Acquisition and particular association of data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user

• US 8,086,563 B2
• Filed: 07/29/2008
• Issued: 12/27/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2008
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Original Assignee: The Invention Science Fund I, L.L.C. (Intellectual Ventures LLC)
• Inventors: Jung, Edward K. Y., Leuthardt, Eric C., Levien, Royce A., Lord, Robert W., Malamud, Mark A., Rinaldo, John D. Jr., Wood, Lowell L. Jr.
• Primary Examiner(s): LEROUX, ETIENNE PIERRE
• Application Number:
  US12/221,253
• Publication Number:
  US 20090292733A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,246 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/10, 707/608, 709/206
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/011 Emotion or mood input determined on the basis of sensed human body parameters such as pulse, heart rate or beat, temperature of skin, facial expressions, iris, voice pitch, brain activity patterns
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of an authoring user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, and associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the authoring user with the particular item. In addition to the foregoing, other method aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message comprises;

determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user, wherein said determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user is performed via at least one of the machine, the article of manufacture, or the composition of matter, wherein said determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user comprises;

observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item is performed via at least one of the machine, the article of manufacture, or the composition of matter, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises;

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one systemic physiological characteristic associated with the user, wherein said sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one systemic physiological characteristic associated with the user comprises;

 

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the user; and

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item.

2. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

inferring a mental state of the user based, at least in part, on the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said inferring a mental state of the user based, at least in part, on the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item is performed via at least one of the machine, the article of manufacture, or the composition of matter.

3. The computationally-implemented method of claim 2, wherein said inferring a mental state of the user based, at least in part, on the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

inferring a mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said inferring a mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item is performed via at least one of the machine, the article of manufacture, or the composition of matter.

4. The computationally-implemented method of claim 2, wherein said inferring a mental state of the user based, at least in part, on the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

inferring a mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of frustration, a state of approval or disapproval, a state of trust, a state of fear, a state of happiness, a state of surprise, a state of inattention, a state of arousal, a state of impatience, a state of confusion, a state of distraction, a state of overall mental activity, a state of alertness, or a state of acuity during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said inferring a mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of frustration, a state of approval or disapproval, a state of trust, a state of fear, a state of happiness, a state of surprise, a state of inattention, a state of arousal, a state of impatience, a state of confusion, a state of distraction, a state of overall mental activity, a state of alertness, or a state of acuity during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item is performed via at least one of the machine, the article of manufacture, or the composition of matter.

5. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one cerebral characteristic associated with the user.

6. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one cardiopulmonary characteristic associated with the user.

7. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration associated with the user.

8. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least a characteristic connected with electrical activity of a brain associated with the user.

9. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, eye movement, or iris dilation associated with the user.

10. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, one or more physical characteristics of the user in a response associated with a functional magnetic resonance imaging procedure on the user.

11. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, one or more physical characteristics of the user in a response associated with a functional near infrared procedure on the user.

12. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message comprises:

acquiring with the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user a time stamp associated with observing of one or more physical characteristics of the user.

13. The computationally-implemented method of claim 12, wherein said acquiring with the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user a time stamp associated with observing of one or more physical characteristics of the user comprises:

acquiring with the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user a time stamp associated with the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user, the time stamp corresponding with a time stamp associated with an action performed by the user and connected to the particular item.

14. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message comprises:

acquiring an indication of an action performed by the user in connection with the particular item.

15. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user.

16. The computationally-implemented method of claim 15, wherein said including into the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user comprises:

including into the particular item or proximate to a location of the particular item in the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user.

17. The computationally-implemented method of claim 15, wherein said including into the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user comprises:

including into the electronic message a time stamp associated with the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user, the time stamp corresponding to a time stamp associated with an action performed by the user in connection with the particular item.

18. The computationally-implemented method of claim 15, wherein said including into the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user comprises:

including into the electronic message an identifier to the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user.

19. The computationally-implemented method of claim 15, wherein said including into the electronic message the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

20. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of an inferred mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

21. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of an inferred mental state of the user indicating that the user was in at least one of a state of frustration, a state of approval or disapproval, a state of trust, a state of fear, a state of happiness, a state of surprise, a state of inattention, a state of arousal, a state of impatience, a state of confusion, a state of distraction, a state of overall mental activity, a state of alertness, or a state of acuity during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

22. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based on at least one cerebral characteristic of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

23. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based on at least one cardiopulmonary characteristic of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

24. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based on at least one systemic physiological characteristic of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

25. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration of the user sensed during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

26. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain of the user sensed during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

27. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on electrical activity of a brain associated with the user.

28. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, eye movement, or iris dilation of the user sensed during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

29. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on data obtained in response to a functional magnetic resonance imaging procedure or a functional near infrared procedure performed on the user during or proximate to the action in connection with the particular item.

30. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on data obtained in response to a magnetoencephalography (MEG) procedure or an electroencephalography (EEG) procedure performed on the user during or proximate to the action in connection with the particular item.

31. The computationally-implemented method of claim 19, wherein said including into the electronic message data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user that was obtained based, at least in part, on one or more physical characteristics of the user sensed during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

including into the electronic message an indication of an action in connection with the particular item and performed, at least in part, by the user.

32. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item comprises:

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item in response to a request by the user.

33. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item comprises:

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item in response to a transmission of the electronic message.

34. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item comprises:

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item in response to a storing of the electronic message.

35. The computationally-implemented method of claim 1, wherein said associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item comprises:

associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item in response to an action in connection with the particular item and performed, at least in part, by the user.

36. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, wherein said means for acquiring data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message comprises;

means for determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user, wherein said means for determining the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user comprises;

means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises;

means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the means for user in connection with the particular item, at least one systemic physiological characteristic associated with the user, wherein said means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the means for user in connection with the particular item, at least one systemic physiological characteristic associated with the user comprises;

 

means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the user; and

means for associating the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item.

37. The computationally-implemented system of claim 36, wherein said means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

means for inferring a mental state of the user based, at least in part, on the observing of the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item.

38. The computationally-implemented system of claim 36, wherein said means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item at least one cerebral characteristic associated with the user.

39. The computationally-implemented system of claim 36, wherein said means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least a characteristic connected with electrical activity of a brain associated with the user.

40. The computationally-implemented system of claim 36, wherein said means for observing the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item comprises:

means for sensing, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, one or more physical characteristics of the user in a response associated with a functional near infrared procedure on the user.

41. A system, comprising:

an acquisition module configured to acquire data indicative of an inferred mental state of a user in connection with at least a particular item of an electronic message, wherein said acquisition module comprises;

a determination module configured to determine the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user based on one or more physical characteristics of the user, wherein said determination module comprises;

an observation module configured to observe the one or more physical characteristics of the user during or proximate to an action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, wherein said observation module comprises;

a sensing module configured to sense, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one systemic physiological characteristic associated with the user, wherein said sensing module comprises;

 

a sensing module configured to sense, during or proximate to the action performed, at least in part, by the user in connection with the particular item, at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the user; and

an association module configured to associate the data indicative of the inferred mental state of the user with the particular item.