WO2013184793A1

WO2013184793A1 - Communications from one party to another

Info

Publication number: WO2013184793A1
Application number: PCT/US2013/044301
Authority: WO
Inventors: Daniel SHANI; Richard J.W. MANSFIELD; Nissim Shani; Roni SHANI; Michele SHANI
Original assignee: Forget You Not, LLC
Priority date: 2012-06-05
Filing date: 2013-06-05
Publication date: 2013-12-12

Abstract

Among other things, a person who wants to give a tangible, physical, virtual, or digital item to another family member of a different generation (e.g., at a future time) can provide information from which the item, the future time, and the recipient can be determined. The giver and the recipient are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the giver, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the future time, or (c) both (a) and (b), storing the information. The item is transferred to the other family member at the future time based on the provided information.

Description

COMMUNICATIONS FROM ONE PARTY TO ANOTHER

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/790,789, filed March 15, 2013; and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/866,748, filed April 19, 2013, which claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Serial No. 61/790,789, filed March 15, 2013; and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application 13/489,210, filed June 5, 2012; and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/650,941, filed October 12, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application 13/489,210, filed June 5, 2012; and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application Serial No. 13/715,517, filed December 14, 2012, which is a continuation-in-part application of and claims priority to U.S. Patent

Application Serial No. 13/650,941, filed October 12, 2012, and which is a continuation-in part application of and claims priority to U.S. Patent Application 13/489,210, filed June 5, 2012.

BACKGROUND

[0002] This description relates to transferring items from one party to another; communicating information about one party to another party; location-based communications from a sender to a recipient; and social network environments, more particularly, to systems and methods for efficient and effective search for and communication of life history information to present and future generations. [0003] A typical user of a social networking website communicates with other users of the social networking website by posting information about himself or information of interest to other users of the social network website in a manner that is accessible to the other users. For example, a user of a social networking website might post background information about himself, such as current job or activity information; information about events attended, such as concerts; events the user plans to attend, such as travel vacation sites; or personal events, such as birthdays or anniversaries. A user may also post information about recent acquisitions, such as the purchase of a new automobile or smartphone. Other users who have access to the user's posted information may contact the user to comment or review information about common shared interests or for other reasons. [0004] Some social networking websites filter or group connections based on, e.g., friendship, profession or job type, or geographical location. Social networks often span users within a single generation (e.g., Generation X or Generation Y) or at least within a limited age demographic.

SUMMARY

[0005] In general, in an aspect, information is maintained that has been provided by a donor about an item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient. The information is maintained until the transfer time. A transfer of the item to the recipient is managed at the transfer time. The donor and the recipient are individuals who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor or at the transfer time or at both times.

[0006] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The donor and the recipient are members of a family related by birth or marriage. The information is provided by the donor through an online facility. The online facility comprises a social networking facility. At least one of the donor and the recipient are members of an online facility that maintains the information. The information about the recipient does not identify a specific person. The information about the recipient comprises information that can be used at the transfer time to determine the specific recipient. The identity of the recipient is inferred at the transfer time. The identity is inferred analytically from the information or from other data or from both. The information about the transfer item identifies a specific item. The information about the transfer item comprises information that can be used at the transfer time to determine the specific transfer item. The transfer item is inferred analytically from the information or from other data. The information about the transfer time identifies a specific transfer time. The information about the transfer time identifies an event the occurrence of which is associated with the transfer time. The information about the transfer time comprises information that can be used to determine a specific transfer time. A specific transfer time is inferred from the information provided. The transfer item is stored on behalf of the donor until the transfer time. The storing comprises physical storage. The storing comprises digital storage. The transfer item exists at the time when the donor provides the information. The transfer item does not exist at the time when the donor provides the information. The transfer item comprises a memento, heirloom, or other item that has value in connection with a relationship of the donor and the recipient. The managing of the transfer comprises notifying the recipient of the transfer. The managing of the transfer comprises causing the transfer item to take a form intended by the donor. The recipient is confirmed to be related to the donor by birth or marriage. The transfer item comprises a tangible item. The transfer item comprises a virtual item. The transfer item comprises a digital item. The transfer item comprises an email, a voice recording, an image, a real-time photograph, or video. The donor and the recipient or people related to them can engage in social networking in connection with the maintaining of the information and the managing of the transfer. A user interface is exposed to the donor and the recipient for use with respect to the transfer. The user interface enables the donor to specify the transfer item and provide instructions about the transfer. The transfer time, the transfer item, or the transfer recipient or any combination of two or more of them, are inferred based on historical information about the donor or the recipient. The transfer time, the transfer item, or the transfer recipient or any combination of two or more of them, is based on inferred personal milestones or future needs or wants or affinities of the recipient. The donor and the recipient have a relationship that meets a relationship requirement. The donor can view profile and interest information associated with the recipient. If the donor is dead or incompetent, a content or style of communications to be had with the recipient is inferred on behalf of the donor. The donor is an agent of an institution or entity. A cost for the transfer item is prepaid. Managing the transfer comprises engaging vendors, distributors, and logistics operators to facilitate commerce related to the transfer item. Managing the transfer comprises maintaining a database of information about the transfer item, the donor, and the recipient. The database includes an inventory that identifies the transfer item. The database includes information about the status and location of the recipient. The transfer item comprises biological material and managing the transfer of the item comprises storing the biological material cryogenically. The transfer time comprises a future time. Information is provided online to the donor about people who may be potential recipients.

