User classification based on data gathered from a computing device

• US 9,208,215 B2
• Filed: 12/27/2012
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/27/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lookout Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Lookout Incorporated
• Inventors: Mahaffey, Kevin, Buck, Brian James, Nguyen, Thomson Van
• Primary Examiner(s): HICKS, MICHAEL J
• Application Number:
  US13/728,189
• Publication Number:
  US 20140188886A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,076 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/173 Customisation support for file systems, e.g. localisation, multi-language support, personalisation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1734 Details of monitoring file system events, e.g. by the use of hooks, filter drivers, logs
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/285 Clustering or classification
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/904 Browsing; Visualisation therefor for navigating the web G06F16/954; browsing optimisation for the web G06F16/957
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9535 Search customisation based on user profiles and personalisation

Abstract

Data regarding user actions on a user device is gathered from the user device (and/or from another computing device) by a server. The data is analyzed to make a decision. The decision is sent by the server to the user device (e.g., directly or via another computing device) and then used by the user device to implement a new action on the user device. This process may be automatically repeated in order to provide real-time customization of the user device.

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

storing, in a data repository, a plurality of user categories including a first user category, wherein at least one action is associated with each of the user categories, including a first action associated with the first user category, and wherein the first action is a function to be implemented on computing devices of users in the first user category;

receiving, by a server, over a network, first data gathered by software on a computing device of a user, wherein the first data comprises a plurality of user actions performed by the user on the computing device;

receiving, by the server, second data gathered from a source other than the computing device, the second data including network traffic information for the user;

determining, by the server, a score associated with each of the plurality of user categories, including determining, based at least on the network traffic information, a first score associated with the first user category;

analyzing, by at least one processor of the server, the first data and the second data to provide an output decision based on a determination that the user is in the first user category; and

sending, by the server, over the network, the output decision and the first score to the computing device of the user, thereby enabling the computing device to make a local decision based on the first score whether to implement the first action on the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the software is a first application, and the first action is for a second application on the computing device.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the function has been stored on the computing device prior to the gathering of the first data by the software.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending the function to the computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the sending of the output decision is performed after the receiving the first data.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the output decision is a first output decision, and the method further comprising:

receiving third data gathered by the software on the computing device, wherein the third data comprises at least one user action performed by the user on the computing device;

analyzing the third data to provide a second output decision; and

sending the second output decision to the computing device for implementing a second action on the computing device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device stores a predetermined threshold value for comparison to the first score.

8. A system, comprising:

a data repository storing a plurality of user categories including a first user category, and further storing at least one action associated with each of the user categories, including a first action associated with the first user category, wherein the first action is a function to be implemented on computing devices of users in the first user category;

at least one processor; and

memory storing instructions configured to instruct the at least one processor to;

receive, by a server, over a network, first data gathered by software on a first computing device of a user, wherein the first data comprises at least one user action performed by the user on the first computing device;

receive, by the server, second data gathered from a source other than the first computing device, the second data comprising network traffic information for the user;

determine, by the server, a score associated with each of the plurality of user categories, including determining, based at least on the network traffic information, a first score associated with the first user category;

analyze, using a user classification model, the first data and the second data to classify the user into the first user category; and

in response to classifying the user into the first user category, send the first action and the first score to the first computing device, thereby enabling the first computing device to make a local decision based on the first score whether to implement the first action on the first computing device.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the first score is a probability value or a confidence value.

10. The system of claim 8, wherein the sending of the first action is conditional on a comparison of the first score to a threshold value.

11. The system of claim 8, wherein the instructions are further configured to instruct the at least one processor to:

receive a selection from the user to adjust the user classification model, the selection provided by the user on a user interface of the first computing device; and

adjust the user classification model based on the selection.

12. The system of claim 8, wherein the decision is based at least on a comparison of the first score to a threshold value stored on the first computing device.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing computer-readable instructions, which when executed, cause a computing device of a user to:

gather, via at least one processor, first data on the computing device, wherein the first data comprises at least one user action performed by the user on the computing device;

send, over a network, the first data to a server configured to classify the user into a first user category of a plurality of user categories stored at the server in a data repository, wherein the classifying is based on analysis of the first data and network traffic information for the user gathered and received from a source other than the computing device, the data repository includes at least one action corresponding to the first user category, and the at least one action includes a function to be implemented on computing devices of users in the first user category;

receive, from the server, based on a determination that the user is in the first category, the at least one action and a first score associated with the first user category, wherein the first score is based at least on the network traffic information, and the first score is one of a plurality of scores stored on the server, each of the plurality of scores associated with a respective one of the plurality of user categories; and

implement, via the at least one processor, the at least one action on the computing device, wherein the at least one action is implemented in response to a decision, made locally by the computing device, based on the first score.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the instructions further cause the computing device to present, on a display of the computing device, a user interface to the user, the user interface comprising a first user interface element.

15. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the implementing the at least one action comprises updating the user interface.

16. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 15, wherein the updating the user interface comprises adding a second user interface element.

17. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first user interface element is a first user input field, and the second user interface element is a second user input field.

18. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 14, wherein the at least one user action is performed by the user via the user interface.

19. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the first data is gathered by software running on the computing device, and the gathering the first data begins after installation of the software on the computing device.

20. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the decision comprises a comparison of the first score to a threshold value stored in memory of the computing device.