Communications responsive to recipient sentiment

Abstract

A method includes receiving input from a first communication device of a first user identifying a target sentiment associated with a second user, monitoring current online activity of the second user to determine a current sentiment for the second user, and initiating communication between the first communication device of the first user and a second communication device of the second user in response to the current sentiment of the second user meeting the target sentiment input by the first user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method, comprising:
 receiving input from a first communication device of a first user identifying a target sentiment associated with a second user;   monitoring current online activity of the second user to determine a current sentiment for the second user; and   initiating communication between the first communication device of the first user and a second communication device of the second user in response to the current sentiment of the second user meeting the target sentiment input by the first user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target sentiment is a numerical sentiment threshold, and wherein the communication is initiated in response to the current sentiment reaching the numerical sentiment threshold. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein monitoring current online activity of the second user to determine a current sentiment for the second user, includes counting the number of instances that the second user uses a word from a positive sentiment list and subtracting the number of instances that the second user uses a word from a negative sentiment list over a period of time. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the target sentiment is a target sentiment category selected from among a plurality of sentiment categories, wherein each sentiment category has a list of words associated with the sentiment category. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein monitoring current online activity of the second user to determine a current sentiment for the second user, includes counting the number of instances that the second user uses a word from each sentiment category during a period of time and determining the current sentiment that has the greatest number of instances during the period of time. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sentiment categories includes a positive sentiment category and a negative sentiment category. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the plurality of sentiment categories includes a rushed sentiment category and a relaxed sentiment category. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 receiving input from a first communication device of the first user identifying a time limit for initiating communication between the first communication device and the second communication device, wherein initiating the communication includes initiating the communication before expiration of the time limit.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is a written message. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the written message is received by the second communication device regardless of whether the current sentiment of the second user meets the target sentiment, and wherein the written message is not displayed on the second communication device until the current sentiment of the second user meets the target sentiment. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is a written message in a form for delivery to the second communication device as a text message, email message, chat application message, message board post, or social network post. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the communication is a phone call, and wherein initiating the communication includes alerting the first communication device that the current sentiment of the second user meets the target sentiment input by the first user. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein a first communication device of the first user sends a request for a current sentiment to the second communication device of the second user. 
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the request is sent periodically during a period after receiving the input identifying a target sentiment and until the communication has been initiated between the first communication device and the second communication device. 
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second communication device pushes the current sentiment to one or more systems accessible to the first communication device. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more systems are selected from a social network, an email group, and a list of mobile communication devices. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 modifying an avatar associated with the second user based on the current sentiment of the second user, wherein the avatar is a personalized graphic designed to represent the second user, and wherein the avatar is displayed on the first communication device in association with the second user.   
     
     
         18 . A method, comprising:
 receiving input from a first communication device of a first user identifying a target sentiment associated with a group of users, wherein the group of users includes a plurality of users;   monitoring current online activity of the plurality of users to determine a current average sentiment for the group of users; and   initiating the communication between the first communication device of the first user and a plurality of communication devices of the plurality of users in response to the current average sentiment for the group of users meeting the target sentiment input by the first user.   
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the target sentiment is a numerical sentiment threshold, wherein the communication is initiated in response to the current average sentiment reaching the numerical sentiment threshold, and wherein monitoring current online activity of the plurality of users to determine a current average sentiment for the group of users, includes counting the number of instances that the plurality of users use a word from a positive sentiment list and subtracting the number of instances that the plurality of users use a word from a negative sentiment list over a period of time. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 18 , wherein the target sentiment is a target sentiment category selected from among a plurality of sentiment categories, wherein each sentiment category has a list of words associated with the sentiment category, and wherein monitoring current online activity of the plurality of users to determine a current average sentiment for the group of users, includes counting the number of instances that the plurality of users use a word from each sentiment category during a period of time and determining the current sentiment that has the greatest number of instances during the period of time.