Information is provided online to the donor about times that may be an appropriate transfer time. Information is provided online to the donor online about items that may be appropriate items to be transferred. The item is to be purchased online. The donor and the recipient are not members of a family related by birth or marriage. The donor comprises an institution or an entity and the recipient comprises a person currently or previously associated with the institution or entity.

[0007] In general, in an aspect, information is maintained that has been provided by a donor about a transfer item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient. The time comprises a future time. The information is maintained until the transfer time. A transfer of the item to the recipient is managed at the transfer time. The donor and the recipient are individuals who have a specific relationship to one another that is the basis of the transfer, their specific relationship being authenticated before the transfer occurs. In some implementations, the specific relationship comprises a family relationship based on birth or marriage, and the time comprises a future time.

[0008] In general, in an aspect, a donor can provide through an interactive facility information about an item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time (e.g., a future time) when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient. The donor and the recipient are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b). [0009] In general, in an aspect, a storage facility is operated in which physical items to be transferred to recipients at corresponding transfer times are stored. The transfer of the items to the recipients is managed at the transfer times in accordance with information provided by donors of the items about the items to be transferred, the recipients who are to receive them, and the transfer times in the future. Each of the donors and the corresponding recipients are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b).

[0010] In general, in an aspect, a storage facility is operated in which digital items to be

communicated to recipients at corresponding transfer times in the future are stored. The transfer of the items to the recipients is managed at the transfer times in accordance with information provided by donors of the items about the items to be transferred, the recipients who are to receive them, and the transfer times in the future. Each of the donors and the corresponding recipients are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b). [0011] In general, in an aspect, a social networking facility enables individuals who are related by birth or marriage to engage as a limited community in social networking activities that include communications, posting of information, and the transfer of items from donors in the community to recipients in the community based on information provided by the donors. Each of the donors and a corresponding recipient are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b). [0012] In general, in an aspect, a donor user input module is configured to receive, from a donor user of a multigenerational social network, instructions to deliver at least one of a message and an item to a recipient user of the multigenerational social network. An analysis module is configured to select at least one of a delivery event, a delivery date, and an identity of the item based on data associated with the recipient user. A delivery module is configured to deliver, to the recipient user, at least one of the message, the item, and a message associated with the item according to at least one of the identified delivery event and the identified delivery date.

[0013] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. A storage module is configured to store the item. A storage database stores data associated with items stored in the storage module. A communications module is configured to determine at least one of a location and a status of the recipient user. The delivery module is configured to deliver according to at least one of the location and the status of the recipient user. The display module is configured to display a delivery instructions interface to the donor user and to display a representation of the delivery to the recipient user. The distribution database is configured to store data associated with at least one of item vendors, item distributors, and logistics of item delivery. The analysis module is configured to select an identity of the item based on data stored in the distribution database.

[0014] In general, in an aspect, a person who wants to give a tangible, physical, virtual, or digital item to another family member of a different generation at a future time can provide information from which the item, the future time, and the recipient can be determined. The giver and the recipient are individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the giver, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the future time, or (c) both (a) and (b). The information is stored. The item is transferred to the other family member at the future time based on the provided information.

