WO2007044328A2

WO2007044328A2 - A communication system, communication unit and method of operation therefor

Info

Publication number: WO2007044328A2
Application number: PCT/US2006/038614
Authority: WO
Inventors: Jerome Picault; David R. Bourne; Nicolas Lhuillier
Original assignee: Motorola Inc.
Priority date: 2005-10-06
Filing date: 2006-10-03
Publication date: 2007-04-19
Also published as: GB2432925A; WO2007044328A3; GB0520290D0

Abstract

A first communication unit (101) has a user profile storage (207) for storing a set of user profiles for a group of users of other communication units (103-109). In response to a query, a target profile processor (203) determines a target user profile. A selection processor (205) selects matching user profile(s) from the set of user profiles, and a transmit controller (211) transmits a request message to the communication unit(s) (103-109) of the identified user(s). The receiving communication unit(s) compares the received target user profile to a locally stored user profile for the identified user and transmits a positive response message if a match is found and according to a reply policy defined by a local user. In response to the positive response message, the first communication unit (101) presents identity information for the identified user allowing the originating user to contact the identified user.

Description

A COMMUNICATION SYSTEM, COMMUNICATION UNIT AND METHOD OF

OPERATION THEREFOR

Field of the invention

The invention relates to a communication system, communication unit and method of operation therefor and in particular to identification of a target user for a query.

Background of the Invention

In recent years, the use and popularity of electronic applications and services for managing every day activities has increased at a very fast rate. For example, applications for assisting users in selecting TV programmes, managing appointments or communicating with other users have become prevalent. As another example, the increased popularity of the Internet has led to users being provided with enormous amounts of information through new communication channels and media.

However, increasingly users are confronted with a paradox: on the one hand they are overwhelmed with large amounts of information, but on the other hand it frequently becomes difficult for the user to find the right information, i.e. to find pertinent information originating from a trusted source. Therefore, finding information with a suitable confidence level (e.g. obtaining pertinent recommendations) is problematic. For example there is a large amount of information available via the Internet but frequently the accuracy of the information is not verifiable and the data obtained in this way is typically considered as poor quality data. In addition, identifying suitable information can be very difficult and is often restricted to key word based search engines.

In contrast, in the traditional human domain, information and assistance is typically obtained through direct conversions with other people. This approach provides a number of advantages which are not provided by current non- human communication systems. For example, requirements and preferences can easily be discussed and verified and used to determine if the other party is able to be of assistance. Furthermore, conventional human interaction inherently makes use of social networks wherein information and help can be obtained through contacts with relatives, friends, colleagues or acquaintances. Furthermore, information or help can be found in an extended social network through the involvement of friends of friends etc.

Conventional human interactions furthermore provide high quality data through a person' s trusted network as the origin of the network can be determined and as the social network typically will be a trusted network comprising people that are trusted by the query originator.

However, currently technical communication systems do not provide such advantages. Furthermore, the conventional human approach inherently relies on the active involvement and decision making by users which is impractical for modern communication systems involving significantly larger numbers of users and amounts of information. It has been suggested , (ref. e.g. United States Patent Application US20040148275A1) that a large central database comprising user profiles for all users of a communication system can be used to identify users that may be able to assist with a specific problem or provide specific information. However, such an approach is relatively impractical as it requires that detailed user profiles are maintained centrally which is a cumbersome process requiring that the user profiles are continuously maintained and updated. Furthermore, such as system does not easily allow high-quality data to be provided as no direct personal relationships typically exist between the requesting user and the assistance providing user.

Thus, there is currently no practical technical tool known for identifying a suitable source of information or assistance that can provide the advantages of traditional information sourcing in the human domain or take into account relationships of human social networks .

Accordingly, it would be advantageous to provide technical means that can provide some of these advantages and which in particular can facilitate the identification of a suitable source of assistance for a given problem or information request. In particular, it would be advantageous to provide such a technical solution allowing reduced human interaction and involvement, improved quality data provision, improved identification of suitable sources of assistance or information, increased speed in identifying such information, increased flexibility and/or reduced complexity. Summary of the Invention

Accordingly, the Invention seeks to preferably mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above mentioned disadvantages singly or in any combination.

According to a first aspect of the invention there is provided, a communication system comprising a plurality of communication units operable to communicate with each other, the communication system comprising: a first communication unit comprising: means for storing a set of user profiles for a group of users of the communication units, means for receiving a query from a first user of the first communication unit, means for generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query, selection means for searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles, means for determining a second communication unit associated with the matching user profile, means for generating a request message comprising the target user profile, first transmitting means for transmitting the request message to the second communication unit, means for receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query, presenting means for presenting identity information for the target user; and the second communication unit comprising: means for receiving the request message, means for storing a local user profile for a second user of the second communication unit, means for determining a match indication between the target user profile and the local user profile, second transmitting means for transmitting the positive response message to the first communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the target user profile and the local user profile, the positive response message indicating the second user as the target user.

The invention may allow an improved identification of a target user suitable for providing information or assistance for a specific query in a communication system. The invention may in particular use technical means to automatically provide some of the advantages that are typically associated with human-to-human interactions and processes .

In particular, the communication system may use distributed user profiles to identify a suitable contact for assistance taking into account aspects of a user's social network without requiring the involvement or explicit interaction with the user. The invention may allow an improved identification of a target user that can help the first user with the specific query. In particular, the invention may allow a technical exploitation and use of hidden knowledge that resides in social networks.

