Electronic notification delivery mechanism selection based on recipient presence information and notification content

• US 7,363,345 B2
• Filed: 12/17/2002
• Issued: 04/22/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/27/2002
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Meta Platforms, Inc. (f/k/a Facebook, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: AOL LLC (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dellecave, Thomas Louis Jr., Austin-Lane, Christopher Emery
• Primary Examiner(s): Kang; Paul H.
• Application Number:
  US10/320,712
• Publication Number:
  US 20040044736A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,953 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/202, 709/219, 709/205, 709/204, 709/209, 709/318, 709/207, 709/224, 709/238, 370/338, 705/37
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• 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: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

Delivering an electronic notification to an intended recipient may include communicating an electronic notification directed to an intended recipient, and determining presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the notification to the intended recipient. A cascaded delivery instruction also may be resolved based on notification information. The presence information and the cascaded delivery instruction may be used to select among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient based on the presence information, and to deliver the electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected delivery mechanism. The presence information may include an online presence and/or a physical presence of the intended recipient.

Claims

1. A notification system that delivers an electronic notification to an intended recipient, the system comprising:

a communication module configured to communicate a machine-generated first electronic notification directed to an intended recipient and a machine-generated second electronic notification directed to the intended recipient, the first electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first type of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first type of event, and the second electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first type of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first type of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance;

a presence module configured to determine presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the first notification and the second notification to the intended recipient;

a selection module configured to;

select, based on the presence information and the first subject matter, a first delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient, and

select, based on the presence information and the second subject matter, a second delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient, the second delivery mechanism being different than the first delivery mechanism; and

a delivery module configured to;

deliver the first electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected first delivery mechanism, and

deliver the second electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected second delivery mechanism.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information includes information related to online presence of the intended recipient at a time at which the selection module is preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

3. The system of claim 2 wherein the information related to the online presence of the intended recipient includes information indicating that the intended recipient is logged onto an online service at a time at which the selection module is preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

4. The system of claim 2 wherein the information related to the online presence of the intended recipient includes information indicating that the intended recipient is connected to an online service at a time at which the selection module is preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

5. The system of claim 2 wherein the information related to the current online presence of the intended recipient includes information indicating a delivery mechanism associated with the online presence of the intended recipient at a time at which the selection module is preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the presence information includes information indicating that the intended recipient physically is present within a predefined range of one or more of the delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient at a time at which the selection module is preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

7. The system of claim 1 further comprising a cascaded instruction module configured to select a cascaded delivery instruction that is appropriate for the intended recipient based on notification information.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein the cascaded delivery instruction lists several delivery mechanisms, and wherein the selection module is further configured to use the presence information to select a delivery mechanism from within the cascaded delivery instruction that appears available to provide the first electronic notification to the user without significant delay.

9. The system of claim 8 wherein at least one of the several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient is a mobile client, and wherein the mobile client is selected as the first delivery mechanism based on the cascaded delivery instruction.

10. The system of claim 8 wherein the notification information comprises information related to a preference of the intended recipient.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises a preferred first delivery mechanism.

12. The system of claim 11 wherein at least one of the several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient is a mobile client, and the preferred first delivery mechanism comprises the mobile client.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises a preferred delivery precedence.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises information describing a quiet time.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises a preferred priority of the first electronic notification.

16. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of event comprises a stock alert.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the first subject matter comprises a change in value of a first particular stock and the second subject matter comprises a change in value of a second particular stock that is different than the first particular stock.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of event comprises an auction alert.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein the first subject matter comprises a change in value of a bid on an item in a first particular auction and the second subject matter comprises a change in value of a bid on an item in a second particular auction that is different than the first particular auction.

20. The method of claim 1, wherein the first type of event comprises a birthday reminder or an anniversary reminder.

21. The method of claim 20, wherein the first subject matter comprises a notice that a birthday or an anniversary of a first particular person is upcoming and the second subject matter comprises a notice that a birthday or an anniversary of a second particular person is upcoming.