[0015] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes making a digital or physical memory box accessible to a person. By an electronic message, the person is encouraged to engage in an activity the result of which will be a digital or physical item. The recipient and the person have a relationship with respect to which the result of the activity will represent a memory for the recipient with respect to the person, the digital or physical memory box containing the result of the activity is received and stored. The recipient is given access to the digital or physical memory box at a future time (e.g., when the person is dead or incapacitated). [0016] In general, in an aspect, people who have a relationship with one another can to participate in an online community of members, the members being controlled and limited based on the relationship. Transfer-initiating members can specify transfers of transfer items to be made at future transfer times to other members of the community. There is received from the transfer-initiating members, at initiation times, information from which the recipients of transfer items, the transfer items, and the transfer times can be determined. The transfer items are caused to be stored prior to the transfer times. The recipients, the transfer items, and the transfer times are selected to cause the recipients to have favorable memories about the initiating members associated with the

relationships. Particular implementations can realize one or more of the following advantages. A multigenerational social network enables efficient and effective communication of messages and transfer of assets among members of a group, such as members of a family, a group of friends, members of a social or professional group, employees of a corporation, or another group of people. For instance, intergenerational communication and gift-giving may be facilitated through the use of a multigenerational social network. In some cases, a member of an older generation may wish to distribute assets such as heirloom furniture, family portraits, or mementos, but the intended recipient is unable or unwilling to receive such assets. The multigenerational social network provides systems for retaining such valuable assets until the intended recipient is able and willing to accept the transfer. Vendor contracts embedded within the multigenerational social network provide a wide range of potential gifts for transfer within the multigenerational social network. In addition, predictive analytics implemented by the multigenerational social network may help a donor user to identify an appropriate date or event and/or an appropriate gift for a particular recipient.

[0017] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes notifying a first person that a significant event is going to occur with respect to a second person; receiving from the first person, the second person, or another person a communication that relates to the significant event and to the first person and that has been curated at least in part from information that has been accumulated automatically from online resources; and sending the curated communication to the communication target.

[0018] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The method further includes detecting an occurrence of the significant event. In some cases, the method further includes receiving information provided by the first person defining at least one condition for occurrence of the significant event. In some cases, detecting an occurrence of the significant event includes conducting an automated analysis of publicly available (a) online or mobile social networking facilities, (b) online or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites. Receiving the communication includes receiving an approval of an automatically generated communication. Receiving the communication includes receiving a communication that has been generated by the first person and that includes at least some of the information that has been accumulated. The method further includes receiving an identification of the second person from the first person.

[0019] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes, in connection with an occurrence of a significant event of a person the conditions for occurrence of which had been defined earlier by a user, automatically generating a page of a website or a mobile application or an email application that is associated with the significant event of the person and includes information generated by and received from the user, information about the person, and information associated with the person that has been obtained by automated analysis of publicly available (a) online or mobile social networking facilities, (b) online or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites, and serving the page for display through a web browser or a mobile application or an email application. [0020] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The page is served after the user is given an opportunity to curate the page. Curating the page includes adding content to the page, removing content from the page, and/or changing content on the page. The page is served to an editor and then re-served after the editor has curated it, and the editor is designated by the user. The page is served without input from the user. Notification of the occurrence of the significant event is given automatically to someone, in particular someone who needs to take some action regarding the event. In some cases, notification of the occurrence of the significant event is given automatically to the user. The method includes detecting the occurrence of the significant event. Detecting the occurrence of the significant event includes conducting an automated analysis of publicly available (a) online or mobile social networking facilities, (b) online or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites. In some cases, conducting an automated analysis includes conducting the analysis in view information provided by the user defining the conditions for occurrence of the event. The page is served in the future to parties whose existence and identity with respect to the user and the significant event is undetermined at the time when the conditions for occurrence are defined. The user is a service provider and the person is a client of the service provider. The user is an agent of a company, the person is an employee of the company, and the page is served as a corporate email message or as a website on an internal corporate network. The user is an agent of a charitable foundation or university and the person is a donor to the charitable foundation or university. The page includes information that is generated by and received from another user and is about the person. The page includes information that is generated by and received from the person and is about the person. The event is a death of the person. Serving the page includes serving the page to a relative of the person. The event is a birthday or anniversary of the person. The event is a change in employment status of the person. Serving the page includes delivering a notification of the page to a recipient via a private communication. The recipient is the person. The private communication channel includes email, telephone, short message service (SMS) messaging, and/or social network facilitated communication. Serving the page includes publishing the page as a website. The website is available to a group of people sharing a common affiliation.

[0021] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes generating a

communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient who are related to one another by blood or employment; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient based on a future location of the recipient. The content of the communication and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender, the recipient, or both.

