METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR IMPROVING A USER EXPERIENCE OR DEVICE PERFORMANCE USING AN ENRICHED USER PROFILE

• US 20130238540A1
• Filed: 09/03/2012
• Published: 09/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/18/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qualcomm, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Hugh O'Donoghue, Scott Beith, Sean Corrigan
• Inventors: O'DONOGHUE, Hugh, WHALE, Peter Charles, HEALY, Colm, PEGUM, Andrew, CORRIGAN, Sean, BEITH, Scott, HOUGH, Jason, SHEEHAN, Anthony M.
• Granted Patent: US 10,091,322 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 706/46
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/4451 User profiles; Roaming
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/451 Execution arrangements for user interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: G06N 5/02 Knowledge representation; Symbolic representation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0254 based on statistics
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0269 based on user profile or attribute
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/306 User profiles
• 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: H04W 12/06 Authentication
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 12/71 Hardware identity
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/023 using mutual or relative location information between multiple location based services [LBS] targets or of distance thresholds
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A method, an apparatus, and a computer program product for communication are provided in which a communications device is operable to provide an improved user experience or to improve the performance and/or operation of the communications device through use of an enriched user profile. In one aspect, the communications device may predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element. The communications device may modify a functionality of a component of the device based on the predicted event occurrence. In one aspect, component modification may include presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

Claims

1. A method of communications, comprising:

predicting an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element; and

modifying a functionality of a component of a communications device based on the predicted event occurrence.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the component is at least one of an application associated with the communications device, a sensor associated with the communications device, a hardware component associated with the communications device, or any combination thereof.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the attribute includes a user specific informational element, and wherein the user specific informational element is at least one of a user interest, place information, location information, communications device sensor derived data, communications device hardware derived data, a user characteristic, user demographics information, a browser history, application usage history, a call history, a communications device background activity, traffic utilization data, a communications device charge level, a communications device charge state, user input, or any combination thereof.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein each user specific informational element comprises at least one of a contextual sub-element, a non-contextual sub-element, or any combination thereof.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the contextual sub-element is at least one of a location associated with a user, a time of day, a day of the week, an activity associated with the user, a level of user interaction with the communications device, a user'"'"'s recent interaction with the communications device, an available resource associated with the communications device, a sensor output associated with the communications device, a battery life value associated with the communications device, news relevant to the user, an item scheduled in a calendar application, weather information, traffic information, a proximity value of the communications device to another device, a proximity value of the communications device to another user, server derived content, or any combination thereof.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein the non-contextual sub-element is at least one of a user'"'"'s gender, the user'"'"'s age, another device associated with the user, the user'"'"'s media interest, the user'"'"'s financial information, the user'"'"'s game interest, an association with a second user, the user'"'"'s profession, or any combination thereof.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicting the event occurrence further comprises:

detecting a modification to the attribute within a first threshold period of time;

determining a first pattern associated with the detected modification to the attribute;

searching the enriched user profile for a second pattern associated with a second attribute within a matching threshold of the first pattern;

determining an event associated with the second attribute; and

using the event associated with the second attribute as the predicted event occurrence.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the attribute comprises a plurality of user specific informational elements, wherein the first pattern comprises a temporal sequence of occurrences of at least two of the plurality of the user specific informational elements.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicting further comprises predicting availability of a second bearer at a first time wherein the second bearer is different than a current bearer;

and

wherein the modifying further comprises at least one of delaying a download of a content item until the first time, pre-fetching a content item prior to the first time, or any combination thereof.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the predicting further comprises predicting at least one of availability of a charging source, active usage of the communications device, or any combination thereof.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying further comprises modifying timing associated with activation of at least one of a sleep mode, screen dimming, a screen shutoff, or any combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the modifying further comprises modifying the functionality of an application operating in a background mode.

13. The method of claim 1, wherein interpreting the enriched user profile further comprises determining a contextually relevant informational element associated with the detected component.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein modifying the functionality further comprises providing the determined contextually relevant informational element to the detected component as a suggested entry.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein the providing further comprises providing the suggested entry in a format allowing the detected component to present the suggested entry as at least one of a list, a grid, a queue, a stack, a carousel, an overlay, or any combination thereof.

16. The method of claim 14, wherein the predicting the event occurrence further comprises predicting a first time associated with the event occurrence, and wherein the modifying further comprises providing the contextually relevant informational element to the component at the first time.

17. The method of claim 14, wherein the predicting the event occurrence further comprises predicting a first time associated with the event occurrence, wherein the component is a mapping application, and wherein the contextually relevant informational element is a location for display by the mapping application at the first time.

18. The method of claim 14, wherein the predicting the event occurrence further comprises predicting a first time associated with the event occurrence, wherein the component is a calendar application, and wherein the contextually relevant informational element is an entry for display by the calendar application associated with the first time.