The identification does not necessitate any exclusive interaction or involvement of the target user. In some embodiments, the communication units may operate without the involvement or knowledge of the users to provide an identification of a suitable target user taking into account characteristics of a social network of the first user. The invention may allow technical means to provide advantages currently only available for human-to-human interactions.

The invention allows distributed user profiles to be used in the individual communication units thereby facilitating maintenance of the user profiles. Furthermore, reduced communications can be achieved and in particular an improved targeting of the reguest message is possible through the use of user profiles in the first communication unit while allowing accurate determination of the match indication in the second communication unit as this may be based on an accurate user profile locally determined and maintained. Furthermore, the invention may allow for improved user privacy and in particular a user's detailed profile need not be copied or shared with others .

The invention allows an identification of a target user that is highly likely to be of assistance for a specific query rather than the provision of specific information related to the query as is typically known from communication systems such as the Internet. This may provide better systems and an improved user experience and may in particular allow the communication system to provide a service comparable to interactions in the human domain.

The invention may in particular allow high-quality information to be obtained through the identification of the target user which, due to the exploitation of the characteristics of the social network for the first user, is likely to be a trusted user. The group of users may correspond to a social network group for the first user. The group of users may for example be a group of users in an address book or buddy list of the first user. The identity information for the target user may comprise or consist in an identification of the communication unit associated with the target user. For example, in a cellular communication system, the target user may be identified by the telephone number of the cellular subscription of the target user.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the set of user profiles comprises user profiles for users of communication units which are different than user profiles locally stored in the communication units.

Specifically the matching user profile selected by the first communication unit may be different than the local user profile used by the second communication unit.

The feature may allow for improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation. In particular, the first communication unit need not generate and maintain accurate user profile is that are identical to the local user profiles of the individual indication unit. Rather, a less accurate user profile may be used by the first communication unit while allowing an accurate identification through the use of an accurate user profile in the other communication units and in particular in the second communication unit. Furthermore, the invention may allow for improved user privacy and in particular a user' s detailed profile need not be copied or shared with others.

This may substantially alleviate the requirements for the generation and maintenance of user profiles and may eliminate or reduce the requirement for communication of user profile data in the communication system.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the set of user profiles comprises user profiles for users of communication units which are subsets of user profiles locally stored in the communication units.

The locally stored user profiles may comprise more information than user profiles stored in a communication unit for users of other communication units. This may facilitate operation and/or allow improved performance.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the first communication unit comprises means for determining at least one of the set of user profiles in response to interactions between the first communication unit and other communication units .

This may provide a practical way of determining user profiles in the first communication unit for users of other communication units. In particular, it may eliminate or reduce the requirement for user profile data for other users to be communicated to the first communication unit. Rather, a user profile may be determined, at least partly, from information already available at the first communication unit .

According to an optional feature of the invention, the first communication unit comprises means for determining at least a first user profile of the set of user profiles without receiving user profile information originated at a communication unit associated with the first user profile.

The feature may allow improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the second communication unit further comprises means for transmitting the request message to a third communication unit .

This may further improve performance. In particular it may allow a target user to be found in a network of users which is larger than the group of users. In particular, the feature may allow the target user to be found in a larger social network of the first user.

The request message may be modified for transmission on to the third communication unit. For example, a different protocol may be used for indicating that a request for assistance is transmitted. In some embodiments, data from the request message from the first communication unit may be included in a different request message transmitted from the second communication unit to the third communication unit. According to an optional feature of the invention, the second communication unit further comprises means for selecting a second matching user profile from a set of user profiles stored at the second communication unit in response to the target user profile; and means for determining the third communication unit as a communication unit associated with a user of the second matching user profile.

The feature may allow improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation. In particular, the feature may allow improved targeting of a communication of the request message. The principle, approach and/or algorithm used by the second communication unit to identify the third communication unit may be similar or identical to the principle, approach and/or algorithm used by the first communication unit in identifying the second communication unit .

According to an optional feature of the invention, the second transmitting means is furthermore arranged to transmit the positive response message to the first communication unit in response to receiving a second positive response message to the request message from the third communication unit, the positive response message indicating a user of the third communication unit as the target user.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the second communication unit is arranged to transmit the request message to the third communication unit in response to an evaluation of a propagation criterion.

In particular, the second communication unit may only transmit the request message to the third communication unit if the propagation criterion is met. The propagation criterion may comprise an evaluation of the feasibility or benefit of further propagating the request in the social network. For example, the propagation criterion may simply be an investigation of how many communication units have been involved in the propagation of the request message. For example, the second communication unit may propagate a request message received from an originating communication unit for the request message but may not propagate a request message received from a communication unit that itself has forwarded the request message from another communication unit .

According to an optional feature of the invention, each user profile of the set of user profiles has an associated reliability value; and wherein the selection means is furthermore arranged to select the matching user profile in response to an evaluation of the reliability values of the user profiles of the set of user profiles.

The feature may allow improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation. In particular, it may allow an improved determination of the reliability of the target user and may thus allow a target user to be selected which is more likely to provide reliable information. The associated reliability value may be a trust value. According to an optional feature of the invention, each user profile of the set of user profiles has an associated reliability value; and wherein the presentation means is furthermore arranged to present the identity information in response to the reliability value of the target user.