[0022] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The method includes sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location. The method includes sending the communication to a mobile computing device associated with the recipient. The method includes detecting a location of the recipient. In some cases, detecting a location of the recipient includes detecting GPS coordinates of a computing device associated with the recipient. In some cases, the method includes sending the communication to the recipient when the location of the recipient matches the future location. Scheduling delivery includes scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient at a specified future time. In some cases, the method includes sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location at the specified future time. In some cases, the method includes receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and determining the future time based on the time criteria. The method includes receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria. In some cases, the location criteria include at least one of a characteristic of the future location, a characteristic of the sender, and a characteristic of the recipient. Generating the communication includes generating a draft communication including at least some of the determined content; providing the draft communication to the sender; and receiving the communication from the sender. Generating the communication includes generating the communication including at least some of the determined content. The method includes conducting an automated analysis of the electronically-accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location. The

communication includes a multimedia message. The electronically-accessible resources include at least one of (a) electronically-accessible or mobile social networking facilities, (b) electronically- accessible or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites. The electronically-accessible resources include a database storing data relevant to the sender, the recipient, or both. [0023] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes generating a

communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient; and scheduling delivery of the

communication to the recipient at a specified future time based on a future location of the recipient. The identity of the recipient, the content of the communication, the future time, and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender or the recipient.

[0024] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The method includes sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location at the specified future time. The method includes sending the communication to a mobile computing device associated with the recipient. The method includes detecting a location of the recipient. In some cases, detecting a location of the recipient includes detecting GPS coordinates of a computing device associated with the recipient. In some cases, the method includes the communication to the recipient when the location of the recipient matches the future location. The method includes receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria. In some cases, the location criteria include at least one of a characteristic of the future location, a characteristic of the sender, and a characteristic of the recipient. The method includes receiving recipient criteria for determining the identity of the recipient; and wherein the identity of the recipient is determined based on the recipient criteria. In some cases, the recipient criteria include a relationship between the sender and the recipient, such as a future relationship between the sender and the recipient. In some cases, the recipient criteria include a characteristic of the recipient. The method includes receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and wherein the specified future time is determined based on the time criteria. Generating the communication includes generating a draft communication including at least some of the determined content; providing the draft communication to the sender; and receiving the communication from the sender. Generating the communication includes generating the

communication including at least some of the determined content. The method includes conducting an automated analysis of the electronically-accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location. The communication includes a multimedia message. The electronically-accessible resources include at least one of (a) electronically-accessible or mobile social networking facilities, (b) electronically-accessible or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites. The electronically-accessible resources include a database storing data relevant to the sender, the recipient, or both.

[0025] In general, in an aspect, a computer-implemented method includes generating a

communication to be sent from an employer to an employee; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the employee based on a future location of the employee. The content of the communication and the future location of the employee are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the employee.

[0026] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The method includes sending the communication to the employee when the employee is at or near the future location. The method includes sending the communication to a mobile computing device associated with the employee. The method includes detecting a location of the employee. In some cases, the method includes sending the communication to the employee when the location of the employee matches the future location. Scheduling delivery includes scheduling delivery of the communication to the employee at a specified future time. In some cases, the method includes sending the communication to the employee when the employee is at or near the future location at the specified future time. In some cases, the method includes receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and determining the future time based on the time criteria. The method includes receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria. In some cases, the location criteria include at least one of a characteristic of the future location, a characteristic of the employer, and a characteristic of the employee. Generating the communication includes generating a draft communication including at least some of the determined content; providing the draft communication to the employer or an agent for the employer; and receiving the communication from the employer or the agent for the employer. Generating the communication includes generating the communication including at least some of the determined content. The method includes conducting an automated analysis of the electronically-accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location. The electronically- accessible resources include at least one of (a) electronically-accessible or mobile social networking facilities, (b) electronically-accessible or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites. The electronically- accessible resources include a database storing data relevant to the employer, the employee, or both.

[0027] In general, in an aspect, a method includes maintaining first information characterizing a person; receiving second information indicative of contents of a message to be delivered to a recipient on behalf of the person, an identity of the recipient, and a delivery time for delivery of the message; and delivering the message to the recipient at the delivery time, including conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient on behalf of the person based on the first information characterizing the person.

