Determination of extent of congruity between observation of authoring user and observation of receiving user

• US 8,380,658 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2011
• Issued: 02/19/2013
• 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): DINH, KHANH Q
• Application Number:
  US12/931,359
• Publication Number:
  US 20110208014A1
• Time in Patent Office: 754 Days
• Field of Search: 709/203, 709/220, 709/226, 709/228, 707/100
• US Class Current: 707/608
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0013 Medical image data A61B1/00011, A61B6/56, A61B8/56 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising

Abstract

A computationally implemented method includes, but is not limited to: acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user; acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user; comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user; and presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing. In addition to the foregoing, other related method/system aspects are described in the claims, drawings, and text forming a part of the present disclosure.

Claims

1. A computationally-implemented method, comprising:

acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user;

acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the results of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more second sensing devices, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user;

comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user, wherein said comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user is performed via at least one of a machine, article of manufacture, or composition of matter; and

presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing.

2. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

means for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user;

means for acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the result of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with means for sensing, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user;

means for comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user; and

means for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing, wherein at least one of the means for acquiring, means for comparing, or means for presenting data is at least partially implemented using hardware.

3. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user comprises:

means for receiving the result of the observation of the authoring user through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network.

4. The computationally-implemented system of claim 3, wherein said means for receiving the result of the observation of the authoring user through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network comprises:

means for receiving the result of the observation of the authoring user via an email message or via an instant message (IM).

5. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user comprises:

means for receiving mental state information associated with the authoring user.

6. The computationally-implemented system of claim 5, wherein said means for receiving mental state information associated with the authoring user comprises:

means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication.

7. The computationally-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication comprises:

means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration associated with the authoring user.

8. The computationally-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication comprises:

means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, or iris dilation associated with the authoring user.

9. The computationally-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication comprises:

means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the authoring user.

10. The computationally-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication comprises:

means for receiving mental state information associated with functional magnetic resonance imaging data.

11. The computationally-implemented system of claim 6, wherein said means for receiving mental state information that was inferred from one or more sensed physical characteristics of the authoring user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to an authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication, the means for receiving being configured to receive both the mental state information and the authored electronic communication comprises:

means for receiving mental state information associated with functional near infrared data.

12. The computationally-implemented system of claim 5, wherein said means for receiving mental state information associated with the authoring user comprises:

means for receiving mental state information indicating that the authoring user was in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain.

13. The computationally-implemented system of claim 5, wherein said means for receiving mental state information associated with the authoring user comprises:

means for receiving mental state information indicating that the authoring 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, or a state of happiness.

14. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user comprises:

means for receiving a result of an observation of the authoring user that was made, at least in part, during or proximate to a composition of an email message or an instant message (IM) by the authoring user, the email message or the IM directed to the receiving user.

15. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the result of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with means for sensing, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user comprises:

means for determining mental state information associated with the receiving user.

16. The computationally-implemented system of claim 15, wherein said means for determining mental state information associated with the receiving user comprises:

means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user.

17. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein said means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the user includes:

means for determining mental state information based on at least one of galvanic skin response, heart rate, blood pressure, or respiration associated with the receiving user.

18. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein said means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user includes:

means for determining mental state information based on at least one of facial expression, skin characteristic, voice characteristic, or iris dilation associated with the receiving user.

19. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein said means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user includes:

means for determining mental state information based on at least one of blood oxygen or blood volume changes of a brain associated with the receiving user.

20. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein said means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user includes:

means for determining mental state information by performing a functional magnetic resonance image procedure.

21. The computationally-implemented system of claim 16, wherein said means for determining mental state information based, at least in part, on one or more sensed physical characteristics of the receiving user, the one or more sensed physical characteristics having been sensed by a means for sensing during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user includes:

means for determining mental state information based on a performed functional near infrared procedure.

22. The computationally-implemented system of claim 15, wherein said means for determining mental state information associated with the receiving user comprises:

means for determining mental state information indicating that the receiving user was in at least one of a state of anger, a state of distress, or a state of pain.

23. The computationally-implemented system of claim 15, wherein said determining mental state information associated with the receiving user comprises:

means for determining mental state information indicating that the receiving 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, or a state of happiness.

24. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the result of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with means for sensing, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user comprises:

means for determining a result of the observation of the receiving user that was made, at least in part, during or proximate to a presentation of an email message or an instant message (IM) of the authoring user, the email message or the IM directed to the receiving user.

25. The computationally-implemented system of claim 24, wherein said means for determining a result of the observation of the receiving user that was made, at least in part, during or proximate to a presentation of an email message or an instant message (IM) of the authoring user, the email message or the IM directed to the receiving user comprises:

means for determining a result of an observation of the receiving user that was made, at least in part, during or proximate to a composition of an email message or an instant message (IM) of the receiving user responsive to the email message or the IM of the authoring user.

26. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user comprises:

means for comparing an inferred mental state of the authoring user with an inferred mental state of the receiving user.

27. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to the receiving user through at least one application.

28. The computationally-implemented system of claim 27, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to the receiving user through at least one application comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the extent of the congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to the receiving user via an email application or via an instant message (IM) application.

29. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to a third party participant through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network.

30. The computationally-implemented system of claim 29, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to a third party participant through at least one of a wireless network or a wired network comprises:

means for presenting data indicative of the extent of the congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user to the third party participant via an email message or via an instant message (IM).

31. The computationally-implemented system of claim 2, wherein said means for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing comprises:

means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user.

32. The computationally-implemented system of claim 31, wherein said means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user comprises:

means for displaying a first icon indicative of an inferred mental state of the authoring user in proximity with a second icon indicative of an inferred mental state of the receiving user.

33. The computationally-implemented system of claim 31, wherein said means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user comprises:

means for displaying a first number indicative of an inferred mental state of the authoring user in proximity with a second number indicative of an inferred mental state of the receiving user.

34. The computationally-implemented system of claim 31, wherein said means for displaying at least one symbolic representation indicative of the extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user comprises:

means for displaying at least one number indicative of a matching between an inferred mental state of the authoring user and an inferred mental state of the receiving user.

35. A computationally-implemented system, comprising:

circuitry for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user that were made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user;

circuitry for acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the result of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with circuitry for sensing, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user;

circuitry for comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user; and

circuitry for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing.

36. A computer program product comprising:

a non-transitory computer storage medium bearing

(a) one or more instructions for acquiring a result of an observation of an authoring user, the result of the observation of the authoring user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more first sensing devices, the observation of the authoring user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the authoring user made during or proximate to authoring by the authoring user of an electronic communication to a receiving user;

(b) one or more instructions for acquiring a result of an observation of a receiving user, the result of the observation of the receiving user having been acquired, at least in part, with one or more second sensing devices, the observation of the receiving user having included one or more observations of one or more physical characteristics of the receiving user that were made during or proximate to a display of the electronic communication to the receiving user;

(c) one or more instructions for comparing the result of the observation of the authoring user with the result of the observation of the receiving user; and

(d) one or more instructions for presenting data indicative of an extent of congruity between the result of the observation of the authoring user and the result of the observation of the receiving user based at least in part on said comparing.