1. Field of the Invention
The present application relates to on-line communication; in particular, the present invention relates to a method for a user to limit receiving unwanted or unwelcome on-line communications using a market-based method.
2. Discussion of the Related Art
Often, services that allow users to contact each other on-line have problems with unwanted communication, also known as “spam.” Spam has been a problem on email networks, in instant messaging networks and in the newer social networks. In many of these services, the service provider uses a variety of techniques to determine whether or not communication is wanted. Some of these techniques are known as “spam filters”. These techniques have achieved various levels of success in the past.
According to one embodiment of the present invention, one technique for limiting unwanted communication uses a market mechanism, such as a currency system. In such a system, when one user or member of a network desires to communicate with a second member of the network, the first member is required to use this currency. One implementation provides this currency as “communication points” or CP.
In one embodiment, a system allows any member of the network to contact any other member of the network using CPs. The requirement of CPs for this contact represents a real cost to the initiator, and thus limits the spread of spam which proliferation depends on the fact that it is virtually free to the initiator. Such a cost becomes especially important when strangers are allowed to contact each other on such networks, but one may also use this mechanism to limit communications from another member when one cannot spend the time for such communication (e.g., when one is busy).
The present invention is better understood upon consideration of the detailed description in the following.
According to one embodiment of the invention, the communication points (CP) system may involve various subtle mechanisms to ensure that unwanted communications are kept to a minimum, while at the same time the cost imposed does not unduly or excessively limit desired, justifiable communication.
In one implementation, the CP system takes advantage of the fact that, in various forms of communication, the first contact in some time period (e.g., the first contact of the day) is readily distinguishable from further contacts in that same time period. Thus, in an instant messaging network, for example, the first instant message (IM) may cost the sender one (1) CP, but if the recipient responds (i.e., the initial message was well-received), further messages between the initiator and the recipient during an immediately following time period (e.g., next half-hour) may be free of charge. The initial cost of contact may be determined through filtering of messages flowing between the initiator and the recipient by an artificial intelligence program using factors such as, likelihood to respond by the recipient, which is in turn based on such factors as availability, average probability of responding, and a match between the initiator and the recipient. The match is determined based on, for example, their relative positions in a contact graph, their geographical proximity, the desirability of the initiator in other conversations, how busy the recipient is, how many recent messages the initiator has sent to the recipient without receiving back a response, how often the initiator has been blocked in making other contacts, and the time of day.
A similar approach may be used to admitting a member to participate in a discussion group (e.g., a public chat). Relevant consideration for assessing a number of CPs for the initiator to participate in the discussion includes: the identities of others in the discussions, the topic being discussed, and how often the initiator has been labeled as off topic. Various techniques, including machine learning techniques, can be applied to assess whether the content of a message is relevant or off-topic.
Alternatively, in such a network, a user may maintain a list of approved contacts. When a contact appears on an approved contact list, the contact may communicate with the owner of the approved contact list free of charge. In some embodiments, the system may require more CPs for certain forms of communication that are deemed more intrusive that others (e.g., voice calls). For example, in one embodiment, in addition to text communication, users can place audio and video calls, and send and receive photos and audio messages. Less intrusive communications (e.g., text messages) may require less CPs. Also, different costs can be charged for public messaging than private messaging, if it is desirable to encourage public messaging. Likewise, group messages or group calls may cost even more CPs, because such communication forms reach more recipients, and can potentially affect more people.
To seed such a system, a user may be given a daily allotment of a predetermined amount of CPs, and may be allowed to supplement his CP holdings by purchase. Such purchase may require use of a real-life currency (e.g., U.S. dollars). The daily allotment of CPs that a user may get may depend on a variety of factors. Some of the factors may relate to the demand by others to speak to that user. For example, the daily CP allotment to that user may depend on the user's contacts on the network and on other networks (e.g., how the user relates to other users in a connected graph). The CP allotment not only depends on the number of the user's contacts, but also the number of people who view that user as being distinguished or trustworthy on these networks. The demand for speaking with a user should roughly commensurate with the number of people who are willing to accept or respond to communication initiated by that user, and how often the user's broadcast messages are tagged. In addition, the number of CPs required to contact a given user may also depend on such factors, mirroring the fact that users who are in higher demand (for communication) in a market system will naturally have higher equilibrium prices than users who are in lesser demand. Further, a user should be granted extra CPs for willingness to reveal socially relevant personal information, e.g., employment, education, email domains the user has access to, and geographical location. A provider may provide a user a premium account type that grants a higher allotment of daily CPs when that user has demonstrated a greater trustworthiness (e.g., the user has been granted credit by a trusted source). A review system may be created for reviewing reports regarding a user's unwelcomed communication (e.g., harassing messages). An unfavorable review may result in a decrease of the user's daily CP allotment.
According to one aspect of this system, the initiator's costs of CPs should not be reimbursable by the respondent (i.e., the user to whom the communication is directed), as reimbursement introduces an incentive for a spammer to continuously harass the recipient to recover his “lost” CPs. The cost incurred in communicating with someone must be real, even in CPs; the cost consideration forces the initiator of a communication to seriously consider whether or not such communication may be reciprocated by the recipient, to avoid expending valuable resources (e.g., the CPs) in initiating the communication that could otherwise be more gainfully spent elsewhere. It is precisely because of such cost consideration that unwanted communication will be reduced under this system, as the initiator is forced to consider whether or not the communication is worth the CP cost incurred. Thus, a traditional market mechanism is used to control or avoid abuse of a valuable resource in communication systems (i.e., other people's time, a public good).
The above detailed description is provided to illustrate specific embodiments of the present invention and is not intended to be limiting. Numerous variations and modifications within the scope of the present invention are possible. The present invention is set forth in the following claims.
The present application is related to and claims priority of U.S. Provisional Patent Application (“Copending Provisional Patent Application”), Ser. No. 61/639,726, entitled “Method and System for Limiting Unwanted On-line Communication,” filed on Apr. 27, 2012. The Copending Provisional Patent Application is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
Number | Date | Country | |
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61639726 | Apr 2012 | US |