[0028] Implementations may include one or a combination of any two or more of the following features. The message includes a multimedia message. Delivering the message includes delivering the message using a digital representation of the person. The method includes generating the digital representation of the person based on the first information characterizing the person. The digital representation of the person includes a representation of one or more of the following: a voice of the person, a behavior of the person, and an appearance of the person. Conducting a natural language interaction includes responding to a question or statement from the recipient. Responding to the question or statement from the recipient includes responding to the question or statement with a natural language response. The method includes forming a response to the question or statement based on the first information characterizing the person. The method includes generating the message based on the first information, the second information, or both. The second information includes a specification of the identity of the recipient. The second information includes a specification of a relationship between the person and the recipient. The method includes identifying the recipient based on the second information indicative of the identity of the recipient. The second information includes a specification of the delivery time. The second information indicative of the delivery time includes an identification of an event. The second information indicative of the delivery time includes a definition of a condition for occurrence of the event. The method includes identifying the delivery time based on the second information indicative of the delivery time. The second information includes a specification of the contents of the message. The method includes determining the contents of the message based on the second information indicative of the contents of the message. The contents of the message include autobiographical information about the person. The second information is indicative of a manner of delivery of the message. The person is not alive or not competent at the time when the message is delivered. The recipient is not alive or not competent at the time when the second information is received. The method includes receiving at least some of the first information characterizing the person from the person. Receiving the first information comprises: presenting a question to the person and receiving an answer to the question from the person. Receiving the first information includes conducting a natural language interaction with the person. The method includes obtaining at least some of the first information characterizing the person from an automated analysis of publicly available online information. The first information characterizing the person includes information about one or more of the following: a voice of the person, a behavior of the person, and an appearance of the person. The first information characterizing the person includes information about a time period during which the person lived. The first information characterizing the person includes autobiographical information about the person.

[0029] In general, in an aspect, a method includes receiving first information characterizing a person and second information indicative of an identity of a recipient; and conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient using a digital representation of the person that is generated based on the first information, in which the person is not alive or not competent when the natural language interaction is conducted.

[0030] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. Conducting the natural language interaction includes conducting the natural language interaction based on the first information. The method includes determining a context of the natural language interaction based on the first information. The context of the natural language interaction includes a time at which the natural language interaction is to be conducted, a style of the natural language interaction, or both. The method includes determining a content of the natural language interaction based on the first information. The content of the natural language interaction includes autobiographical information about the person. The digital representation of the person includes a representation of one or more of the following: a voice of the person, a behavior of the person, and an appearance of the person. Conducting the natural language interaction includes responding to the recipient. The method includes determining a response to the recipient based on the first information. The method includes identifying the recipient based on the second information. The recipient is not alive or not competent when the second information is received.

[0031] In general, in an aspect, a system includes a storage device for maintaining first information characterizing a person; and an analytics engine for receiving second information indicative of contents of a message to be delivered to a recipient on behalf of the person, an identity of the recipient, and a delivery time for delivery of the message, and delivering the message to the recipient at the delivery time, the analytics engine configured to conduct a natural language interaction with the recipient on behalf of the person based on the first information characterizing the person. [0032] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The analytics engine is configured to generate a digital representation of the person for display on a user interface. The analytics engine is configured to respond to a question or statement from the recipient with a natural language response. The system includes a communication engine configured to identify the recipient based on the second information. [0033] In general, in an aspect, a system includes a communication engine for receiving first information characterizing a person and second information indicative of an identity of a recipient; and an analytics engine for conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient using a digital representation of the person that is generated based on the first information. The person is not alive or not competent when the natural language interaction is conducted. [0034] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The analytics engine is configured to generate the digital representation of the person for display on a user interface.

[0035] In general, in an aspect, information is received information from which at least one of the following can be derived: content of a message to be delivered from a first party to a second party about a life event, a manner of delivery of the message, a future time when the message is to be delivered, and the recipient of the message. The, on behalf of the first party, an integrated, conversational multimedia message is automatically formed that is to be part of a natural language dialog with the second party.

[0036] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The integrated, conversational multimedia message is automatically formed by an intelligent proxy on behalf of the first party. The integrated, conversational multimedia message is formed to be responsive to natural language communication of the second party. The intelligent proxy enables a user to interact with online services to obtain information related to the message. The automatic forming of the message includes imbuing a digital surrogate with qualities associated with the first party, the manner of delivery of the message, the time of delivery of the message, or the recipient of the message. The information is received interactively. The information is received interactively by and interrogation avatar. The information is received in the form of images, video, voice, or behavioral gestures of the party from whom the messages to be delivered, or combinations of any two or more of them. The message is formed to provide an answer to a conventionally asked question. The natural language dialog includes an interactive obituary or a digitized life history. [0037] In general, in an aspect, digital information is maintained that enables the formation of an interactive digital surrogate of an originating person based on digital audio or video information derived from the originating person. At a time when the originating person is not alive or otherwise not available, the digital surrogate is caused to engage in a natural language dialog with a receiving person who is determined on the basis of information that had been provided by the originating person.