The feature may allow improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation. In particular, it may allow an improved determination of the reliability of the target user and may thus allow the first user to be provided with information of the perceived reliability of the target user.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the positive response message comprises no information relating to a subject of the query.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the request message comprises information relating to a subject of the query.

The feature may allow improved performance and/or facilitated operation and/or implementation. In particular, it may allow other communication units to take the query subject into account and/or to present such information to a user of the communication unit. According to an optional feature of the invention, the first communication unit furthermore comprises means for determining a number of group user profiles for the set of user profiles; and wherein the selection means is arranged to determine the matching user profile by first determining a matching group user profile and then determining the matching user profile from the user profiles of a group of user profiles associated with the matching group user profile.

This may facilitate operation and/or reduce complexity and/or the computational burden. In particular, it may facilitate the operation of selecting the target user by the first communication unit.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the second communication unit comprises: means for presenting information associated with the query to the user of the second communication unit if the match indication indicates the match between the target user profile and the local user profile; means for receiving a user input; and wherein the second transmitting means is arranged transmit the positive response message in response to the user input.

This may allow improved user control and may in particular allow a user to control if he wants to be identified as the target user. The second transmitting means may only transmit the positive response message if the user input is indicative of the user agreeing to this.

According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a communication unit comprising: means for storing a set of user profiles for users of other communication units; means for receiving a query from a first user of the communication unit; means for generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query; selection means for searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles; means for determining a second communication unit associated with the user of the matching user profile; means for generating a request message comprising the target user profile; first transmitting means for transmitting the request message to the second communication unit; means for receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query; presenting means for presenting identity information for the target user.

According to an optional feature of the invention, the communication unit further comprises: means for receiving a second request message from a third communication unit; means for storing a local user profile for the first user; means for determining a match indication between a second target user profile of the second request message and the local user profile; second transmitting means for transmitting a positive response message to the third communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the second target user profile and the local user profile, the positive response message indicating the first user as a target user. According to another aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of operation for a communication system comprising a plurality of communication units operable to communicate with each other, the method comprising: at a first communication unit performing the steps of: storing a set of user profiles for users of the communication units, receiving a query from a first user of the first communication unit, generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query, searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles, determining a second communication unit associated with the user of the matching user profile, generating a request message comprising the target user profile, transmitting the request message to the second communication unit, receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query; presenting identity information for the target user; and at the second communication unit performing the steps of: receiving the request message; storing a local user profile for a second user of the second communication unit; determining a match indication between the target user profile and the local user profile; transmitting the positive response message to the first communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the target user profile and the local user profile, the positive response message indicating the second user as the target user. These and other aspects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the embodiment ( s ) described hereinafter.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example only, with reference to the drawings, in which

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a communication unit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 3 is an illustration of a communication unit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention.

FIG. 4 is an illustration of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a method of operation of a communication unit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention

FIG. 6 is an illustration of a communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention; and FIG. 7 illustrates an example of a method of operation of a communication unit in accordance with some embodiments of the invention

Detailed Description of Some Embodiments of the Invention

FIG. 1 is an illustration of a cellular communication system in accordance with some embodiments of the invention. It will be appreciated that the invention is not limited to cellular communication systems but is applicable to many other communication systems.

The communication system comprises a number of communication units 101-109 which can communicate with each other through an interconnecting network 111. For example, the communication units 101-109 can be a remote stations of a cellular communication system and the interconnecting network 111 can be the fixed network of the cellular communicating system. As another example, the communication units 101 -109 can be personal computers communicating with each other through the interconnecting network 111 in the form of the Internet.

It will be appreciated that the invention is applicable to many other kinds of communication units and communication systems .

FIG. 2 is an illustration of a first communication unit 101 of the communication system of FIG. 1. The first communication unit 101 comprises a user input 201 which can receive a user input from a first user of the first communication unit 101. For example, the user input 201 can comprise a keyboard for text based user input or a voice recognition functionality for speech input. The user input 201 can specifically receive a query from the first user. The query may for example be a request for information and/or assistance for a specific problem.

The user input 201 is coupled to a target profile processor 203 which generates a target user profile for the query. The target user profile comprises user characteristics associated with the query. In particular, the target profile processor 203 generates a target user profile for a user which is considered to be highly likely to be of assistance for the specific query. For example, if the first user is requesting help or assistance with a computer related problem, the target profile processor 203 will include a characteristic in the target user profile indicating that the target user has computer experience or knowledge.

It will be appreciated, that the target profile processor 203 for example can generate the target user profile in response to predetermined associations between query subjects and user characteristics.

The target profile processor 203 is coupled to a selection processor 205. The selection processor 205 is further coupled to a user profile storage 207. The user profile storage 207 comprises a set of perceived or partial user profiles for users of other communication units in the communication system. Specifically, the user profile storage 207 can comprise user profiles for a buddy list and/or address book of the first user stored in the first indication unit 101. Thus, the user profile storage 207 not only stores perceived or partial user profiles but may also define a group of users to which the first user is associated in some way. The users in this group may for example comprise friends, relatives, colleagues or other acquaintances of the first user. Thus, the group can be considered indicative of a first layer of a social network for the first user.

It will be appreciated that the user profile storage 207 may comprise a plurality of groups of users corresponding to different social networks and/or that the group of users may be further divided into sub groups of users according to various characteristics of the individual user.

