Automated bulk communication responder

• US 7,359,948 B2
• Filed: 12/21/2004
• Issued: 04/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Energetic Power Investment Limited
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Lewin, Matthew E., Ralston, Geoffrey D., Jayachandran, Ravichandran Menon, Woods, Brian R., Manber, Udi, Nakayama, David H.
• Primary Examiner(s): Jean; Frantz B.
• Application Number:
  US11/019,839
• Publication Number:
  US 20050172213A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,211 Days
• Field of Search: 709204-207, 707 3- 6, 715/752, 379/88.22
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/212 using filtering or selective blocking

Abstract

The invention relates to processing similar electronic text communication. In one step, a first electronic and a second electronic submission, that are part of a plurality of electronic submissions, are received. A first portion is extracted from the first electronic submission and a second portion from the second electronic submission. Content of the first electronic submission influences extraction of the first portion and content of the second electronic submission influences extraction of the second portion. Locations for the first and second portions could vary with content. A first code is determined for the first portion and a second code for the second portion, where the first code is indicative of the first portion and the second code is indicative of the second portion. The first code to the second code are compared to associate the first and second electronic submission together.

Claims

1. A method for processing similar electronic text communication, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a first electronic and a second electronic submission that are part of a plurality of electronic submissions;

extracting a first portion from the first electronic submission and a second portion from the second electronic submission, wherein content of the first electronic submission influences extraction of the first portion and content of the second electronic submission influences extraction of the second portion, whereby locations for the first and second portions vary with content;

determining a first code for the first portion and a second code for the second portion, wherein the first code is indicative of the first portion and the second code is indicative of the second portion;

comparing the first code to the second code;

associating the first and second electronic submissions in response to comparing the first code to the second code; and

modifying a threshold based on content of the second electronic submission.

2. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of presenting the first and second electronic submissions as part of a group.

3. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, further comprising a step of determining the first and second electronic submissions pertain to a same subject in response to the associating step.

4. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, wherein the first portion is extracted from visible text in the first electronic submission.

5. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, the method further comprising steps of:

modifying a count in response to the comparing of the first code with the second code;

determining if the count reaches the threshold;

comparing a third code associated with a third message; and

filtering the third message if the third code matches the second code.

6. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, wherein each of the first and second codes is represented in less bits than a corresponding portion.

7. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 1, wherein the first and second electronic submissions are chosen from the group consisting of a complaint message, a political message, a customer service message, and a false-positive spam detection message.

8. The method for processing similar electronic text communications as recited in claim 1, wherein the method for processing comprises computer-executable instructions provided in a computer-readable storage medium.

9. A method for processing similar electronic text communication, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a first electronic submission;

extracting a first portion from the first electronic

submission, wherein content of the first electronic submission influences extraction of the first portion;

determining at least a first code for the first portion, wherein the first code is indicative of the first portion;

receiving a second electronic submission;

extracting a second portion from the second electronic submission;

determining at least a second code for the second portion, wherein the second code is indicative of the second portion;

comparing the first code with the second code;

modifying a count in response to the comparing of the first code with the second code;

determining if the count reaches a threshold; and

grouping submissions similar to the first electronic submission in response to determining if the count reaches the threshold.

10. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 9, wherein content of the second electronic submission influences extraction of the second portion.

11. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 9, further comprising a step of determining submissions similar to the first electronic submission pertain to a same subject in response to the grouping step.

12. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 9, wherein the first and second codes are each a number represented in a same number of bits.

13. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 9, wherein each of the first and second codes is represented in less bits than a corresponding portion.

14. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 9, wherein the method for processing comprises computer-executable instructions provided in a computer-readable storage medium.

15. A method for processing similar electronic text communication, the method comprising:

receiving a first electronic submission;

extracting a first plurality of portions from the first electronic submission, wherein content of the first electronic submission influences extraction of the first plurality of portions;

determining a first plurality of codes for the first plurality of portions, wherein each of the first plurality of codes is indicative of its respective portion;

receiving a second electronic submission;

extracting a second plurality of portions from the second electronic submission;

determining a second plurality of codes for the second plurality of portions, wherein each of the second plurality of codes is indicative of its respective portion;

comparing the first plurality of codes with the second plurality of codes;

modifying a count in response to the comparing of the first plurality of codes with the second plurality of codes;

determining if the count reaches a threshold; and

grouping similar electronic submissions in response to determining if the count reaches the threshold.

16. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 15, wherein content of the second electronic submission influences extraction of the second plurality of portions.

17. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 15, further comprising a step of recognizing similar electronic submissions pertain to a same subject in response to the grouping step.

18. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 15, wherein the comparing the first plurality of codes with a second plurality of codes comprises determining if a percentage of the first plurality of codes exactly matches one of the second plurality of codes.

19. The method for processing similar electronic text communication as recited in claim 15, further comprising a step of interrupting the first-listed extracting step when the first plurality of portions reaches a predetermined count.

20. The method for processing similar electronic text communications as recited in claim 15, wherein the method for processing comprises computer-executable instructions provided in a computer-readable storage medium.