active role and compares the communication role with the active recipient role to determine if the roles match;

a ranking component that prioritizes the incoming communication; and

a rendering component that selectively presents the communication to the user based in part on the prioritization and the matching.

2. The system of claim 1, the rendering component outputs the communication if the prioritization of the incoming communication meets or exceeds a threshold level.

3. The system of claim 1, the rendering component does not output the communication if the communication role does not match the recipient active role and the prioritization of the incoming communication does not meet a threshold level.

4. The system of claim 3, the incoming communication is presented when the communication role matches the recipient active role.

5. The system of claim 1, the incoming communication is addressed to one of a plurality of aliases that are routed through a single device.

6. The system of claim 1, the ranking component prioritizes the incoming communication based on an importance level.

7. The system of claim 1, the active recipient role is a role in which a user is currently engaged.

8. The system of claim 1, the priority is based in part on a user preference.

9. The system of claim 1, the recipient active role is based on observed activities, location of a device, time of day, or combinations thereof

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising an artificial intelligence component that automatics one or more system components.

11. A method for selectively converging user roles when an important communication is received, comprising:

receiving a communication intended for at least one alias associated with a user;

matching a role for which the communication is intended with a current user role;

setting an importance level for the communication; and

selectively converging the current user role and the role for which the communication is intended if the importance level meets or exceeds a threshold level.

12. The method of claim 11, selectively converging the roles comprises presenting the communication on an output device.

13. The method of claim 11, the roles are not converged if the importance level is below the threshold level.

14. The method of claim 11, further comprises retaining the communication in storage until the intended role matches the current user role.

16. The method of claim 11, the incoming communication is presented if the intended role matches the current user role.

17. The method of claim 11, ascertaining a current user role comprises determining a current user activity.

18. The method of claim 11, ascertaining an intended role comprises comparing a sender of the communication with information contained in a contact database.

15. The method of 11, the incoming communication is addressed to one of a plurality of aliases that are routed through a single device.

19. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the following computer executable components:

;

means for evaluating a communication role of an incoming communication;

means for ascertaining a current role of a recipient of the incoming communication;

means for comparing the communication role and the current role;

means for assigning an importance level to the incoming communication; and

means for interrupting the current actively of the user if the importance level meets or exceeds a threshold level.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, further comprising means for retaining the incoming communication if the importance level does not meet the threshold level and the current role and the communication role do not match.