The selection processor 205 is arranged to search the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile (s) from the set of user profiles. In the specific embodiment, the selection processor 205 can, for a given target user profile, search for the user profile stored in the user profile storage 207 which provides the closest match in accordance with any suitable match criterion.

For example, if the query relates to a computer problem, the target profile can indicate that a matching user should have computer experience. The selection processor 205 can search the user profile storage 207 and can identify all user profiles indicating computer experience or knowledge. It may then proceed to search for a secondary characteristic in order to select between these user profiles. If the selection processor 205 ends up with a plurality of suitable user profiles, it may e.g. proceed to process all identified user profiles or may for example select a random user profile from these or prioritise them according to a policy.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments, the system can search for the closest perceived profile that matches the query. Optionally, if this one does not provide a reply the system may contact the next closest one. Alternatively or additionally, the system can contact several of the closest users concurrently.

The target profile processor 203 is furthermore coupled to a request message generator 209 which generates a request message that comprises the target user profile. It will be appreciated that the target user profile may be modified prior to the inclusion in the request message and that the target user profile used by the selection processor 205 need not be identical to the target user profile included in the request message. For example, one may be a subset of the other. Further the request message generator 209 can apply data compression to the target user profile before transmission to allow for a more efficient transmission.

The selection processor 205 and the request message generator 209 are coupled to a transmit controller 211. The transmit controller 211 is arranged to determine a second communication unit which is associated with the matching user profile determined by the selection processor 205. Specifically, in the example of a cellular communication system, the transmit controller 211 can determine a phone number of the communication unit with which the user of the matching user profile is associated. In the example of personal computers connected by the Internet, the transmit controller 211 can e.g. identify an IP address of the personal computer associated with the target user.

As a specific example, the selection processor 205 can determine the user of the second communication unit 103 as the target user and the transmit controller 211 can accordingly determine the address of the second communication unit 103 to be used for transmission of the request message.

The transmit controller 211 is furthermore coupled to a network interface 213 and is arranged to control the transmission of the request message to this second communication unit 103. The network interface 213 can for example be a broadband modem interfacing to the Internet or can be a cellular communication system transceiver arranged to communicate over the air interface of the cellular communication system.

FIG. 3 illustrates the second communication unit 103 in more detail.

The second communication unit 103 comprises a second network interface 301 which is arranged to interface to the interconnecting network 111. For example, the second network interface 301 can be a broadband modem or a transceiver for communicating over with the air interface of a cellular communication system. The second network interface 301 can be different to the first network interface 213, for example if 101 and 103 are on dissimilar networks.

The second network interface 301 is coupled to a second receive processor 303 which is arranged to receive the request message from the first communication unit 101.

In addition, the second communication unit 103 comprises a local user profile storage 307 which stores a local user profile for the user of the second communication unit 103.

In the example, the local user profile stored for the second user (the user of the second communication unit 103) is different to the one stored in the user profile storage 207 of the first communication unit 101. In particular, the local user profile stored in the second communication unit 103 is a dedicated and highly accurate user profile for the second user.

Such a user profile can easily be determined by the second communication unit 103 in response to the operation of the second communication unit 103. Specifically, the local user profile may be generated from information from the applications executed by the second user, from interactions between the second user and other users and/or specific an explicit user profile information entered in the second communication unit 103 by the second user.

As the second user is local to the second communication unit 103 a highly accurate local user profile can relatively easily be generated. In contrast, the user profile for the second user stored in the first communication unit 101 can be a rough and relatively inaccurate user profile. For example, the user profile stored in the first communication unit 101 may be a subset of the local user profile for the second user stored in the second communication unit 103, it might be a profile that is perceived or has been built up over time and has been learned.

This may specifically allow a substantially reduced complexity and overhead associated with maintaining, generating and updating user profiles. Specifically, the need for a centralised user profile storage with which all communication units need to communicate can be eliminated. Furthermore, the system can provide performance that reflects the accuracy of the local user profile stored for the individual user in his individual communication unit. This compares to a human social network where frequently no individual has a full profile of others but has an incomplete and perceived profile of others. At the same time, a targeted distribution of request messages can be achieved using distributed user profiles stored in other communication units.

The second receive processor 303 and the local user profile storage 307 are both coupled to a match processor 305 which is arranged to determine a match indication between the target user profile and the local user profile.

It will be appreciated that any suitable method or algorithm for determining the match indication may be used. The match indication reflects how closely the target user profile received in the request message from the first communication unit 101 matches the local user profile for the second user.

The match processor 305 is coupled to a second transmit processor 309 which is further coupled to the second network interface 301. If the match indication indicates that there is a sufficiently close match between the target user profile and the local user profile for the second user, the second transmit processor 309 generates a positive response message and controls this to be transmitted back to the first communication unit 101. The second user may be consulted before the positive response is sent according to a policy defined by the second user in the second communication unit 103.

The first communication unit 101 furthermore comprises a receive controller 215 which is coupled to the network interface 213. The receive controller 215 is arranged to receive the positive response message from the second communication unit 103. The receive controller 215 is furthermore arranged to extract an indication of the target user for the query from the positive response message. In the specific case, where the target profile matches the local user profile of the second user, the positive response message comprises an identification of the second user. The receive controller 215 is operable to extract this information and feed it to a user output 217 which can present this identity information to the target user. The user output 217 can for example be a display on the first communication unit 101. The described system can thus allow a first user to merely enter a query in response to which he/she will be provided with an identification of another user that may be of assistance to him for the specific query if they are willing to help. Furthermore, by inherently targeting specific users within a social network of the first user as reflected by his/her address book or buddy list, the identified user is likely to be highly reliable and may typically be known by the first user.

