Method and Apparatus for Identifying and Facilitating a Social Interaction Structure over a Data Packet Network

Abstract

A telecommunications device has a data repository storing a directory of contact identities categorized by common activity, and machine intelligence executing from a non-transitory physical medium. The machine intelligence provides for determining an activity category for a telecommunications event by one or more of identity of sender, identity of intended recipient, message content, and event history, and applying a policy associated with the determined activity category to manage the event.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A telecommunications device comprising:
 a data repository storing a directory of contact identities categorized by common activity; and   machine intelligence executing from a non-transitory physical medium, the machine intelligence providing for:   determining an activity category for a telecommunications event by one or more of identity of sender, identity of intended recipient, message content, and event history; and   applying a policy associated with the determined activity category to manage the event.   
     
     
         2 . The device of  claim 1  wherein events are one of voice telephony, Short Message Service (SMS) messages, emails or chat messages. 
     
     
         3 . The device of  claim 2  wherein the policy applied stores events according to activity category and event type. 
     
     
         4 . The device of  claim 1  wherein determining an activity category for a telecommunications event and applying a policy associated with the determined activity category is initiated by receiving an event by the telecommunications device or a user sending an event. 
     
     
         5 . The device of  claim 4  wherein an address or telephone number for the intended recipient is taken from the activity category determined. 
     
     
         6 . The device of  claim 4  wherein the policy applied results in checking the event for contact identities and/or message content not associated with the activity category, and finding such a discrepancy, at least temporarily blocking or delaying transmission while alerting the user to the discrepancy. 
     
     
         7 . The device of  claim 1  wherein one contact identity appears in two or more categories. 
     
     
         8 . The device of  claim 6  wherein event history is tracked and stored, and event history is consulted to determine an action to be taken. 
     
     
         9 . The device of  claim 3  wherein incoming voice events that are not answered are stored with a recorded message by the sender. 
     
     
         10 . The device of  claim 6  wherein alerting comprises one or more of a passive or interactive popup message on a display of the device or an audible alarm. 
     
     
         11 . The device of  claim 6  wherein in response to a discrepancy, initiating a preprogrammed message handling task.