# US 9,883,358 B2 · Electronic device and method of determining suggested responses to text-based communications

> Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt

- Number: US 9,883,358 B2
- Document ID: US9883358B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/707,895
- Filed: 2015-05-08
- Published: 2016-11-10
- Granted: 2018-01-30
- Earliest claimed: 2015-05-08
- Assignees: BlackBerry Limited
- Applicants: BlackBerry Limited
- Inventors: Nicholas Kalkounis; Shiladitya Sircar
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9883358B2

## CPC

- H04W 4/12: Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements
- G06F 3/04842: Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements (G06F3/0482 takes precedence)
- G06F 16/24522: {Translation of natural language queries to structured queries}
- G06F 16/24578: {using ranking}
- G06F 40/274: Converting codes to words; Guess-ahead of partial word inputs
- G06F 40/30: Semantic analysis
- G06F 40/56: Natural language generation
- G06N 7/01: Probabilistic graphical models, e.g. probabilistic networks
- H04L 51/02: using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
- H04L 51/42: Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes
- H04W 4/02: Services making use of location information
- H04W 4/029: Location-based management or tracking services
- H04W 76/10: Connection setup
- G06Q 10/109: Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
- H04W: WIRELESS COMMUNICATION NETWORKS (broadcast communication H04H; communication systems using wireless links for non-selective communication, e.g. wireless extensions H04M1/72)
- G06F: ELECTRIC DIGITAL DATA PROCESSING (computer systems based on specific computational models G06N)
- G06N: COMPUTING ARRANGEMENTS BASED ON SPECIFIC COMPUTATIONAL MODELS
- H04L: TRANSMISSION OF DIGITAL INFORMATION, e.g. TELEGRAPHIC COMMUNICATION (arrangements common to telegraphic and telephonic communication H04M)
- G06Q: INFORMATION AND COMMUNICATION TECHNOLOGY [ICT] SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES; SYSTEMS OR METHODS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR ADMINISTRATIVE, COMMERCIAL, FINANCIAL, MANAGERIAL OR SUPERVISORY PURPOSES, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR

## Abstract

A method of responding to a text-based communication on a portable electronic device includes receiving the text-based communication at the portable electronic device, performing textual analysis on the text-based communication to determine a set of possible responses, for each possible response of the set of possible responses, ranking the possible responses based at least on auxiliary information at the portable electronic device, and selecting a first possible response as a suggested response based on the ranking of the possible responses.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A method of responding to a text-based communication and controlling a portable electronic device, the method comprising:
receiving the text-based communication at the portable electronic device;
performing textual analysis on the text-based communication to determine a set of possible responses;
for each possible response of the set of possible responses, ranking the possible responses based at least on auxiliary information at the portable electronic device;
selecting a first possible response as a suggested response based on the ranking of the possible responses;
determining whether a sender of the received text-based communication is associated with an automatic response permission; and
in response to determining the sender is associated with the automatic response permission, automatically sending the suggested response to the sender;
wherein the sender of the received text-based communication is associated with the automatic response permission based on one of:
setting the automatic response permission in a contact profile for the sender;
indicating a special relationship in the contact profile of the sender;
accepting an invitation from the sender for automatic response permission;
inferring a special relationship with the sender; and
when the sender is a smart device, determining that the smart device is paired with the portable electronic device.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, further comprising:
determining a probability associated with each of the possible responses of the set of possible responses based at least on the auxiliary information; and
wherein ranking the possible responses comprises ranking the possible Responses according the determined probabilities associated with the possible responses.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the auxiliary information is personal information stored on the portable eletronic device.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The method according to claim 3, wherein:
the text-based communication is a request for a meeting and each possible response of the set of possible responses includes a time for the meeting;
the auxiliary information includes availability based on events associated with a calendar application stored on the portable electronic device; and
selecting comprises selecting a suggested response by filtering the set of possible responses to include possible responses having times for the meeting that do not conflict with events associated with the calendar application.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, wherein the text-based communication is a request for a current location;
the auxiliary information is a location of the portable electronic device; and
the suggested response includes the location of the portable electronic device.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The method according to claim 1, comprising, performing textual analysis on the received text-based communication to determine a subject matter of the text-based communication;
determining that the subject matter is relevant to a smart device paired with the electronic device; and
automatically sending a portion of the content of the text-based communication to the smart device.