Furthermore, the communications and processes required to allow this identification of a suitable target user for a specific query can be accurately targeted based on distributed user profiles. Furthermore, an identification of a suitable user may be achieved with the accuracy of the highly accurate local user profile without requiring this to be universally distributed or centrally stored.

In the following a specific example of the operation of the system of FIG. 1 will be described. In the example, the target user for a query from the first user (of the first communication unit 101) is found as the second user (of the second communication unit 103) . The example will be described with reference to the simplified example of FIG. 4.

Preliminary steps (may be performed well in advance of the query and is not specific to the specific query) .

• Time T=a: Each application (e.g. on the second communication unit 103) has a complete user profile for the user of that application (e.g. the second user). The user profile can represent the user's interests and areas of expertise. This profile is located on the associated communication unit itself and will be used later if the application receives a request to check if the requested profile matches the user's profile.

The user profile can have different levels of expressiveness, ranging e.g. from simple taxonomy to complex ontologies. In both cases, the same representation can be shared among all instances of the application. In the case of a taxonomy of interests and areas of expertise, the profile representation can also include a value for weighting preferences. In the case of ontologies, this can be expressed through a set of rules.

• T=β: The second user joins the group or "tribe" of the first user and the second communication unit 103 can send to the first communication unit 101 (and to other group member's communication units) a short description of the second user' s main areas of interest and areas of expertise (e.g. the public part of the second user's profile). The first communication unit stores this user profile in the user profile storage 207. The user profile is referred to as a perceived profile of the second user as it is the user profile used by the first communication unit 101 which can differ from the user profile used by other communication units or by the second communication unit 103.

It will appreciated that different methods can be used for the first communication unit 101 to obtain an initial user profile for the second user including e.g. (i) manual entry by the first user, (ii) the first communication unit asking another communication unit for information about the second user, (iii) learned from interactions between the first communication unit 101 and the second communication unit 103.

Indeed, the user profile for the second user stored in the first communication unit 101 may be generated and maintained by the first communication unit 101 in response to such interactions .

Thus, in some embodiments, the user profile for another communication unit can be generated without receiving user profile information originated at that communication unit.

In the example, the perceived user profile constitutes a personal (and therefore subjective) representation of another group member's real interests and areas of expertise. Perceived profiles of other group members are stored on the user's own device. Note that because of their subjectivity, perceived user profiles are not complete (in the sense that if user A only interacts with user B about football, the perceived profile of B that A has on his device will probably not contain other potential interests of B) , but may be more detailed for some topics than for other kinds of profile descriptions.

Main steps (performed for a specific query)

• T=I: The first user has a query and doesn't know who can answer it, so the first user uses the first communication unit 101 to identify a possible target for the request for example by constructing a profile template of a person likely to be able to be of help. In this example, the target profile processor 203 determines the target user profile in response to a specific user input from the first user. Thus, the first user uses the first communication unit 101 to construct a target user profile corresponding to the sort of person who might be able to answer this particular query. In some embodiments, this template can be constructed by the user entering keywords and then selecting and weighting concepts that can e.g. be a simple list of weighted concepts with possibly a free text field for refinement of the query. • T=2: The selection processor 205 of the first communication unit 101 uses a selection algorithm to determine possible target users (based on a group profile or individual perceived profiles) . A reliability or trust function can furthermore be used to evaluate the reliability associated with each user. This allows classification of receivers depending on a reliability or trust value the first user has about the knowledge of users about the concepts of the specific query. In this example the second user is selected as the person most likely to help.

• T=3: The selected user(s) are contacted according to a suitable propagation mechanism. In the example, the best potential contact (i.e. the first target user) is first contacted and the target user profile describing the query is sent to the second communication unit 103 in the request message. In some embodiments, the request message can comprise information about the query allowing other communication units or users additional information to evaluate the request. In some embodiments, the request message will not comprise any specific information about the subject of the query itself.

• T=4: The match processor 305 of the second communication unit uses a profile matching function to check if the target user profile embedded in the request message corresponds to the second user' s own full profile as stored in the local user profile storage.

• T=5: Based on the result of this match function, the second transmit processor 309 of the second communication unit 103 decides on what action to take (automatic decline, ask user or forward to a third party) . Specifically, in the example, if the match function indicates a match between the target user profile and the local user profile a positive response message is transmitted. This message does not answer the query but just whether the second user is willing to discuss it with first user and has a suitable profile match. If the decision is to ask the second user, the second communication unit 103 will display the request for the second user to make the decision to reply or to refuse. In all other cases, the second communication unit does not need to interact or "disturb" the second user. If the second communication unit 103 asks the second user for the decision then the second communication unit can learn from the decision and, for example, automate the process for similar requests in the future. • T=6: The second communication unit 103 sends the rejection or the acceptance with identity information for the identified target user to the first communication unit 103. In the specific example, the second communication unit 103 sends contact information indicating that the second user is willing to help.

• T=I: The first communication unit 101 updates the first communication unit's perceived user profile for the second user in response to the reply.

Concluding step

• T-8: If at T=β, the decision was not a rejection, the first user contacts the second user about the query- using a separate and new communication. The first user can then manually update the perceived user profile stored in the user profile storage 207 following the interaction with the second user. Likewise, the second user can manually update a perceived user profile for the first user stored in the second communication unit 103.

