Representation, decision models, and user interface for encoding managing preferences, and performing automated decision making about the timing and modalities of interpersonal communications
First Claim
1. A method to facilitate optimal communications, comprising:
- operating at least one processor to perform a method comprising;
providing at least one first user interface and at least one second user interface;
receiving, via the at least one first user interface;
user input designating at least one group, each group comprising at least one person, and a priority associated with each of the at least one group;
user input defining a plurality of busyness states and, for each of the busyness states, context information that indicates when the contactee is in the busyness state;
user input defining a first subset of policies that indicates processing of communications attempts from a contactor to the contactee based on a context state of the contactee comprising a busyness state of the plurality of busyness states of the contactee and a priority of a group containing the contactor;
user input defining a second subset of policies that relate to a first channel of communication for contacting the contactee, a first plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the first channel of communication, and a first routing sequence of alternative channels of communications associated with the first channel of communication and the first plurality of context settings of the contactee; and
user input defining a third subset of policies that relate to the first channel of communication, a second plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the first channel of communication, and a second routing sequence of alternative channels of communications associated with the first channel of communication and the second plurality of context settings of the contactee;
receiving via the at least one second user interface;
user input defining a list of preferences of the contactor comprising a third channel of communication and a third routing sequence of alternative channels of communications based on a context of the contactor;
identifying correlation between the first subset of policies, the second subset of policies, the third subset of policies, the context state of the contactee, the list of preferences of the contactor and the context of the contactor; and
when a communication attempt using a channel of communication selected based on the identified correlation has failed, selecting an alternative channel of communications from the first routing sequence, the second routing sequence, or the third routing sequence based on the identified correlation.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a system and methodology providing a user interface that can be employed by contactors and contactees in conjunction with a communications architecture for identifying and establishing an optimal communication based on preferences, capabilities, contexts and goals of the parties to engage in the communication. The user interface can include a graphical display having a plurality of display objects and associated input fields operable by one or more parties to a communication in order to facilitate convenient access, control, personalization and communications via the communications architecture. For example, configuration capabilities are provided in the user interface to enable operational adjustments to one or more operating parameters, communications groupings, policies and/or context preferences relating to a preferred modality of communication and to potential parties of communication between the contactors and contactees. User interface controls are also provided for defining deterministic policies and for encoding preferences for cost-benefit analyses.
197 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A method to facilitate optimal communications, comprising:
operating at least one processor to perform a method comprising; providing at least one first user interface and at least one second user interface; receiving, via the at least one first user interface; user input designating at least one group, each group comprising at least one person, and a priority associated with each of the at least one group; user input defining a plurality of busyness states and, for each of the busyness states, context information that indicates when the contactee is in the busyness state; user input defining a first subset of policies that indicates processing of communications attempts from a contactor to the contactee based on a context state of the contactee comprising a busyness state of the plurality of busyness states of the contactee and a priority of a group containing the contactor; user input defining a second subset of policies that relate to a first channel of communication for contacting the contactee, a first plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the first channel of communication, and a first routing sequence of alternative channels of communications associated with the first channel of communication and the first plurality of context settings of the contactee; and user input defining a third subset of policies that relate to the first channel of communication, a second plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the first channel of communication, and a second routing sequence of alternative channels of communications associated with the first channel of communication and the second plurality of context settings of the contactee; receiving via the at least one second user interface; user input defining a list of preferences of the contactor comprising a third channel of communication and a third routing sequence of alternative channels of communications based on a context of the contactor; identifying correlation between the first subset of policies, the second subset of policies, the third subset of policies, the context state of the contactee, the list of preferences of the contactor and the context of the contactor; and when a communication attempt using a channel of communication selected based on the identified correlation has failed, selecting an alternative channel of communications from the first routing sequence, the second routing sequence, or the third routing sequence based on the identified correlation. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method to facilitate dynamic communications between parties, comprising:
operating at least one processor to perform a method comprising; generating a first list of preferences of a contactor of the parties comprising a first modality of the communications and a first plurality of alternative modalities of the communications based on a first context of the contactor; generating a second list of preferences of a contactee of the parties comprising a second modality of the communication for contacting the contactee, second context settings of the contactee associated with the second modality of the communications, and a second plurality of alternative modalities of the communications associated with the second modality of the communication and the second context settings of the contactee and a gesture that is shared between parties when at least one communication via a modality between the parties has been attempted and has failed, wherein the gesture indicates capabilities of the contactee regarding accepting communications; generating a third list of preferences of the contactee comprising the second modality of the communication, third context settings of the contactee associated with the second modality of the communications, and a third plurality of alternative modalities of the communications associated with the second modality of the communication and the third context settings of the contactee; and analyzing the first list of preferences, the second list of preferences, the gesture and the third list of preferences to identify correlation between the first list of preferences, the second list of preferences or the third list of preferences based on the first context, the second context settings and the third context settings; in response to the at least one failed communication, determining one or more alternative modalities of communications, based on the identified correlation; and displaying the one or more alternative modalities of communications to the contactee and the contactor. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A system, comprising at least one processor, to facilitate optimal communications between parties, the system comprising:
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the at least one processor that accepts user input for defining a subset of policies that relate to communications attempts by contactors and contactees using a channel of communication; a routing component that routes communications to alternative channels of communication based on a first context of a contactor and a second context of a contactee; a first component that receives, via the at least one processor, user input from the contactor indicating a first list of preferences of the contactor comprising a first channel of the communication and a first plurality of alternative channels of the communication based on the first context; a second component that receives, via the at least one processor, user input from the contactee indicating; a second list of preferences of the contactee comprising a second channel of the communication for contacting the contactee, a second plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the second channel of communication and a second plurality of alternative channels of the communication associated with the second channel of communication and the second plurality of context settings, a third list of preferences of the contactee comprising the second channel of the communication, a third plurality of context settings of the contactee associated with the second channel of communication and a third plurality of alternative channels of the communication associated with the second channel of the communication and the third plurality of context settings, and a gesture indicating capabilities of the contactee regarding accepting communications that is shared between the parties when communications have been attempted; an analyzing component that analyzes the first list of preferences, the second list of preferences or the third list of preferences, the gesture, the first context, and the second context to select the preferred channel of communication between the contactor and the contactee and one or more alternative modalities of communication between the contactor and the contactee; and a communication establishing component that communicates to the contactor of the parties the one or more alternative modalities of communications comprising the alternative channels of communication when the attempted communications using the preferred channel of communication have failed, wherein the one or more alternative modalities are ranked in accordance with their values to the contactor and the contactee. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16)
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Specification