22. A system for selecting a mechanism to be used for delivering an electronic communication, the system comprising:

a determination module configured to determine actual availability of an intended recipient presently to receive a machine-generated first electronic communication using a first candidate delivery mechanism and determine actual availability of the intended recipient to receive a machine-generated second electronic communication using a second candidate delivery mechanism different from the first candidate delivery mechanism, the determination occurring before attempting to deliver the first electronic communication using the first candidate delivery mechanism and before attempting to deliver the second electronic communication using the second candidate delivery mechanism, the first electronic communication being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first type of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first type of event, and the second electronic communication being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first type of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first type of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance; and

a decision module configured to;

decide whether to send the first electronic communication using the first candidate delivery mechanism based on the first subject matter, and the actual availability determined for receiving the first electronic communication, and decide whether to send the second electronic communication using the second candidate delivery mechanism based on the second subject matter, and the actual availability determined for receiving the second electronic communication.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the determination module is configured further to determine the actual availability of the intended recipient to receive the first electronic notification based on an activity of the intended recipient.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the determination module is configured further to determine the actual availability of the intended recipient to receive the first electronic notification based on a behavior of the intended recipient.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the determination module is configured further to determine the actual availability of the intended recipient to receive the first electronic notification based on a physical presence of the intended recipient.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein the determination module is configured further to determine the actual availability of the intended recipient to receive the first electronic notification based on an online presence of the intended recipient.

27. A computer-implemented method of delivering an electronic notification to an intended recipient, the method comprising:

configuring a communication module to communicate a machine-generated first electronic notification directed to an intended recipient and a machine-generated second electronic notification directed to the intended recipient, the first electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first type of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first type of event, and the second electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first type of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first type of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance;

configuring a presence module to determine presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the first notification and the second notification to the intended recipient;

configuring a selection module to;

select a first delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient based on the presence information and the first subject matter and

select a second delivery mechanism different from the first delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient based on presence information and the second subject matter; and

configuring a delivery module to;

deliver the first electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected first delivery mechanism, and

deliver the second electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected second delivery mechanism.

28. The method of claim 27 wherein determining the presence information includes determining information related to online presence of the intended recipient when preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

29. The method of claim 28 wherein determining the information related to the online presence of the intended recipient includes determining information indicating that the intended recipient is logged onto an online service when preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

30. The method of claim 28 wherein determining the information related to the online presence of the intended recipient includes determining information indicating that the intended recipient is connected to an online service when preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

31. The method of claim 29 wherein determining the information related to the online presence of the intended recipient includes determining information indicating a delivery mechanism associated with the online presence of the intended recipient when preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

32. The method of claim 27 wherein determining the presence information includes determining information indicating that the intended recipient physically is present within a predefined range of one or more of the delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient when preparing to select the first delivery mechanism from among the several delivery mechanisms potentially available to the intended recipient.

33. The method of claim 27 further comprising configuring a cascaded instruction module to resolve a cascaded delivery instruction that is appropriate for the intended recipient based on notification information.

34. The method of claim 33 wherein configuring the selection module to deliver the electronic notification further comprises configuring the selection module to resolve the cascaded delivery instruction to include several delivery mechanisms and to use the presence information to select a delivery mechanism from within the cascaded delivery instruction that appears available to provide the first electronic notification to the user without significant delay.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein at least one of the delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient is a mobile client, and wherein the mobile client is selected as the first delivery mechanism based on the cascaded delivery instruction.

36. The method of claim 34 wherein the notification information comprises information related to a preference of the intended recipient.

37. The method of claim 36 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises a preferred first delivery mechanism.

38. The method of claim 37 wherein at least one of the several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient is a mobile client, and the preferred first delivery mechanism comprises the mobile client.

39. The method of claim 36 wherein the preference of the intended recipient comprises a preferred delivery precedence.

40. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium for delivering an electronic notification to an intended recipient, the computer program comprising:

a notification delivery code segment that causes a computer to;

receive a machine-generated first electronic notification directed to an intended recipient and a machine-generated second electronic notification directed to the intended recipient, the first electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first type of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first type of event, and the second electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first type of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first type of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance;

determine presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the first notification and the second notification to the intended recipient,

deliver the first electronic notification to the intended recipient, at a first delivery mechanism associated with the intended recipient, based on the presence information and the first subject matter, and

deliver the second electronic notification to the intended recipient, at a second delivery mechanism associated with the intended recipient that is different than the first delivery mechanism, based on the presence information and the second subject matter; and

an access service code segment that causes the computer to enable communication between the notification delivery code segment and the intended recipient to yield a distinct access revenue.

41. A computer-implemented method for selecting a mechanism to be used for delivering an electronic communication, the method comprising:

determining actual availability of an intended recipient presently to receive a machine-generated first electronic communication using a first candidate delivery mechanism and determining actual availability of the intended recipient to receive a machine-generated second electronic notification using a second candidate delivery mechanism different from the first candidate delivery mechanism, the determination occurring before attempting to deliver the first electronic communication using the first candidate delivery mechanism and before attempting to deliver the second electronic communication using the second candidate delivery mechanism, the first electronic communication being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first type of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first type of event, and the second electronic communication being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first type of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first type of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance;

deciding whether to send the first electronic communication using the first candidate delivery mechanism based on the first subject matter and the actual availability determined for receiving the first electronic communication, and

deciding whether to send the second electronic communication using the second candidate delivery mechanism based on the second subject matter and the actual availability determined for receiving the second electronic communication.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein determining the actual availability of the intended recipient comprises determining an availability of the intended recipient based on an activity of the intended recipient.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein determining the actual availability of the intended recipient comprises determining an availability of the intended recipient based on a behavior of the intended recipient.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein determining the actual availability of the intended recipient comprises determining an availability of the intended recipient based on a physical presence of the intended recipient.