FIG. 5 illustrates a detailed example of the operation of a communication unit consistent with the approach described above .

In the above example, the target user was found as a user of the group of users in the first users address book or buddy list, and thus as a user of a communication unit with which the first communication unit 101 was in direct contact. However in some embodiments, the communication units may be arranged to further propagate the request message to allow a further search in the extended social network consisting of both the first user's direct contacts as well as contacts of these contacts.

5 Specifically, the second transmit processor 309 of the second communication unit 103 can be arranged to further transmit the request message to a third communication unit 105.

10 Specifically if the match indication from the match processor 305 indicates that the target user profile does not match the local user profile of the second user, the second transmit processor 309 can proceed to evaluate a set of user profiles for users in an address book or buddy list

15 of the second user.

Thus, in this example, if the second communication unit 103 determines that the second user is not a match for the target user profile it proceeds to search its own contacts

20 to identify if there is a suitable match amongst these. If so, a request message is generated and transmitted to the communication unit identified for this user. It will be appreciated that the approach and principles used by the second communication unit 103 for this purpose can be

25 similar or identical to the approach and principles used by the first communication unit 101.

The third communication unit 105 can process the request message in a similar way as the second communication unit 30 103 and if the target user profile is found to match the locally stored user profile in the third communication unit 105, a positive response message identifying the user of the third communication unit 105 is transmitted to the second communication unit 103.

The second communication unit 103 can receive this positive response message and forward the appropriate information to the first communication unit 101. Thus in this way, the first communication unit 101 can be provided with information of a suitable contact in the extended social network.

It will be appreciated that in some embodiments the third communication unit 105 may directly transmit the positive response message to the first communication unit 101. In another embodiment the second communication unit 103 may group the replies from all of its contacts before replying with the responses to the first communication unit 101

In some embodiments, the second communication unit 103 can comprise means for determining the suitability of further forwarding a request message received from another communication unit. Specifically, the second communication unit 103 can evaluate a propagation criterion and only forward the request message if this propagation criterion is met .

It will be appreciated that the propagation criterion will depend on the preferences and requirements of the individual embodiments. For example, the propagation criterion can simply be a limit on the number of times the request message can be forwarded. For example, the communication units can be arranged to only forward request messages received from an originating communication unit. This will limit the social network searched to contacts of the originating user and to contacts of these contacts.

In the following, a specific example of the operation of the system of FIG. 1 will be described. In the example, the target user for a query from the first user (of the first communication unit 101) is found as a third user (of the third communication unit 105) being a contact of the second user. The example will be described with reference to the simplified example of FIG. β.

Preliminary step

• T=Q!: As in the previous example, each communication unit has an accurate local user profile of the associated user's interests and areas of expertise. In addition, it has short perceived user profiles of other users in its group .

Main steps • In this example, a fourth user of a fourth communication unit 107 is the most likely match in accordance with the perceived user profile stored in the user profile storage 207. Accordingly, T=l,2,3,4,5 are the same as in the previous example but for the fourth communication unit 107 instead of the second communication unit 103.

• T-6: the fourth communication unit 107 sends a rejection response message to the first communication unit 101 as the match indication determined by the fourth communication unit 107 indicates that there is no match between the local user profile of the fourth user and the target user profile. • T=I: The first communication unit 101 selects the next best contact to find someone who can answer the query. In this example, the second user of the second communication unit 103 is the next most likely to be able to help.

• T=8_r9 are the same as T=3,4 but for the second user instead of the fourth user.

• T=IO: In the example, the match processor 305 determines that there is not a match between the target user profile and the user profile of the second user. The second transmit processor 309 then decides on what action to take. In this example, the second communication unit 103' s locally stored profile thus does not provide a sufficient match with the searched profile.

• T=Il: The second communication unit 103 makes a propagation decision, for example based on a propagation function that can return a value to be compared to a propagation threshold. If this value exceeds the threshold, the request can be propagated, and then the second communication unit 103 becomes a sub-initiator of the original request. In this example, the second communication unit 103 decides to propagate the target user profile. The second communication unit 103 can also inform the first communication unit 101 that the request message is being forwarded.

• T=12: The second communication unit 103 uses a selection algorithm similar to the one used by the first communication unit 101 to determine new potential contacts from the perceived user profiles that the second communication unit 103 has stored for his/her own social network. In the example, the second communication unit 103 identifies a third user as a potential target user.

• T=I3: The target user profile, possibly describing the query, is sent to a third communication unit associated with the third user in a request message. This message can contain additional information with respect to the original request: specifically an update of the social length (a number of hops from the source) and information about who forwarded the request can be included.

• T=I 4: The third communication unit 105 uses a profile matching function similar to the one used by the match processor 305 to determine if there is a match between the target user profile and the accurate user profile of the third user stored in the third communication unit 105.

• T=15: The third communication unit 105 decides which action to take. • T=I 6: The third communication unit 105 sends the rejection or contact information to the second communication unit 103 (or in some embodiments directly to the first communication unit) .

• T=Il: The second communication unit 103 forwards the response to the first communication unit 101.

Furthermore, it can add additional information about how much the second user trusts the third user in the area of the query. In such embodiments, trust or reliability information can be computed all along the social chain to help the initiator evaluate the value of the answer. Before the second communication unit 103 sends the response to the first communication unit 101 it can combine all responses from all of its contacts.

