Identifying entities based on interactivity models

Abstract

An interactivity system is provided that tracks interactivity between a target entity and participant entities and identifies entities whose interactions satisfy an interactivity criterion. The interactivity system maintains for the target entity interactivity models between the target entity and each participant entity, with each interactivity model modeling the interactions between the target entity and that participant entity. The interactivity system dynamically updates the interactivity models as notification of interactions are received. Upon receiving a query that specifies an interactivity criterion, the interactivity system analyzes the interactivity models to determine whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied. When an interactivity criterion is satisfied, the interactivity system sends a response to the query indicating that the interactivity criterion is satisfied along with the identity of the entity that satisfies the interactivity criterion.

1 . A method performed by a computing system for analyzing interactivity between a target entity and participant entities, the method comprising:
 receiving indications of interactions between the target entity and participant entities;   for at least some of the participant entities, maintaining an interactivity model for the target entity and each participant entity based on the interactions between the target entity and that participant entity;   receiving a query that specifies an interactivity criterion;   analyzing interactivity models to determine whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied; and   when the interactivity criterion is satisfied, sending a response to the query indicating that the interactivity criterion is satisfied.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the interactivity model for a participant entity includes totals of interactions between the target entity and that participant entity covering multiple time frames. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2  wherein the total for the most recent time frame is updated in real time as indications of interactions are received. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the interactivity criterion specifies a characteristic of one or more interactivity models and wherein the target entity satisfies the interactivity criterion when the interactivity models exhibit the characteristic. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  wherein the interactivity criterion specifies a characteristic of an interactivity model and wherein a participant entity satisfies the interactivity criterion when the interactivity model of the participant entity exhibits the characteristic. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5  wherein the response identifies the participant entities that satisfy the interactivity criterion. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1  wherein interactivity models are generated for multiple target entities and stored in a distributed manner. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1  wherein each interaction has an interaction type that is selected from a group consisting of an electronic mail message, a text message, an instant message, a scheduled meeting, a voice mail, a phone call, and a document collaboration. 
     
     
         9 . A computer-readable storage medium storing computer-executable instructions for identifying an entity that satisfies an interactivity criterion, the computer-executable instructions comprising instructions that:
 generate a query that specifies the interactivity criterion;   identify entities as target entities for responding to the query, a target entity having interactivity models, each interactivity model modeling interactions between the target entity and a participant entity;   send a query for the identified target entities;   receive a response for the target entities, a response for a target entity indicating whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied by the target entity or one or more participant entities based on analysis of the interactivity models of the target entity; and   generate query results based on the entities that satisfy the interactivity criterion as indicated by the received response.   
     
     
         10 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the instructions that identify the entities as target entities include instructions that compare a target profile to profiles of entities and select those entities with a profile that matches the target profile. 
     
     
         11 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the interactivity models of an entity are stored separately from the interactivity models of other entities such that the interactivity models of the entities are stored in a distributed manner. 
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the interactivity model for a target entity and a participant entity includes totals of interactions between the target entity and that participant entity covering multiple time frames. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the interactivity criterion specifies a characteristic of one or more interactivity models and wherein a target entity satisfies the interactivity criterion when the interactivity models of that target entity exhibit the characteristic. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 9  wherein the interactivity criterion specifies a characteristic of an interactivity model and wherein a participant entity satisfies the interactivity criterion when the interactivity model of the participant entity exhibits the characteristic. 
     
     
         15 . A computing system for tracking interactivity between entities, the computing system comprising:
 one or more computer-readable storage media storing computer-executable instructions for
 accessing interactivity models, each interactivity model modeling interactions between a target entity and a participant entity, the interactivity models of the target entity being stored separately from the interactivity models of other target entities in a distributed matter; 
 receiving indications of interactions between the target entity and participant entities; 
 upon receiving an indication of an interaction between the target entity and a participant entity, updating in real time the interactivity model for the target entity and that participant entity; 
 responding to a query by:
 receiving the query that specifies an interactivity criterion that specifies a characteristic of an interactivity model; 
 analyzing interactivity models to determine whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied by one or more participant entities, wherein a participant entity satisfies the interactivity criterion when the interactivity model of the participant entity exhibits the characteristic; and 
 sending a response to the query indicating whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied by one or more participant entities, and when the interactivity criterion is satisfied, identifying a participant entity that satisfies the interactivity criterion; and 
 
 determining whether another target entity has participant entities that satisfy an interactivity criterion by:
 sending a query for the other target entity, the sent query specifying an interactivity criterion that specifies a characteristic of an interactivity model; and 
 receiving a response to the sent query for the other target entity, the received response indicating whether the interactivity criterion is satisfied by one or more participant entities of the other target entity, and when the interactivity criterion is satisfied, identifying a participant entity that satisfies the interactivity criterion; and 
 
   a processor that executes the computer-executable instructions stored in one or more computer-readable storage media.   
     
     
         16 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein the interactivity models for the target entity are stored at a computing device of the target entity. 
     
     
         17 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein the interactivity model for a target entity and a participant entity includes totals of interactions between the target entity and that participant entity covering multiple time frames. 
     
     
         18 . The computing system of  claim 17  wherein the total for the most recent time frame is updated in real time as indications of interactions are received. 
     
     
         19 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein the sent query specifies a target profile of another target entity. 
     
     
         20 . The computing system of  claim 15  wherein each interaction has an interaction type that is selected from a group consisting of a scheduled meeting, a voice mail, a phone call, and a document collaboration.