IP Library Granted Patent US 10,135,782
Granted Patent B2
US 10,135,782 · App. 14/744,531 · Granted Nov 20, 2018

Determining close contacts using communication data

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 10,135,782
App. No.
14/744,531
Granted
Nov 20, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

One embodiment provides a method including: accessing, using a processor, communication data received at an electronic device of a first entity; identifying, using a processor, a communication between the first entity and a second entity; determining, using a processor, a strength of the communication between the first entity and the second entity; determining, using a processor, a directionality of the communication between the first entity and the second entity; and assigning, using a processor, the second entity as a close contact of the first entity based on the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication. Other aspects are described and claimed.

Claims (43)

1. A method, comprising:

accessing, using a processor, communication data received at an electronic device of a first entity;

identifying, using a processor, a communication relationship between the first entity and a second entity, wherein a communication relationship comprises a relationship having at least one communication between the first entity and the second entity;

determining, using a processor, a strength of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity;

determining, using a processor, a directionality of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity; and

assigning, based on the identified communication relationship, the second entity as a close contact of the first entity based on the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a directionality of the communication comprises identifying a communication sent by the first entity to the second entity.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein determining a directionality of the communication comprises identifying bi-directional communication.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a directionality of the communication comprises calculating a ratio of communications between the first entity and the second entity.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising identifying a type of relationship based upon the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein the identifying comprises using a thematic analysis technique.

7. The method of claim 5 , wherein the type of relationship is selected from the group consisting of: work, personal, transient, and association.

8. The method of claim 1 , further comprising permitting access to the close contact to at least one other application associated with the electronic device.

9. The method of claim 1 , further comprising storing the close contact on a device separate from the electronic device.

10. The method of claim 1 , wherein the communication between the first entity and the second entity comprises data selected from the group consisting of: email, message, video message, social media, and voice call.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the determining a strength comprises determining a level of communication between the first entity and the second entity.

12. An information handling device, comprising:

a receiver that receives communications;

a display that displays the communications;

a processor;

a memory device that stores instructions executable by the processor to:

access communication data received at an electronic device of a first entity;

identify a communication relationship between the first entity and a second entity, wherein a communication relationship comprises a relationship having at least one communication between the first entity and the second entity;

determine a strength of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity;

determine a directionality of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity; and

assign, based on the identified communication relationship, the second entity as a close contact of the first entity based on the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication.

13. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein to determine a directionality of the communication comprises identifying a communication sent by the first entity to the second entity.

14. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein to determine a directionality of the communication comprises identifying bi-directional communication.

15. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein to determine a directionality of the communication comprises calculating a ratio of communications between the first entity and the second entity.

16. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to identify a type of relationship based upon the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication.

17. The information handling device of claim 16 , wherein to identify comprises using a thematic analysis technique.

18. The information handling device of claim 16 , wherein the type of relationship is selected from the group consisting of: work, personal, transient, and association.

19. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to permit access to the close contact to at least one other application associated with the electronic device.

20. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein the instructions are further executable by the processor to store the close contact on a device separate from the electronic device.

21. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein to determine a strength comprises determining a level of communication between the first entity and the second entity.

22. The information handling device of claim 12 , wherein to determine a strength comprises determining that an amount of communication between the first entity and the second entity exceeds a threshold.

23. A product, comprising:

a storage device that stores code executable by a processor, the code comprising:

code that accesses communication data received at an electronic device of a first entity;

code that identifies a communication relationship between the first entity and a second entity, wherein a communication relationship comprises a relationship having at least one communication between the first entity and the second entity;

code that determines a strength of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity;

code that determines a directionality of the communication relationship between the first entity and the second entity; and

code that assigns, based on the identified communication relationship, the second entity as a close contact of the first entity based on the strength of the communication and directionality of the communication.

Assignments (3)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 10, 2025
From: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
To: LENOVO SWITZERLAND INTERNATIONAL GMBH
Reel/Frame 069870/0670 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 8, 2019
From: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
To: LENOVO PC INTERNATIONAL LIMITED
Reel/Frame 049694/0001 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 19, 2015
From: WALTERMANN, ROD D.; ACQUESTA, ERIN CAROLYN SOLFIELL
To: LENOVO (SINGAPORE) PTE. LTD.
Reel/Frame 035868/0006 →