IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,977,832
Granted Patent B2
US 9,977,832 · App. 14/844,203 · Granted May 22, 2018

Electronic personal assistant privacy

Inventors: Eli M. Dow (Poughkeepsie, NY); James P. Gilchrist (Poughkeepsie, NY); Steven K. Schmidt (Essex Junction, VT); Charles J. Stocker, IV (Plainsboro, NJ)
Assignee: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
G06F17/30864G06F21/6245H04L63/04H04L63/0421H04L63/20H04M1/72522
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,977,832
App. No.
14/844,203
Granted
May 22, 2018
Kind
B2
Abstract

A method comprises receiving a first user communication, accessing a directory entry associated with the user, accessing, by a processor, a database stored in a memory that includes content designated as private that is associated with the user in the directory, determining with the processor whether the first user communication includes content designated as private that is associated with the user, generating a second user communication by removing the content designated as private that is associated with the user from the first user communication, and sending the second user communication to an electronic personal assistant.

Claims (28)

1. A method comprising:

receiving a first user communication;

accessing a directory entry associated with the user;

accessing, by a processor, a database stored in a memory that includes content designated as private that is associated with the user in the directory;

determining with the processor whether the first user communication includes content designated as private that is associated with the user;

generating a second user communication by removing the content designated as private that is associated with the user from the first user communication; and

sending the second user communication to an electronic personal assistant,

wherein the first user communication includes geographic data that includes a location from where the first user communication is sent, wherein the database includes content designated as private that is associated with the location from where the first user communication is sent in the directory.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising sending the first user communication to an electronic personal assistant for processing responsive to determining that the first user communication does not include content designated as private.

3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user communication includes a unique identifier of the user.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user communication includes a textual communication.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein the directory uses a directory access protocol.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the electronic personal assistant is operative to receive the first communication, process the communication, and return a result to the first user.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the first user communication is received from a user device.

8. A method comprising:

receiving a first user communication from a user device;

accessing a directory entry associated with the user;

accessing with a processor a database stored in a memory that includes content designated as private that is associated with the user;

determining with the processor whether the first user communication includes content designated as private that is associated with the user; and

sending a message including permission for the user device to send the first user communication to an electronic personal assistant for processing responsive to determining that the first user communication does not include content designated as private that is associated with the user,

generating a second user communication by removing the content designated as private that is associated with the user from the first user communication; and

sending the second user communication to an electronic personal assistant;

wherein the first user communication includes geographic data that includes a location from where the first user communication is sent, wherein the database includes content designated as private that is associated with the location from where the first user communication is sent in the directory.

9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first user communication includes a unique identifier of the user.

10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first user communication includes a textual communication.

11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the directory uses a directory access protocol.

12. The method of claim 8 , wherein the electronic personal assistant is operative to receive the first communication, process the communication, and return a result to the first user.

13. The method of claim 8 , wherein the first user communication is received from a user device.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Sep 3, 2015
From: DOW, ELI M.; GILCHRIST, JAMES P.; SCHMIDT, STEVEN K.; STOCKER, CHARLES J., IV
To: INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS MACHINES CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 036489/0434 →
Continuity (2)
Continuation 14729330 · Jun 3, 2015
Related Publication 20160357970A1 · Dec 8, 2016