45. The method of claim 41 wherein determining the actual availability of the intended recipient comprises determining an availability of the intended recipient based on an online presence of the intended recipient.

46. A computer-implemented method for delivering an electronic notification to an intended recipient, the method comprising:

receiving an electronic notification that is assigned a message priority level and that is directed to an intended recipient;

determining presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the notification to the intended recipient;

determining a first time interval corresponding to an interval of time during which the intended recipient chooses to receive electronic notifications over a delivery mechanism without regard to the message priority level;

determining a second time interval related to the intended recipient that is different than the first time interval, the second time interval corresponding to an interval of time during which the intended recipient chooses to not receive electronic notifications over the delivery mechanism unless the message priority level assigned to the electronic notifications is higher than a first predetermined threshold; and

determining whether to deliver the electronic notification over the delivery mechanism to the intended recipient based on the presence information, the first time interval, the second time interval, and the message priority level of the electronic notification.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein the message priority level is selected from a group consisting of urgent priority and normal priority.

48. The method of claim 47 wherein determining whether to deliver the electronic notification to the intended recipient comprises determining to not deliver the electronic notification if the message priority level is normal priority and the time of delivery falls within the second time interval.

49. The method of claim 47 wherein determining whether to deliver the electronic notification to the intended recipient comprises determining to deliver the electronic notification if the message priority level is urgent priority and the time of delivery falls within the second time interval.

50. The method of claim 46 further comprising configuring a selection module to select among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient based on the presence information and a subject matter communicated by the electronic notification.

51. The method of claim 46 wherein the second time interval comprises a quiet time interval.

52. The method of claim 46, wherein the second time interval is specified by the intended recipient.

53. The method of claim 46, wherein the first time interval is a first interval of time within a day and the second time interval is a second interval of time within the same day.

54. The method of claim 46, wherein determining whether to deliver the electronic notification over the delivery mechanism to the intended recipient includes:

determining a proposed time of delivery of the electronic notification;

comparing the proposed time of delivery to the first time interval and the second time interval;

comparing the message priority level to the first predetermined threshold;

conditioned on the proposed time of delivery being within the first time interval, delivering the electronic notification to the delivery mechanism at the proposed time of delivery; and

conditioned on the proposed time of delivery being within the second time interval,

delivering the electronic notification to the delivery mechanism at the proposed time of delivery conditioned on the message priority level being higher than the first predetermined threshold, and

not delivering the electronic notification to the delivery mechanism at the proposed time of delivery conditioned on the message priority level not being higher than the first predetermined threshold.

55. A notification system that delivers an electronic notification to an intended recipient, the system comprising:

a communication module configured to commumeate a machine-generated first electronic notification directed to an intended recipient and a machine-generated second electronic notification directed to the intended recipient, the first electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of a first class of event and a first subject matter associated with a first particular instance of the first class of event, and the second electronic notification being configured to inform the intended recipient of occurrence of the first class of event and a second subject matter associated with a second particular instance of the first class of event, the second subject matter being different than the first subject matter and the second particular instance being different than the first particular instance;

a presence module configured to determine presence information associated with the intended recipient before attempting to deliver the first notification and the second notification to the intended recipient;

a selection module configured to;

select, based on the presence information and the first subject matter, a first delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient, and

select, based on the presence information and the second subject matter, a second delivery mechanism from among several delivery mechanisms potentially available for the intended recipient, the second delivery mechanism being different than the first delivery mechanism; and

a delivery module configured to;

deliver the first electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected first delivery mechanism, and

deliver the second electronic notification to the intended recipient at the selected second delivery mechanism.

56. The method of claim 55 wherein the first class of event comprises an alert and the first subject matter comprises stock.

57. The method of claim 56 wherein the second subject matter comprises weather or an auction.

58. The method of claim 55 wherein the first class of event comprises an alert and the first subject matter comprises weather or an auction.

59. The method of claim 55 wherein the first class of event comprises a reminder and the first subject matter compnses an anniversary.

60. The method of claim 59 wherein the second subject matter comprises a birthday.

61. The method of claim 55 wherein the first class of event comprises a reminder and the first subject matter comprises a birthday.