Method and apparatus for time adaptation of online services to user behavior

• US 9,088,493 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2014
• Issued: 07/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: WSOU Investments, LLC (WSOU Holdings, LLC)
• Original Assignee: Nokia Technologies Oy (Nokia Corporation)
• Inventors: Ahola, Tom Mikael
• Primary Examiner(s): HIGA, BRENDAN Y
• Application Number:
  US14/198,267
• Publication Number:
  US 20140189111A1
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: 709206-207, 709223-224
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 43/0876 Network utilisation, e.g. volume of load or congestion level
• 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 67/62 Establishing a time schedule for servicing the requests
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/63 Routing a service request depending on the request content or context

Abstract

An approach is provided for time adaption of online services. Timing information relating to usage by a user of one or more online services is retrieved. A pattern of consistent usage is determined from the timing information. Scheduling information is generated for transmission of a message based on the determined pattern.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving a request from at least one of one or more online services to transmit a message to a user of the one or more online services;

collecting timing information relating to usage by the user from a platform configured to provide the one or more online services, wherein the timing information is associated with a login of the user with one of the one or more online services;

determining, by a processor, a pattern of consistent usage from the timing information, wherein the pattern reflects usage of at least one of the one or more online services and transmission availability of a message; and

generating scheduling information for transmission of the message to the user, based on the determined pattern of consistent usage and a consistency of the determined pattern of consistent usage, wherein the message is associated with the one or more online services.

2. A method of claim 1, wherein the timing information comprises data points of time values, the method further comprising:

selecting a set of the data points representing recent usage by the user; and

filtering the selected set of data points according to criteria,

wherein the pattern is determined at least in part based on the filtered set of data points.

3. A method of claim 1, wherein the timing information comprises data points of time values, the method further comprising:

categorizing the data points into a first group of data points and a second group of data points; and

determining a group pattern for each of the first group and the second group,

wherein the scheduling information is based on the group patterns.

4. A method of claim 3, further comprising:

determining a group consistency for each of the first group and the second group, wherein the scheduling information is further based on the group consistencies;

scheduling a time to initiate transmission of the message corresponding to the scheduling information; and

initiating transmission of the message based on the scheduled time to a user equipment of the user.

5. An apparatus comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory including computer program code,

the at least one memory and the computer program code configured to, with the at least one processor, cause the apparatus to perform at least the following,

receive a request from at least one of one or more online services to transmit a message to a user of the one or more online services;

collect timing information relating to usage by the user from a platform configured to provide the one or more online services, wherein the timing information is associated with a login of the user with one of the one or more online services;

determine a pattern of consistent usage from the timing information, wherein the pattern reflects usage of at least one of the one or more online services and transmission availability of a message; and

generate scheduling information for transmission of the message to the user, based on the determined pattern of consistent usage and a consistency of the determined pattern of consistent usage, wherein the message is associated with one or more online services.

6. An apparatus of claim 5, wherein the timing information comprises data points of time values, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

select a set of the data points representing recent usage by the user; and

filter the selected set of data points according to criteria,

wherein the pattern is determined at least in part based on the filtered set of data points.

7. An apparatus of claim 5, wherein the timing information comprises data points of time values, and wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

categorize the data points into a first group of data points and a second group of data points; and

determine a group pattern for each of the first group and the second group, wherein the scheduling information is based on the group patterns.

8. An apparatus of claim 5, wherein the apparatus is further caused to:

determine a group consistency for each of the first group and the second group, wherein the scheduling information is further based on the group consistencies;

schedule a time to initiate transmission of the message corresponding to the scheduling information; and

initiate transmission of the message based on the scheduled time to a user equipment of the user.