### Claim 7 (depends on 6)

The method according to claim 6, wherein:
the text-based communication includes an address;
the smart device paired to the electronic device is a navigation device;
determining the subject matter includes determining that the subject matter is location based; and
automatically sending comprises sending the address to the navigation system paired to the electronic device.

### Claim 8

A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium having computer-readable code executable by at least one processor of an electronic device to:
receive a text-based communication at the portable electronic device;
perform textual analysis on the text-based communication to determine a set of possible responses; and
for each possible response of the set of possible responses, rank the possible responses based at least on auxiliary information at the portable electronic device;
select a first possible response as a suggested response based on the ranking of the possible responses;
determine whether a sender of the received text-based communication is associated with an automatic response permission; and
in response to determining the sender is associated with the automatic response permission, automatically send the suggested response to the sender;
wherein the sender of the received text-based communication is associated with the automatic response permission based on one of:
setting the automatic response permission in a contact profile for the sender;
indicating a special relationship in the contact profile of the sender;
accepting an invitation from the sender for automatic response permission;
inferring a special relationship with the sender; and
when the sender is a smart device, determining that the smart device is paired with the portable electronic device.

### Claim 9

A portable electronic device comprising:
a communication system for sending and receiving text-based communications;
a display for displaying information including received text-based communications;
a processor coupled to the communication system and the display and programmed to:
receive a text-based communication at the portable electronic device;
perform textual analysis on the text-based communication to determine a set of possible responses;
for each possible response of the set of possible responses, rank the possible responses based at least on auxiliary information at the portable electronic device;
select a first possible response as a suggested response based on the ranking of the possible responses;
determine whether a sender of the received text-based communication is associated with an automatic response permission; and
in response to determining the sender is associated with the automatic response permission, automatically send the suggested response to the sender;
wherein the sender of the received text-based communication is associated with the automatic response permission based on one of:
setting the automatic response permission in a contact profile for the sender;
indicating a special relationship in the contact profile of the sender;
accepting an invitation from the sender for automatic response permission;
inferring a special relationship with the sender; and
when the sender is a smart device, determining that the smart device is paired with the portable electronic device.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The portable electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed to:
determine a probability associated with each of the possible responses of the set of possible responses based at least on the auxiliary information; and
wherein ranking the possible responses comprises ranking the possible responses according the determined probabilities associated with the possible responses.

### Claim 11 (depends on 9)

The portable electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the auxiliary information is personal information stored on the portable electronic device.

### Claim 12 (depends on 11)

The portable electronic device according to claim 11, wherein:
the text-based communication is a request for a meeting and each possible response of the set of possible responses includes a time for the meeting;
the auxiliary information includes availability based on events associated with a calendar application stored on the portable electronic device; and
selecting comprises selecting a suggested response by filtering the set of possible responses to include possible responses having times for the meeting that do not conflict with events associated with the calendar application.

### Claim 13 (depends on 9)

The portable electronic device according to claim 9 wherein:
the text-based communication is a request for a current location;
the auxiliary information is a location of the portable electronic device; and
the suggested response includes the location of the portable electronic device.

### Claim 14 (depends on 9)

The portable electronic device according to claim 9, wherein the processor is programmed to:
perform textual analysis on the received text-based communication to determine a subject matter of the text-based communication;
determine that the subject matter is relevant to a smart device paired with the electronic device; and
automatically send a portion of the content of the text-based communication to the smart device.

### Claim 15 (depends on 14)

The portable electronic device according to claim 14, wherein:
the text-based communication includes an address;
the smart device paired to the electronic device is a navigation device;
determining the subject matter includes determining that the subject matter is location based; and
automatically sending comprises sending the address to the navigation system paired to the electronic device.