Sampling responses to communication content for use in analyzing reaction responses to other communications

• US 7,137,070 B2
• Filed: 06/27/2002
• Issued: 11/14/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Smith, Newton James Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hailu, Tadesse
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tan, Alvin H
• Application Number:
  US10/185,117
• Publication Number:
  US 20040001086A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 715522-524, 715/528, 715/529, 715/536, 715/539, 715/540, 726/22, 704 9- 10
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A method, system, and program for sampling responses to communication content for use in analyzing reaction responses to other communications are provided. Responses specified by a user to varying portions of the content of a communication are gathered. These specified responses are then stored in a database according to the types of content responded to, wherein the stored responses are then accessible for use in determining reaction responses by the user in another communication comprising at least one of the types of content. In particular, the communication may include sample content to which a response is requested. Further, the communication may include a proposed communication or a transmitted communication.

Claims

1. A method for anticipating responses to communication content, comprising:

delivering, by using at least one messaging server that provides electronic communication service over a network to at least one particular recipient, a plurality of electronic messages from a plurality of separate senders to said particular recipient, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic messages is a non-sample content message;

receiving, at said messaging server, at least one actual response specified by said particular recipient to at least one separate type of content for each of said plurality of electronic messages by detecting a separate graphical display attribute selected by said particular recipient to associate with each said at least one separate type of content within a display of each of said plurality of electronic messages, wherein each said separate graphical attribute represents at least one separate type of response from among a plurality of types of responses;

storing, in a database, said at least one actual response to said at least one separate type of content specified by said particular recipient through each said separate graphical display attribute; and

,

enabling said messaging server to detect a proposed communication request from a particular sender for said particular recipient and to return to said particular sender anticipated responses of said particular recipient to said proposed communication request determined from a selection of said stored actual responses associated with at least one of said separate type of content appearing within said proposed communication request.

2. The method for sampling responses to communication content according to claim 1, wherein said non-sample content comprises at least one of text, an icon, a video image, a graphical image, a sound, and an avatar gesturing.

3. The method for sampling responses to communication content according to claim 1, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic messages comprises a sample content message designed to elicit a response, wherein said sample content comprises at least one of a survey, a poll, an advertisement, a document, and a pamphlet.

4. A system for sampling responses to communication content, comprising:

a messaging system communicatively connected to a network, wherein said messaging system provides electronic communication delivery service over said network to at least one particular recipient;

said messaging system further comprising;

means for delivering a plurality of electronic messages from a plurality of separate senders to said particular recipient, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic messages is a non-sample content message;

means for receiving at least one actual response specified by said particular recipient to at least one separate type of content for each of said plurality of electronic messages by detecting a separate graphical display attribute selected by said particular recipient to associate with each said at least one separate type of content within a display of each of said plurality of electronic messages, wherein each said separate graphical attribute represents at least one separate type of response from among a plurality of types of responses;

means for storing, in a database, said at least one actual response to said at least one separate type of content specified by said particular recipient through each said separate graphical display attribute; and

,

means for detecting a proposed communication request from a particular sender for said particular recipient and returning to said particular sender anticipated responses of said particular recipient to said proposed communication request determined from a selection of said stored actual responses associated with at least one of said separate type of content appearing within said proposed communication request.

5. The system for sampling responses to communication content according to claim 4, wherein said non-sample content comprises at least one of text, an icon, a video image, a graphical image, a sound, and an avatar gesturing.

6. The system for sampling responses to communication content according to claim 4, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic messages comprises a sample content message designed to elicit a response, wherein said sample content comprises at least one of a survey, a poll, an advertisement, a document, and a pamphlet.

7. A computer program product for sampling responses to communication content, comprising:

a recording storage medium;

means, recorded on said recording storage medium, for delivering, by at least one messaging server that provides electronic communication service over a network to at least one particular recipient, a plurality of electronic messages from a plurality of separate senders to said particular recipient, wherein at least one of said plurality of electronic messages is a non-sample content message;

means, recorded on said recording storage medium, for receiving, at said messaging server, at least one actual response specified by said particular recipient to at least one separate type of content for each of said plurality of electronic messages by detecting a separate graphical display attribute selected by said particular recipient to associate with each said at least one separate type of content within a display of each of said plurality of electronic messages, wherein each said separate graphical attribute represents at least one separate type of response from among a plurality of types of responses;

means, recorded on said recording storage medium, for storing, in a database, said at least one actual response to said at least one separate type of content specified by said particular recipient through each said separate graphical display attribute; and

,

means, recorded on said recording storage medium, for enabling said messaging server to detect a proposed communication request from a particular sender for said particular recipient and to return to said particular sender anticipated responses of said particular recipient to said proposed communication request determined from a selection of said stored actual responses associated with at least one of said separate type of content appearing within said proposed communication request.