IP Library Granted Patent US 7,289,949
Granted Patent B2
US 7,289,949 · App. 10/266,180 · Granted Oct 30, 2007

Method for routing electronic correspondence based on the level and type of emotion contained therein

Assignee: Right Now Technologies, Inc.
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 7,289,949
App. No.
10/266,180
Granted
Oct 30, 2007
Kind
B2
Abstract

A system, method, and computer program product for determining the emotional content of an electronic correspondence to route or prioritize the information, to set the expectations of a customer support worker, to flag those workers who are using inappropriate language with the customer, or to determine another best course to send the correspondence. In a preferred embodiment, a customer sends an electronic correspondence to a company via email. Emotionally charged words or symbols in each sentence are detected. The message is then given an emotional ranking which is used to determine what future action is most appropriate for the correspondence.

Claims (12)

1. A method for routing electronic correspondence to personnel or entity having a potential interest in the emotional content of the words or symbols within said electronic correspondence, said method comprising:

receiving said electronic correspondence;

analyzing said electronic correspondence to determine an emotional ranking for said correspondence;

assigning an emotional value to said electronic correspondence using a reference data structure, wherein said emotional value is reflective of both positive and negative emotions;

providing a time-scaled weighting average of a plurality of emotional ranking values of said electronic correspondence, to more accurately reflect recent emotions of the originator of said electronic correspondence; and

routing said electronic correspondence to one of said personnel or entity more likely having said potential interest without substantially modifying the contents thereof for further action based on said emotional ranking.

2. A method in a computing environment for routing an electronic correspondence based on the level and type of information contained within the electronic correspondence, the method comprising:

parsing said electronic correspondence;

assigning one or more values to portions of said electronic correspondence;

utilizing said one or more values to provide an emotional ranking for said electronic correspondence;

providing a time-scaled weighting average of a plurality of emotional ranking values of said electronic correspondence, to more accurately reflect recent emotions of the originator of said electronic correspondence; and

routing said electronic correspondence to personnel having an interest in taking action based on said correspondence as a result of said emotional ranking without substantially modifying the contents thereof.

Assignments (4)
MERGER Recorded Oct 31, 2012
From: RIGHTNOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: ORACLE OTC SUBSIDIARY LLC
Reel/Frame 029218/0025 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE INVENTOR'S NAME FROM GRET GIANFORTE TO GREG GIANTFORTE PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 013373 FRAME 0601. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE INVENTOR'S NAME IS GREG GIANFORTE. Recorded May 10, 2012
From: WARNER, DOUGLAS K.; RICHTER, JAMES NEAL; DURBIN, STEPHEN D.; GIANFORTE, GREG
To: RIGHTNOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 028188/0166 →
REASSIGNMENT AND RELEASE OF SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Sep 9, 2005
From: COMERICA BANK
To: RIGHTNOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 016512/0329 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 7, 2002
From: WARNER, DOUGLAS K.; RICHTER, JAMES NEAL; DURBIN, STEPHEN D.; GIANFORTE, GRET
To: RIGHTNOW TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 013373/0601 →
Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 6032798800 · Oct 9, 2001
Related Publication 20030069936A1 · Apr 10, 2003