IP Library Granted Patent US 11,929,971
Granted Patent B2
US 11,929,971 · App. 17/845,806 · Granted Mar 12, 2024

Email threading based on machine learning

Inventors: Charles Yin-Che Lee (Mercer Island, WA); Victor Poznanski (Sammamish, WA)
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC
H04L51/216H04L51/02H04L51/42
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,929,971
App. No.
17/845,806
Granted
Mar 12, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

Systems and methods are directed to email threading based on machine learning determined categories and features. A network system accesses a plurality of emails addressed to a user. The network system then classifies, using a machine learning model, each email into at least one of a plurality of categories. For a category of the plurality of categories, one or more feature values are extracted from each email in the category. Based on the category and the extracted feature values, the network system groups messages having a same feature value in the same category together into a single email thread. Information related to the single email thread is then presented at a client device of the user.

Claims (50)

1. A method comprising:

training a preference model using training data obtained from feedback received from a user;

accessing a plurality of emails addressed to a user;

classifying, using a machine learning model, each email into at least one of a plurality of categories;

for a category of the plurality of categories, extracting one or more feature values from each email in the category;

based on the category and the extracted feature values, grouping messages having a same feature value in the category together into a single email thread;

based on the preference model, causing presentation of information related to the single email thread as one or more chat messages at a client device of the user;

receiving additional feedback based on one or more interactions with the one or more chat messages via a chatbot; and

retraining the preference model based on the additional feedback.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein each category comprises a different set of feature values.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising extracting a state value from each of at least some of the plurality of emails.

4. The method of claim 3 , further comprising causing presentation of an email having a current state based on the extracted state values as a primary email in the single email thread.

5. The method of claim 4 , wherein the causing presentation of the email having the current state as the primary email further comprises deleting, marking for deletion, or archiving any emails having a state prior to the current state.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein the causing presentation of the information comprises

extracting the information from one or more emails in the single email thread for presentation in the one or more chat messages within a chat thread.

7. The method of claim 6 , wherein each chat thread is delineated with a different chat title derived from the same feature value.

8. The method of claim 6 , wherein the one or more chat messages within the chat thread are presented via the chatbot.

9. The method of claim 6 , wherein the additional feedback is based on instructions to perform actions with respect to the one or more chat messages.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising

determining new training data based on the instructions received via the chatbot to retrain the preference model.

11. The method of claim 1 , wherein the grouping the messages comprises using a display template for organizing the messages in the single message thread, each category having a different display template.

12. The method of claim 1 , wherein the extracting the one or more feature values comprises using a machine-learning natural language model to identify the one or more feature values.

13. A system comprising:

one or more hardware processors; and

a memory storing instructions that, when executed by the one or more hardware processors, cause the one or more hardware processors to perform operations comprising:

training a preference model using training data obtained from feedback received from a user;

accessing a plurality of emails addressed to a user;

classifying, using a machine learning model, each email into at least one of a plurality of categories;

for a category of the plurality of categories, extracting one or more feature values from each email in the category;

based on the category and the extracted feature values, grouping messages having a same feature value in the category together into a single email thread;

based on the preference model, causing presentation of information related to the single email thread as one or more chat messages at a client device of the user;

receiving additional feedback based on one or more interactions with the one or more chat messages via a chatbot; and

retraining the preference model based on the additional feedback.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the operations further comprise extracting a state value from each of at least some of the plurality of emails.

15. The system of claim 14 , wherein the operations further comprise causing presentation of an email having a current state based on the extracted state values as a primary email in the single email thread.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the causing presentation of the information comprises

extracting the information from one or more emails in the single email thread for presentation in the one or more chat messages within a chat thread.

17. The system of claim 16 , wherein each chat thread is delineated with a different chat title derived from the same feature value.

18. The system of claim 13 , wherein the one or more chat messages within the chat thread are presented via the chatbot.

19. The system of claim 16 , wherein the additional feedback is based on instructions to perform actions with respect to the one or more chat messages, the operations further comprising

determining new training data based on the instructions received via the chatbot to retrain the preference model.

20. A computer-storage medium comprising instructions which, when executed by one or more hardware processors of a machine, cause the machine to perform operations comprising:

training a preference model using training data obtained from feedback received from a user;

accessing a plurality of emails addressed to a user;

classifying, using a machine learning model, each email into at least one of a plurality of categories;

for a category of the plurality of categories, extracting one or more feature values from each email in the category;

based on the category and the extracted feature values, grouping messages having a same feature value in the category together into a single email thread;

based on the preference model, causing presentation of information related to the single email thread as one or more chat messages at a client device of the user;

receiving additional feedback based on one or more interactions with the one or more chat messages via a chatbot; and

retraining the preference model based on the additional feedback.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 14, 2022
From: LEE, CHARLES YIN-CHE; POZNANSKI, VICTOR
To: MICROSOFT TECHNOLOGY LICENSING, LLC
Reel/Frame 060508/0789 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230412549A1 · Dec 21, 2023