[0038] Implementations may include one or more of the following features. The context of the natural language dialog is determined based on information that had been provided by the originating person. The context includes the time of the natural language dialog or the style of the natural language dialog. [0039] In general, in an aspect an intelligent automated proxy for an individual is implemented on an electronic device, to facilitate user interaction with the individual's life story in an integrated, conversational manner using natural language dialog. In an aspect the intelligent automated proxy is programmed to enable the individual to more effectively engage with local and remote services to obtain information and perform various actions at future times. [0040] These and other aspects, features, implementations, and advantages, and combinations of them, can be expressed as methods, apparatus, systems, components, program products, business methods, and means or steps for performing functions, or combinations of them.

[0041] Other features, aspects, implementations, and advantages will become apparent from the description, the drawings, and the claims. DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of a system

[0043] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a storage module.

[0044] FIG. 3 is view of a user interface.

[0045] FIG. 4 is a view of a user interface.

[0046] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a communications engine.

[0047] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an analytics engine.

[0048] FIG. 7 is a view of a recipient display.

[0049] FIG. 8 is a block diagram a sequence of social commerce.

[0050] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of a process for communicating a message.

[0051] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of a process for transferring an item.

[0052] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of a process for transferring an item.

[0053] FIG. 12 is a functional diagram of the system actions for communicating messa

[0054] FIG. 13 is an example of a document generated by the system.

[0055] FIG. 14 is view of a publisher interface.

[0056] FIG. 15 is a view of an editor interface.

[0057] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of a notification Engine.

[0058] FIG. 17 is a view of a reader display.

[0059] FIGS. 18-20 are flowcharts.

[0060] FIG. 21 is a block diagram of an example system for sending a communication.

[0061] FIG. 22 is a flow chart.

[0062] FIG. 23 is a view of a recipient user interface.

[0063] FIG. 24 is a view of a sender user interface.

[0064] FIG 25 is a block diagram of an example location module.

[0065] FIGS. 26-31 are flow charts. [0066] FIGS. 32 and 33 are views of an editing interface. [0067] FIG. 34 is a block diagram of a Notification Engine. [0068] FIG. 35 is a view of the recipient interface. [0069] FIG. 36 is a flowchart for delivering presentations. [0070] FIG. 37 is flowchart for delivering gifts.

[0071] FIG. 38 is a flowchart for managing an event directive.

[0072] Devices that are in communication with each other need not be in continuous communication with each other, unless expressly specified otherwise. In addition, devices that are in communication with each other may communicate directly or indirectly through one or more intermediaries. [0073] A description of an embodiment with several components in communication with each other does not imply that all such components are required. To the contrary, a variety of optional components are described to illustrate the wide variety of possible embodiments of the invention.

[0074] Further, although process steps, method steps, algorithms or the like may be described in a sequential order, such processes, methods and algorithms may be configured to work in alternate orders. In other words, any sequence or order of steps that may be described in this patent application does not, in and of itself, indicate a requirement that the steps be performed in that order. The steps of described processes may be performed in any order practical. Further, some steps may be performed simultaneously despite being described or implied as occurring non-simultaneously (e.g., because one step is described after the other step). Moreover, the illustration of a process by its depiction in a drawing does not imply that the illustrated process is exclusive of other variations and modifications thereto, does not imply that the illustrated process or any of its steps are necessary to the invention, and does not imply that the illustrated process is preferred.

[0075] When a single device or article is described, more than one device/article (whether or not they cooperate) may be used in place of a single device/article. Similarly, where more than one device or article is described (whether or not they cooperate), a single device/article may be used in place of the more than one device or article.

[0076] Techniques and mechanisms described or reference herein will sometimes be described in singular form for clarity. However, particular embodiments include multiple iterations of a technique or multiple instantiations of a mechanism unless noted otherwise. [0077] In some implementations, the system that we describe here enables members of a community of users of a network, for example, members of a community that includes multiple generations of an extended family, a group of friends, employees of a corporation, or any other group of people or entities known or unknown to each other, and combinations of any two or more of those, to cause items such as communications, goods, or services to be transferred to other members of the community, for example, at future times or in a way that is suggested by or associated with the relationship of the members or information about the members or both. Implementations of the system need not be limited to networks of the kind known as social networks and need not span multiple generations, but some implementations will be in the context of social networks or will be multigenerational or both. For convenience, we sometimes refer to the system in some examples as a multigenerational social network, but we mean that phrase in a very broad sense to include, for example, any sort of network or grouping in which a community of users (we sometimes use the terms users and members interchangeably) participate, that includes members of a single generation or of multiple generations, or both features. [0078] In some examples of the system, the community of users is a limited community that includes predominantly or solely members of a family group of users who are related by birth or marriage. In some cases, their relationship by birth or marriage has been authenticated. In some instances, people who are not related by birth or marriage but have a close relationship to the family (such as adopted children or a beloved friend or employee such as a nanny) can be included in the community as authenticated members. In some cases, the limited community can include a group of friends or acquaintances or other set of people who may have an interest in participating in the system. In some instances, the community can be any group of people whether known or unknown to one another.

