Online social network handle type ahead enhancement

• US 8,903,926 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2012
• Issued: 12/02/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bastide, Paul R., Broomhall, Matthew E., Loredo, Robert E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Joo, Joshua
• Application Number:
  US13/471,029
• Publication Number:
  US 20130304827A1
• Time in Patent Office: 932 Days
• Field of Search: 709/206, 709/224
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Determining a correct user with whom to communicate, e.g., the correct intended recipient of an electronic message in electronic communications. In one aspect, an unintended recipient may identify the message as unintended. In another aspect, a time lapse in response or lack of response from the recipient may flag an unintended recipient. Using a likeness algorithm, users related to the recipient is identified and the message may be sent to those identified related users.

Claims

1. A method for determining an intended recipient of an electronic message, comprising:

detecting, by a processor, a flag associated with the electronic message sent to a recipient that indicates that the recipient is not the intended recipient;

identifying a first user related to the recipient based on a likeness algorithm;

sending the electronic message to the first user;

if the first user does not respond within a predetermined time or responds by setting the flag that the first user is not the intended recipient;

identifying a second user related to the first user based on the likeness algorithm,

sending the electronic message to the second user,

if the second user responds to the electronic message indicating that the second user is the intended recipient;

determining the second user as the intended recipient, and

updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the second user;

if the first user responds to the electronic message indicating that the first user is the intended recipient;

determining the first user as the intended recipient, and

updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the flag is set by the recipient.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flag is set automatically by the processor based on an expiration of time for receiving a response from the recipient.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the first user includes notifying the sender of the identifier of the first user as the intended recipient.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the second user includes notifying the sender of the identifier of the second user as the intended recipient.

6. The method of claim 1, further including updating a history of sent messages to include the intended recipient as a correct recipient of the electronic message.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying a first user includes identifying a plurality of first users, and the sending the electronic message to the first user includes sending the electronic message to the plurality of first users.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the electronic message is sent to the plurality of first users one at a time or the electronic message is sent to the plurality of first users all at once.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the identifying a second user includes identifying a plurality of second users, and the sending the electronic message to the second user includes sending the electronic message to the plurality of second users.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the electronic message is sent to the plurality of second users one at a time or the electronic message is sent to the plurality of second users all at once.

11. The method of claim 1, further including:

requesting a permission from the sender to send the electronic message to the first user before the step of sending the electronic message to the first user;

or

requesting a permission from the sender to send the electronic message to the second user before the step of sending the electronic message to the second user;

or

combination thereof.

12. The method of claim 1, further including determining whether the electronic message includes confidential information and if the electronic message includes confidential information, the electronic message is not sent to the first user and the second user.

13. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing a program of instructions executable by a machine to perform a method of determining an intended recipient of an electronic message, comprising:

detecting, by a processor, a flag associated with the electronic message sent to a recipient that indicates the recipient is not the intended recipient;

identifying a first user related to the recipient based on a likeness algorithm;

sending the electronic message to the first user;

if the first user does not respond within a predetermined time or responds by setting the flag that the first user is not the intended recipient;

identifying a second user related to the first user based on the likeness algorithm,

sending the electronic message to the second user,

if the second user responds to the electronic message indicating that the second user is the intended recipient;

determining the second user as the intended recipient, and

updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the second user;

if the first user responds to the electronic message indicating that the first user is the intended recipient;

determining the first user as the intended recipient, and

updating automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the first user.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the flag is set by the recipient.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the flag is set automatically by the processor based on an expiration of time for receiving a response from the recipient.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further including updating a history of sent messages to include the intended recipient as a correct recipient of the electronic message.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 13, further including alerting the sender of a need to change the recipient of the electronic message before rerouting the electronic message to the first user.

18. A system for determining an intended recipient of an electronic message, comprising:

a processor;

a routing agent module operable to execute on the processor and further detect a flag associated with the electronic message sent to a recipient that indicates the recipient is not the intended recipient;

the routing agent module further operable to identify a first user related to the recipient based on a likeness algorithm, send the electronic message to the first user, and if the first user does not respond within a predetermined time or responds by setting the flag that the first user is not the intended recipient, the routing agent module further operable to identify a second user related to the first user based on the likeness algorithm, send the electronic message to the second user, and if the second user responds to the electronic message indicating that the second user is the intended recipient, the routing agent module further operable to determine the second user as the intended recipient, and update automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the second user, and if the first user responds to the electronic message indicating that the first user is the intended recipient, the routing agent module further operable to determine the first user as the intended recipient, and update automatically the electronic message to include an identifier of the first user.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the flag is set by the recipient.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the flag is set automatically by the processor based on an expiration of time for receiving a response from the recipient.