Profile-Based Message Control

Abstract

A computer system includes a profile associated with one or more logic modules. Each logic module specifies a condition and a corresponding action. The profile may be applied to context data, such as messages transmitted over a network, to perform the actions specified by the logic modules in response to detecting that the context data satisfies the conditions specified by the logic modules. The profile may have an activation state, in which case the logic modules may be applied to the context data only if the profile's activation state indicates that the profile is active. One application of the system is to perform different actions (such as blocking, forwarding, deferring, and allowing) in connection with messages transmitted via different modes of communication (such as one or more of email communication, text messaging communication, and live voice call communication).

1 . A method performed by at least one computer processor executing computer program instructions tangibly stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising:
 (A) detecting a first message transmissible via a first communication mode;   (B) determining whether a profile is active;   (C) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (C)(1) identifying a first action specified by the profile in association with the first communication mode; and 
 (C)(2) performing the first action; 
   (D) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the first action.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) detecting a second message transmissible via a second communication mode that differs from the first communication mode;   (F) determining whether the profile is active;   (G) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (G)(1) identifying a second action specified by the profile in association with the second communication mode; and 
 (G)(2) performing the second action; 
   (H) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the second action.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 (I) detecting a third message transmissible via a third communication mode that differs from the first communication mode and the second communication mode;   (J) determining whether the profile is active;   (K) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (K)(1) identifying a third action specified by the profile in association with the third communication mode; and 
 (K)(2) performing the third action; 
   (L) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the third action.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 :
 wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode;   wherein the second communication mode comprises one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode; and   wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 :
 wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode;   wherein the second communication mode comprises one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first action comprises blocking the first message. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first action comprises blocking a notification of the first message. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein detecting the first message comprises detecting receipt of the first message. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) receiving user input;   (F) deactivating the profile in response to the user input;   (G) detecting a second message transmissible via a second communication mode that differs from the first communication mode;   (H) determining that the profile is inactive;   (I) in response to determining that the profile is inactive, not performing a second action specified by the profile in association with the second communication mode.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (C)(2) comprises:
 (C)(2)(a) receiving context data;   (C)(2)(b) determining that a condition specified by the profile is satisfied by the context data; and   (C)(2)(c) performing the first action in response to determining that the condition specified by the profile is satisfied by the context data.   
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions tangibly stored on the computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions are executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method comprising:
 (A) detecting a first message transmissible via a first communication mode;   (B) determining whether a profile is active;   (C) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (C)(1) identifying a first action specified by the profile in association with the first communication mode; and 
 (C)(2) performing the first action; 
   (D) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the first action.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) detecting a second message transmissible via a second communication mode that differs from the first communication mode;   (F) determining whether the profile is active;   (G) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (G)(1) identifying a second action specified by the profile in association with the second communication mode; and 
 (G)(2) performing the second action; 
   (H) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the second action.   
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (I) detecting a third message transmissible via a third communication mode that differs from the first communication mode and the second communication mode;   (J) determining whether the profile is active;   (K) if the profile is determined to be active, then:
 (K)(1) identifying a third action specified by the profile in association with the third communication mode; and 
 (K)(2) performing the third action; 
   (L) if the profile is not determined to be active, then not performing the third action.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 :
 wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode;   wherein the second communication mode comprises one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode; and   wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 :
 wherein the first communication mode comprises one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode;   wherein the second communication mode comprises one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first action comprises blocking the first message. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first action comprises blocking a notification of the first message. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein detecting the first message comprises detecting receipt of the first message. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) receiving user input;   (F) deactivating the profile in response to the user input;   (G) detecting a second message transmissible via a second communication mode that differs from the first communication mode;   (H) determining that the profile is inactive;   (I) in response to determining that the profile is inactive, not performing a second action specified by the profile in association with the second communication mode.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein (C)(2) comprises:
 (C)(2)(a) receiving context data;   (C)(2)(b) determining that a condition specified by the profile is satisfied by the context data; and   (C)(2)(c) performing the first action in response to determining that the condition specified by the profile is satisfied by the context data.