User-controlled profile sharing

US7552862B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Microsoft Corporation · US

Inventors

• Gary W. Flake · Bellevue, US
• Eric J. Horvitz · Kirkland, US
• Joshua T. Goodman · Redmond, US
• Eric D. Brill · Redmond, US
• Bradly A. Brunell · Bellevue, US
• Susan T. Dumais · Kirkland, US
• Alexander G. Gounares · Kirkland, US
• Trenholme J. Griffin · Bainbridge Island, US
• Oliver Hurst-Hiller · New York, US
• Raymond E. Ozzie · Seattle, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Jun 29, 2006
• Grant date: Jun 30, 2009
• Expiry date: Jun 29, 2026

Classification

• Technology area (CPC G): Physics
• CPC primary: G06Q50/188
• WIPO field: IT methods for management
• WIPO sector: Electrical engineering

Abstract

Architecture is provided that facilitates user-controlled access to user profile information. A user is allowed to selectively expose (or mask) portions of his/her profile to third parties. Additionally, advertisers and/or content providers can offer incentives or enticement in response to the acceptance of which a user exposes larger portions of their profile. The architecture comprises a system that facilitates profile management utilizing a profile component that facilitates creation and storage of an electronic profile of a user, and a control component under control of the user for controlling access to the profile. Machine learning and reasoning is provided to make inferences and automate aspects thereof.