[0079] We sometimes refer to the community as an authenticated community in a broad sense to mean, for example, that their entitlement to be members of the group can be established by records or vote or approval or in some other way. In some instances, however, it may be important that membership or entitlement in the community be provable by public records. For example, if a grandmother wants to be certain that transfers of communications or money from her to members of future generations of her family will go only to proven descendants related by blood, the system will verify or authenticate people as belonging to that group and manage the transfers to meet that requirement. Thus, membership in the community and qualification to receive a transfer can be defined in a variety of ways by the person who is doing the transfers and the system will manage the transfers accordingly to satisfy the intentions of the person doing the transfers. In some cases, the community can include users who fall into various categories, some authenticated to receive certain transfers, and others not. [0080] An almost limitless variety of communications, goods, and services can be the subject of the transfers that we describe here, and we sometimes use the phrase "transfer item" to refer to the subjects of the transfers in the broadest possible sense.

[0081] In implementations of the system that we are describing, transfers of transfer items typically occur at a future time, which we sometimes call the transfer time. The time can be a specific day and even a specific time on a specific day, or can be defined less specifically as a period of time (for example, during the grandchild's 13^th year, or upon the marriage of the fourth great-grandchild). In most cases, the transfer time can either be named specifically in advance or conditions for determining the transfer time can be defined, or the transfer time can be determined later in various ways by the system itself or by the system with the help of others. The multi generational social network system qualifies, enables, and manages the delivery of the transfer item at the transfer time. (The phrase multigenerational social network, which we use in this description, may suggest a system that is to be implemented on a social network platform and that requires participation by members of multiple generations of a family. In some examples that we discuss, that is the case. However, the system that we discuss here can be implemented in a wide variety of other ways as well, some of which do not involve multiple generations, members of a single family, or the use of a social network platform. When we use the phrase "multigenerational social network" it is not meant to be limited and is usually used interchangeably with the broad term system and to apply to all of the implementations and concepts encompassed in such a system.)

[0082] We sometimes refer to the person or entity that is, for example, arranging for or causing the transfer as a donor, in the broadest sense. And we sometimes refer to the recipient of a transfer as a recipient. In some cases, the donor or the recipient or both of them will be members of the community served by the network. However, the donor or recipient of a given transfer item need not have been or be a member of the network community. For example, a father who is a member of the community on the network may arrange for a transfer of brass candlesticks brought to the United States by his immigrant grandmother in 1901 to his not yet living great grandchildren who may never be members of the network. [0083] In some cases, the transfer times for transfers are specified by the donor user. In some cases, a predictive analytics engine of the system, for example, in the multigenerational social network determines an appropriate delivery date to be used as the transfer time. The engine can base this determination, for example, on data associated with the recipient, predetermined criteria specified by the donor, or other information. In some instances, the transfer times can be determined by the multigenerational social network (the system).

[0084] In some examples, when the delivery date (we sometimes refer to the transfer time as the delivery date) occurs, the recipient user may be notified by the multigenerational social network (the system) and delivery can be arranged, if appropriate. In some cases, the notification may be given by a community member who participates in the network to someone who does not (for example, her four year old daughter).

[0085] In some instances, deliveries (we sometimes refer to transfers as deliveries) may be scheduled for holidays; anniversaries, such as birthdays; special occasions, such as bar mitzvahs or first communions; or milestone events, such as a high school or college graduation, the birth of a child, or a promotion or attainment of an achievement or award.

[0086] The form or context of the transfers made using the multigenerational social network may be gifts, inheritances, or other types of transfers. The transfer items can be an unlimited variety of communications, goods, or services, and other items.

[0087] Communications through the multigenerational social network may, for example, be or include verbal communications, such as text, handwriting, voice recordings, or other types of digital speech; photographs, such as physical photographs or digital images; video communications; or communications in other media without limit.

