USOO8271600B2 (12) United States Patent (10) Patent No.: US 8,271,600 B2 Herold et al. (45) Date of Patent: *Sep. 18, 2012 (54) USING AUTOMATED AGENTS TO 5,880,731 A 3, 1999 Liles FACILITATE CHAT COMMUNICATIONS 6,029, 195 A 2/2000 Herz 6.256,664 B1 7/2001 Donoho 6,259,969 B1 7/2001 Tackett et al. (75) Inventors: June R. Herold, Falls Church, VA (US); 6,480,885 B1 1 1/2002 Oliver William P. Schreiner, Reston, VA (US) 6,564,244 B1 5, 2003 to (73) Assignee: Facebook, Inc., Menlo Park, CA (US) (Continued) (*) Notice: Subject to any disclaimer, the term of this FOREIGN PATENT DOCUMENTS patent is extended or adjusted under 35 WO WOO1,98856 12/2001 U.S.C. 154(b) by 0 days. OTHER PUBLICATIONS This patent is Subject to a terminal dis claimer. Match.com, “Introducing Chemistry.com' press release, Oct. 11, 2005, http://corp.match.com/index/newscenter release detail. (21) Appl. No.: 13/269,133 asp?auto index=94 last visited Nov. 17, 2005 (2 pages). (22) Filed: Oct. 7, 2011 (Continued) (65) Prior Publication Data f b Primary Examiner — Krisna Lim US 2012/OO3O3O1 A1 Feb. 2, 2012 (74) Attorney, Agent, or Firm — Workman Nydegger Related U.S. Application Data (63) Continuation of application No. 12/553,536, filed on (57) ABSTRACT Sep. 3, 2009, now Pat. No. 8,037,147, which is a continuation of application No. 1 1/279,091, filed on An automated agent, Such as an instant message robot, is be Apr. 7, 2006, now Pat. No. 7,603,413 used to facilitate introduction of a chat participant to a small irritor group of other chat participants in a chat room. To do so, for (60) Provisional application No. 60/668,971, filed on Apr. example, a BOT may present a chat participant who desires to 7, 2005. be introduced to a small group of chat participants in a chat room with a series of multiple-choice questions, identify a (51) Int. Cl. Subset of chat participants based on responses to the multiple G06F 15/16 (2006.01) choice questions, and provide introductions among the chat (52) U.S. Cl. ....................................................... 709/206 participants in the subset to facilitate conversation therebe (58) Field of Classification Search ........... 709f2O4. 206 tween. For example, the introductions provided by the BOT See application file for complete search history. may indicate areas of mutual interest among chat participants in the Subset, similar responses to one or more multiple (56) References Cited choice questions, and/or diverse responses to one or more multiple-choice questions. 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TO9,201 * cited by examiner U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 1 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 3 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 jeIdºp|Aseules)suoisseudx= U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 4 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 5 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 ·ljequeoloosefiuyqp, U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 6 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 400 DETECT PRESENCE OF NEW USER 410 N OR ENTERING A CHAT ROOM USE ABOT DENTITY TO PRESENT MULTIPLE CHOICE CRUESTIONS TO THE NEW USER AND 420 RECEIVE RESPONSES ACCESS RESPONSES TO THE MULTIPLE-CHOICE CUESTIONS RECEIVED FROM OTHER CHAT 430 PARTICIPANTS IN THE CHAT ROOM COMPARE RESPONSES RECEIVED FROM THE 435 NEW USER TO ACCESSED RESPONSES OF OTHER CHAT PARTICIPANTS IN THE CHAT ROOM IDENTIFY, BASED ON RESULTS OF THE COMPARISON, A GROUP OF LESS THANALL CHAT 440 PARTICIPANTS WHOARE CURRENTLY IN THE CHA ROOM ASSOCATE THE DENTIFIED GROUP OF CHAT 450 PARTICIPANTS AND THE NEW USER USE THE BOT DENTITY TO INTRODUCE THE NEW USER AND THE DENTIFIED GROUP OF 460 CHAT PARTICIPANTS WITH ONEANOTHER FIG. 4 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 8 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 HostBOT: Hey, NewChatParticipant. I noticed ChatterB said TEXT. Does that bother you? Do you want me to tell him to straighten up? it's okay 615 620 I'm bothered - tell ChatterB 625 I'm bothered - I want to leave 630 I'm bothered -- I'd like ChatterB to leave 635 FIG. 6 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 10 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 aw won to uw gap who was or w was aw was as w U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 11 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 INVITATION TO MEET ONLINE O. MSender When: April 5 here: Nightly Pa Text Message: Hope to see ya there! Accept invitation 95OA Decline invitation 95OB 95 Offer Alternative DateTime 950C Do Not Reply 95OD FIG. 9 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 13 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 Chetthechatman: Welcome icebreaker Host: Everyone chats with The first to Chet the "Chatman" warmto small up. groups Then, ofI'l people introduce tonight you The 411 on Chet that you'll like getting to know, He's the party host. He'll greet based on what learn about you You, chat a few minutes with you Alone and then hook you up with So, I have a few questions. Other partygoers, Some of your answers will be on After you talk to Chet, you join a your icebreaker info sheet, which Small group of people at the other pa goers will be able to Party. Chet will get you all See. Rea y Talking with a topic of question. Dgirl 1985: Yes if you want to talk to one Particular partygoer, Chet can Help break the ice with him or her In a private one-on-one. its safe, is fur. it's The icebreaker 1 ce Breaker Account Balance: $20 remaining for future parties. Purchase More Party Time S What Thir 1140 FIG. 11 U.S. Patent Sep. 18, 2012 Sheet 14 of 21 US 8,271,600 B2 Chetthechatman: Ok. If you were a dog icebreaker Host: breed, what would you be? M 1. Chet the "Chatman" A. Poodle V 1222 B. Labrador Retriever C. Jack Russell Terrier D. Basset hound The 411 on Chet F.E. PitCocker Bul Spaniel He's the party host. He'll greet Dgirl 1985: E, cocker spaniel you, chat a few minutes with you Chethe Chatman: Woof. Which breed shookyo upw Do you want to play with? A. Poodle After you talk to Chet, you join a B. Labrador Retrieve small group of people at the C. Jack Russell Terrier party. Chet will get you all D. Basset hound taking with a topic of question. E. Cocker Spaniel If you want to talk to one F. Pits Bu particular partygoer, Chet can Ggir 1985: Jack Russell Terrier help break the ice with him or her ChettheChatman: WMT (wagging my tail) in a private one-on-one.