19. The method of claim 13, wherein modifying the functionality further comprises providing the determined contextually relevant informational element to the detected component prior to an input by a user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the providing further comprises providing the contextually relevant informational element in a format allowing the component to present the contextually relevant informational element as at least one of a list, a grid, a queue, a stack, a carousel, an overlay, or any combination thereof.

21. The method of claim 19, wherein the component is at least one of an internet searching application, a mapping application a calendar application, a tasks application, a notes application, a contacts application, or any combination thereof.

22. The method of claim 13, wherein modifying the functionality further comprises presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

23. The method of claim 13, wherein the component is a user interface, and the method further comprising detecting at least one of powering up of the communications device, waking up the communications device from a sleep state, unlocking a lock screen, or any combination thereof.

24. The method of claim 13, wherein the contextually relevant informational element is at least one of a location associated with a user, a time of day, a day of the week, an activity associated with the user, a level of user interaction with the communications device, a user'"'"'s recent interaction with the communications device, an available resource associated with the communications device, a sensor output associated with the communications device, a battery life value associated with the communications device, news relevant to the user, an item scheduled in a calendar application, weather information, traffic information, a proximity value of the communications device to another device, a proximity value of the communications device to another user, server derived content, or any combination thereof.

25. The method of claim 22, wherein the presenting further comprises presenting the contextually relevant informational element in a dynamic suggestive manner.

26. The method of claim 25, wherein presenting in the dynamic suggestive manner further comprises:

determining a relevance to the user of the contextually relevant informational element; and

presenting the contextually relevant informational element based on the determined relevance to the user.

27. The method of claim 26, wherein the presenting the contextually relevant informational element based on the determined relevance to the user comprises at least one of:

using a different font;

using a different font size;

using a different font color;

using a different graphical icon;

using another form of user interface indication including at least one of flashing text, graphics, or any combination thereof;

using of a vibration motor for tactile feedback;

positioning the contextually relevant informational element in a comparatively more prominent location of the user interface, or any combination thereof.

28. The method of claim 25, wherein presenting in the dynamic suggestive manner further comprises positioning the contextually relevant informational element on the user interface in a first portion of the user interface, and wherein the first portion of the user interface is different than a second portion of the user interface used to display a non-contextually relevant informational element.

29. An apparatus for communications, comprising:

means for predicting an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element; and

means for modifying a functionality of a component of a communications device based on the predicted event occurrence.

30. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for predicting the event occurrence further comprises:

means for detecting a modification to the attribute within a first threshold period of time;

means for determining a first pattern associated with the detected modification to the attribute;

means for searching the enriched user profile for a second pattern associated with a second attribute within a matching threshold of the first pattern;

means for determining an event associated with the second attribute; and

means for using the event associated with the second attribute as the predicted event occurrence.

31. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for predicting further comprises means for predicting availability of a second bearer at a first time wherein the second bearer is different than a current bearer;

and

wherein the means for modifying further comprises at least one of means for delaying a download of a content item until the first time, means for pre-fetching a content item prior to the first time, or any combination thereof.

32. The apparatus of claim 29, wherein the means for interpreting the enriched user profile further comprises means for determining a contextually relevant informational element associated with the detected component.

33. The apparatus of claim 32, wherein the means for modifying the functionality further comprises means for presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

34. A computer program product, comprising:

a computer-readable medium comprising;

at least one instruction for causing a computer to predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to modify a functionality of a component of a communications device based on the predicted event occurrence.

35. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to detect a modification to the attribute within a first threshold period of time;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine a first pattern associated with the detected modification to the attribute;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to search the enriched user profile for a second pattern associated with a second attribute within a matching threshold of the first pattern;

at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine an event associated with the second attribute; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to use the event associated with the second attribute as the predicted event occurrence.

36. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises:

at least one instruction for causing the computer to predict availability of a second bearer at a first time wherein the second bearer is different than a current bearer; and

at least one instruction for causing the computer to delay a download of a content item until the first time, pre-fetch a content item prior to the first time, or any combination thereof.

37. The computer program product of claim 34, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises at least one instruction for causing the computer to determine a contextually relevant informational element associated with the detected component.

38. The computer program product of claim 37, wherein the computer-readable medium further comprises code for presenting the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

39. An apparatus for communications, comprising:

an informational element prediction module configured to;

predict an event occurrence by interpreting an enriched user profile including an attribute and an enhanced informational element; and

modify a functionality of a component of a communications device based on the predicted event occurrence.

40. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the component is at least one of an application associated with the communications device, a sensor associated with the communications device, a hardware component associated with the communications device, or any combination thereof.

41. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the attribute include a user specific informational element, and wherein the user specific informational element is at least one of a user interest, place information, location information, communications device sensor derived data, communications device hardware derived data, a user characteristic, user demographics information, a browser history, application usage history, a call history, a communications device background activity, traffic utilization data, a communications device charge level, a communications device charge state, user input, or any combination thereof.