• T=I8: The first communication unit 101 presents identification information for the third user and updates or creates the first communication unit's 101 perceived user profile for the third user.

FIG. 7 illustrates a detailed example of the operation of the second communication unit 103 consistent with the approach described above.

In the following some specific examples of various algorithms that can be used in the described examples are given.

Selection algorithm

The purpose of the selection algorithm is to select among the social network S of a person p the subset Nelg_p of selected persons who is the most appropriate to answer a query g.

Each person of the social network may belong to one or several groups of people G₁,...,G_n .

I

The selection algorithm works as follows: 1. Neig_p^{)

2. VG, c S do if match(profile(^),profile_/7eroen,_erf (G_I)) > threshold then Neig_p ^- Neig_p u G₁

3 . if Neig = { } then VG, c S,Vn e G₁ do if match(profile(#),profile_pβ,_ce;vβrf(w)) > threshold then Neig_p <- Neig_p U {n}

Matching algorithm

The matching algorithm can be used both to compare the user profile to the target user profile of the request and also to find prospective contacts whom to forward the request to, by matching their perceived profiles. The matching formula returns a numeric value representing the similarity between the searched profile and the compared profile. As such it compares the three parts of the user profile: static information, contextual information and competence information.

match = (a x match _stalκ + βx match_contal + γx match _m ) a+β+γ

(α, β and γ being constants to be defined by experiments or simulations) .

For the user competence and interest part of the profile, the formula takes into account the differences between concepts in both profiles and their respective weights:

∑max(0,w, -Z₁)

, -I -t izSearchedCompetences

WGtG " competences ~ * V^ ieSearchedCompetences Where W₁is the weight of concept i in the searched profile, and: • If the concept i is weighted in the user profile, z, is the weight of this concept;

• If the concept i is not weighted in the user profile, but its parent node is: Z₁ is an estimate of concept i's weight, by dividing the weight of the parent node by the number of its sons;

• If neither the concept i, nor its parent node are weighted in the user profile: Z₁ = 0.

Propagation decision formula

At any node i, the decision to propagate the request or not can depend on several factors:

The social distance from the root (initiator) : the main assumption, based on sociologists studies, relies on the fact that the willingness to help potentially unknown person decreases with the social distance;

The trust value i has about the initiator r (if known) and/or the last forwarder f: we can assume that the willingness to help grows with general trust level i has about r and/or f, because he/she may think - from a sociological point of view - that the information will not be misused ; therefore the trust value acts more or less as a modulator of the propagation decision;

The propensity to propagate the request to a particular node is also linked to the matching result between the requested profile and the perceived profile relating to this node. Based on these assumptions, it is possible to define the decision to propagate the query at node i as a function of these parameters:

propagation,. : n e NeIg₁ -» [θ;+l] z/trust_value,.(/) > 0, _{/ N} matching^, ή) . . , . „ propagation, (n) = a x trust_value, (/ ) path_length(r, z) z/trust_value_;(/) < 0, propagation, (n) = 0 where :

• propagation,-(«) represents the propensity i has to propagate the query q to one of its neighbours (in the sense of directly connected people in his social network, except the last forwarder) n;

• path_length(7-,z) represents the social distance from the initiator r of the query;

• trust_value_;(/) denotes the general trust value i has in the latest forwarder f (could be the initiator at the first wave)

• matching(g,ή) represents the output of the matching algorithm between the requested profile q and the perceived profile of n, which i may propagate the query to; • a and β are constants whose value is established thanks to a simulated environment.

In the examples, a reliability (or trust) value can be assigned to different users. Such a reliability value can be used by the selection processor 205 to add more weight to users which are considered to have high reliability leading to these being selected before comparable uses having lower reliability values .

Alternatively or additionally, the reliability values can be presented to the user allowing him/her to evaluate the reliability of the suggested target contact.

In some embodiments, the selection processor 205 can be arranged to identify the target user profile in a hierarchical process. For example, the first publication unit 101 can arrange the stored user profiles into suitable groups. Each group can then be provided with their user group profile and the selection processor 205 can first compare the user group profile to the target user profile. When a suitable user group profile has been identified, the selection processor 205 can then proceed to evaluate the individual user profiles belonging to this group. This may facilitate the selection process and is particularly advantageous when large numbers of user profiles are stored.

It will be appreciated that although the functionality has been described with reference to different communication units, the communication units may be similar or identical. Specifically, the functionality described with reference to the second communication unit 103 may also be present in the first communication unit 101 and vice versa.

It will be appreciated that the above description for clarity has described embodiments of the invention with reference to different functional units and processors. However, it will be apparent that any suitable distribution of functionality between different functional units or processors may be used without detracting from the invention. For example, functionality illustrated to be performed by separate processors or controllers may be performed by the same processor or controllers. Hence, references to specific functional units are only to be seen as references to suitable means for providing the described functionality rather than indicative of a strict logical or physical structure or organization.

The invention can be implemented in any suitable form including hardware, software, firmware or any combination of these. The invention may optionally be implemented at least partly as computer software running on one or more data processors and/or digital signal processors. The elements and components of an embodiment of the invention may be physically, functionally and logically implemented in any suitable way. Indeed the functionality may be implemented in a single unit, in a plurality of units or as part of other functional units. As such, the invention may be implemented in a single unit or may be physically and functionally distributed between different units and processors.

