Peer discovery and connection management based on context sensitive social networks

Abstract

In a method for automatically filtering communications, a new networking request from an initiating party is received. A social networking model for a recipient of the new networking request is retrieved. Context information related to prior communications between the recipient and the initiating party from the social networking model for the recipient is used to present the new networking request to the recipient. The social networking model for the recipient is dynamically updated based upon a response by the recipient to the new networking request.

1 . A computer-implemented method for automatically filtering communication, the method comprising:
 receiving a new networking request from an initiating party;   retrieving a social networking model for a recipient of the new networking request;   using context information related to prior communications between the recipient and the initiating party from the social networking model for the recipient to present the new networking request to the recipient; and   dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient based upon a response by the recipient to the new networking request.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an e-mail message.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an instant messaging request.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 monitoring communications between the recipient and a plurality of contacts; and 
 generating the social networking model for the recipient based on results of monitoring the communications. 
 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4  further comprising:
 dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient by updating statistics for the communications. 
 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1  further comprising:
 automatically determining whether the initiating party is already recognized as a contact of the recipient using the social networking model for the recipient. 
 
     
     
         7 . A computer-readable storage medium comprising:
 instructions, wherein the instructions, when executed in a processing system, cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a new networking request from an initiating party; 
 retrieving a social networking model for a recipient of the new networking request; 
 using context information related to prior communications between the recipient and the initiating party from the social networking model for the recipient to present the new networking request to the recipient; and 
 dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient based upon a response by the recipient to the new networking request. 
   
     
     
         8 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an e-mail message.   
     
     
         9 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an instant messaging request.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7  wherein the instructions further cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring communications between the recipient and a plurality of contacts; and 
 generating the social networking model for the recipient based on results of monitoring the communications. 
 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 10  wherein the instructions further cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
 dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient by updating statistics for the communications. 
 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 7  wherein the instructions further cause the processing system to perform operations comprising:
 automatically determining whether the initiating party is already recognized as a contact of the recipient using the social networking model for the recipient. 
 
     
     
         13 . A system comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory comprising instructions to execute on the processor, wherein the instructions, when executed, cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 receiving a new networking request from an initiating party; 
 retrieving a social networking model for a recipient of the new networking request; 
 using context information related to prior communications between the recipient and the initiating party from the social networking model for the recipient to present the new networking request to the recipient; and 
 dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient based upon a response by the recipient to the new networking request. 
   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an e-mail message.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 13 , wherein
 the new networking request comprises an instant messaging request.   
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 monitoring communications between the recipient and a plurality of contacts; and 
 generating the social networking model for the recipient based on results of monitoring the communications. 
 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16  wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 dynamically updating the social networking model for the recipient by updating statistics for the communications. 
 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 13  wherein the instructions further cause the processor to perform operations comprising:
 automatically determining whether the initiating party is already recognized as a contact of the recipient using the social networking model for the recipient.