42. The apparatus of claim 41, wherein each user specific informational elements comprises at least one of a contextual sub-element, a non-contextual sub-element, or any combination thereof.

43. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the contextual sub-element is at least one of a location associated with a user, a time of day, a day of the week, an activity associated with the user, a level of user interaction with the communications device, a user'"'"'s recent interaction with the communications device, an available resource associated with the communications device, a sensor output associated with the communications device, a battery life value associated with the communications device, news relevant to the user, an item scheduled in a calendar application, weather information, traffic information, a proximity value of the communications device to another device, a proximity value of the communications device to another user, or server derived content, or any combination thereof.

44. The apparatus of claim 42, wherein the non-contextual sub-element is at least one of a user'"'"'s gender, the user'"'"'s age, another device associated with the user, the user'"'"'s media interest, the user'"'"'s financial information, the user'"'"'s game interest, an association with a second user, or the user'"'"'s profession, or any combination thereof.

45. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to:

detect a modification to the attribute within a first threshold period of time;

determine a first pattern associated with the detected modification to the attribute;

search the enriched user profile for a second pattern associated with a second attribute within a matching threshold of the first pattern;

determine an event associated with the second attribute; and

use the event associated with the second attribute as the predicted event occurrence.

46. The apparatus of claim 45, wherein the attribute comprises a plurality of user specific informational elements, and wherein the first pattern comprises a temporal sequence of occurrences of at least two of the plurality of the user specific informational elements.

47. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to:

predict availability of a second bearer at a first time wherein the second bearer is different than a current bearer; and

at least one of delay a download of a content item until the first time, or pre-fetch a content item prior to the first time, or any combination thereof.

48. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to predict at least one of availability of a charging source, or active usage of the communications device, or any combination thereof.

49. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to modify timing associated with activation of at least one of a sleep mode, screen dimming, a screen shutoff, or any combination thereof.

50. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to modify the functionality of an application operating in a background mode.

51. The apparatus of claim 39, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to determine a contextually relevant informational element associated with the detected component.

52. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to provide the determined contextually relevant informational element to the detected component as a suggested entry.

53. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to provide the suggested entry in a format allowing the detected component to present the suggested entry as at least one of a list, a grid, a queue, a stack, a carousel, an overlay, or any combination thereof.

54. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to predict a first time associated with the event occurrence, and wherein the modifying further comprises providing the contextually relevant informational element to the component at the first time.

55. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to predict a first time associated with the event occurrence, wherein the component is a mapping application, and wherein the contextually relevant informational element is a location for display by the mapping application at the first time.

56. The apparatus of claim 52, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to predict a first time associated with the event occurrence, wherein the component is a calendar application, and wherein the contextually relevant informational element is an entry for display by the calendar application associated with the first time.

57. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to provide the determined contextually relevant informational element to the detected component prior to an input by a user.

58. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to provide the contextually relevant informational element in a format allowing the component to present the contextually relevant informational element as at least one of a list, a grid, a queue, a stack, a carousel, an overlay, or any combination thereof.

59. The apparatus of claim 57, wherein the component is at least one of an internet searching application, a mapping application, a calendar application, a tasks application, a notes application, a contacts application, or any combination thereof.

60. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to present the contextually relevant informational element on a user interface.

61. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the component is a user interface, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to detect at least one of powering up of the communications device, waking up the communications device from a sleep state, unlocking a lock screen, or any combination thereof.

62. The apparatus of claim 51, wherein the contextually relevant informational element is at least one of a location associated with a user, a time of day, a day of the week, an activity associated with the user, a level of user interaction with the communications device, a user'"'"'s recent interaction with the communications device, an available resource associated with the communications device, a sensor output associated with the communications device, a battery life value associated with the communications device, news relevant to the user, an item scheduled in a calendar application, weather information, traffic information, a proximity value of the communications device to another device, a proximity value of the communications device to another user, server derived content, or any combination thereof.

63. The apparatus of claim 60, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to present the contextually relevant informational element in a dynamic suggestive manner.

64. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to:

determine a relevance to the user of the contextually relevant informational element; and

present the contextually relevant informational element based on the determined relevance to the user.

65. The apparatus of claim 64, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to perform at least one of:

use a different font;

use a different font size;

use a different font color;

use a different graphical icon;

use another form of user interface indication including at least one of flashing text, graphics, or any combination thereof;

use of a vibration motor for tactile feedback;

position the contextually relevant informational element in a comparatively more prominent location of the user interface, or any combination thereof.

66. The apparatus of claim 63, wherein the informational element prediction module is further configured to position the contextually relevant informational element on the user interface in a first portion of the user interface, wherein the first portion of the user interface is different than a second portion of the user interface used to display a non-contextually relevant informational element.