Although the present invention has been described in connection with some embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the scope of the present invention is limited only by the accompanying claims. Additionally, although a feature may appear to be described in connection with particular embodiments, one skilled in the art would recognize that various features of the described embodiments may be combined in accordance with the invention. In the claims, the term comprising does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps.

Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly be advantageously combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. Also the inclusion of a feature in one category of claims does not imply a limitation to this category but rather indicates that the feature is equally applicable to other claim categories as appropriate. Furthermore, the order of features in the claims does not imply any specific order in which the features must be worked and in particular the order of individual steps in a method claim does not imply that the steps must be performed in this order. Rather, the steps may be performed in any suitable order.

Claims

1. A communication system comprising a plurality of communication units operable to communicate with each other, the communication system comprising: a first communication unit comprising: means for storing a set of user profiles for a group of users of the communication units, means for receiving a query from a first user of the first communication unit, means for generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query, selection means for searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles, means for determining a second communication unit associated with the matching user profile, means for generating a request message comprising the target user profile, first transmitting means for transmitting the request message to the second communication unit, means for receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query, presenting means for presenting identity information for the target user; and the second communication unit comprising: means for receiving the request message, means for storing a local user profile for a second user of the second communication unit, means for determining a match indication between the target user profile and the local user profile, and second transmitting means for transmitting the positive response message to the first communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the target user profile and the local user, the positive response message indicating the second user as the target user.

2. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the set of user profiles comprises user profiles for users of communication units which are different than user profiles locally stored in the communication units.

3. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the set of user profiles comprises user profiles for users of communication units which are subsets of user profiles locally stored in the communication units.

4. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first communication unit comprises means for determining at least one of the set of user profiles in response to interactions between the first communication unit and other communication units.

5. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first communication unit comprises means for determining at least a first user profile of the set of user profiles without receiving user profile information originated at a communication unit associated with the first user profile.

6. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second communication unit further comprises means for transmitting the request message to a third communication unit .

7. A communication system as claimed in claim 6 wherein the second communication unit further comprises: means for selecting a second matching user profile from a set of user profiles stored at the second communication unit in response to the target user profile; and means for determining the third communication unit as a communication unit associated with the second matching user profile .

8. A communication system as defined in claim 6 wherein the second transmitting means is arranged to transmit the positive response message to the first communication unit in response to receiving a second positive response message to the request message from the third communication unit, the second positive response message indicating a user of the third communication unit as the target user.

9. A communication system as defined in claim 6 wherein the second communication unit is arranged to transmit the request message to the third communication unit in response to an evaluation of a propagation criterion.

10. A communication system as claimed in any previous claim wherein each user profile of the set of user profiles has an ^

associated reliability value; and wherein the selection means is furthermore arranged to select the matching user profile in response to an evaluation of the reliability values of the user profiles of the set of user profiles .

11. A communication system as claimed in any previous claim wherein each user profile of the set of user profiles has an associated reliability value; and wherein the presentation means is furthermore arranged to present the identity information in response to the reliability value of the target user.

12. A communication system as claimed in any previous claim wherein the positive response message comprises no information relating to a subject of the query.

13. A communication system as claimed in any previous claim wherein the request message comprises information relating to a subject of the query.

14. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the first communication unit furthermore comprises means for determining a number of group user profiles for the set of user profiles; and wherein the selection means is arranged to determine the matching user profile by first determining a matching group user profile and then determining the matching user profile from the user profiles of a group of user profiles associated with the matching group user profile.

15. A communication system as defined in claim 1 wherein the second communication unit comprises: means for presenting information associated with the query to the user of the second communication unit if the match indication indicates the match between the target user profile and the local user profile; means for receiving a user input; and wherein the second transmitting means is arranged transmit the positive response message in response to the user input.

16. A communication unit comprising: means for storing a set of user profiles for a group of users of other communication units; means for receiving a query from a first user of the communication unit; means for generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query; selection means for searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles; means for determining a second communication unit associated with the matching user profiler- means for generating a request message comprising the target user profile; first transmitting means for transmitting the request message to the second communication unit; means for receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query; presenting means for presenting identity information for the target user.

17. The communication unit of claim 16 further comprising: means for receiving a second request message from a third communication unit; means for storing a local user profile for the first user; means for determining a match indication between a second target user profile of the second request message and the local user profile; second transmitting means for transmitting a positive response message to the third communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the second target user profile and the local user profile, the positive response message indicating the first user as a target user.

18. A method of operation for a communication system comprising a plurality of communication units operable to communicate with each other, the method comprising: at a first communication unit performing the steps of: storing a set of user profiles for a group of users of the communication units, receiving a query from a first user of the first communication unit, generating a target user profile for the query; the target user profile comprising user characteristics associated with the query, searching the set of user profiles in response to the target user profile in order to select a first matching user profile from the set of user profiles, determining a second communication unit associated with the matching user profile, generating a request message comprising the target user profile, transmitting the request message to the second communication unit, receiving a positive response message for the request message from the second communication unit, the positive response message comprising an indication of a target user for the query, and presenting identity information for the target user; and and at the second communication unit performing the steps of: receiving the request message; storing a local user profile for a second user of the second communication unit, determining a match indication between the target user profile and the local user profile, and transmitting the positive response message to the first communication unit if the match indication indicates a match between the target user profile and the local user profile, the positive response message indicating the second user as the target user.