[0088] In some cases, the transfer items in the form of goods or services may be digital, such as an image or a text message (e.g., a short message service (SMS) message or an email) containing, e.g., a prepaid coupon or information related to a bank account number and access instructions. The transfer items may be virtual, such as an icon or an asset for an online game (e.g., a Zynga

FarmVille™ animal). The transfer items may include an arrangement with a vendor for delivery of a pre -purchased gift or service. The goods that are the transfer items can be physical or tangible. In some instances, the multigenerational social network provides physical storage facilities for physical or tangible transfer items, such as heirlooms, mementos, letters, documents, cryogenically stored biological materials, or other physical goods. The physical storage facility can provide services involved in maintaining, restoring, or preserving goods. Transfer items can be combinations of and two or more of communications, goods, or services, and any two or more of physical, virtual, or digital items. For example, a transfer item can be an heirloom watch combined with a digital message referring to the watch and a digital photograph of the donor wearing the watch. [0089] In some cases, the donor user specifies the transfer item, for example, the exact content of a message or a type of asset (e.g., gift) to be transferred. In some cases, the predictive analytics engine determines an appropriate message or type of asset based on data associated with the recipient user or predetermined criteria specified by the donor user or by the multigenerational social network.

[0090] In some embodiments, the multigenerational social network provides notification of changes in information associated with users of the multigenerational social network. The notifications may be frequent or automatic or both. Such automatic notifications may enable communications or asset distributions to be triggered or timed by specific events. For instance, a donor user may indicate that balloons are to be delivered to a recipient user on the recipient user's birthday without specifying the particular day (e.g., on the 21^st birthday of a recipient user who is currently two years old).

Alternatively, a donor user may indicate that flowers are to be delivered to a recipient user upon the death or incapacitation of the donor user (e.g., automatic delivery of wedding anniversary flowers for ten years after the donor user's death).

[0091] Thus, the donor is able to specify the transfer items, the transfer times, and the transfer recipients either specifically or by criteria that can be used to determine the specific items, times, and recipients. In some implementations, an engine, for example, an analytics engine, can participate in the determinations. In some cases, people other than the donor can have a role. For example, the recipient may be allowed to make a choice as among several possible transfer items. Or a parent of the recipient may be authorized to participate in the determination of when a child will receive a transfer item and which item will be transferred. [0092] The system can be implemented in a very wide variety of ways as a network in which some or all of the members of the limited community (we sometimes use the terms limited community and community interchangeably) are participants.

[0093] FIG. 1 is a block diagram of an example of the system, e.g., a multigenerational social network 100 for transferring items, e.g., communicating messages (e.g., media messages) and distributing gifts, physical or digital assets, and mementos, among members of a community that participates, for example, in the multigenerational social network. In this example, a computer network 102 connects a social network provider 104 (such as Facebook or Google+) with the user devices 106 such as workstations, mobile devices, mobile computers, for communicating across the computer network 102. In some examples, the social network provider can be the operator or host of the system in addition to or instead of an existing social network provider. In some examples, the system operates independently from any social network and is hosted on a server (not shown), and users do not need to be members of a community or social network to utilize the system.

[0094] A donor user 108 can create, write, dictate, preform, copy, define, or otherwise transcribe media messages, enter instructions about transfer items, criteria, recipients, and transfer times, for example; give orders to the vendors 124 and give orders to the storage modules 112 regarding documents, media communications (we sometimes use the terms communications and media communications interchangeably), goods, and services and other transfer items for delivery to the recipient users 114 (114A, 114B, ....,114M). A communications engine 120 facilitates identification of the location, status, and interest profile (e.g., affinities) of intended recipient users 114 that can be accessed by an authenticated donor user 108. For example, a grandmother may learn about the school activities of one of her grandchildren. An analytics engine 122 using information from various databases facilitates the determination for a donor user 108 of an appropriate gift, physical or digital asset, or other transfer item and its delivery at the appropriate transfer time to intended recipient users, 114.

[0095] In some examples, the social network provider 104 supplies a database server 116 to the computer network 102. The database server has one or more databases 118 [118A, 118B, ..., 118N], for storing a wide variety of information useful for or related to the operation of the system, including user instructions, orders, and media messages as well as the profile and historical data of socially networked individuals together with information on vendors and distributors and the logistics involved in facilitating intergenerational social commerce. [0096] FIG. 2 is a block diagram of a physical storage module 112 for a multigenerational social network or system 100. The storage module 112 provides a secure facility for storage of physical or tangible transfer items, such as digital media, documents, gifts, assets, and mementos and a wide variety of other physical or tangible items, for social commerce and other transfer from one member of a community to another, for example, across the multigenerational social network. A database server 204 in the storage module 112, connected to the computer network 102, stores a wide variety of information including information associated with inventory, transaction history, status, and scheduled delivery dates for transfer items stored in the storage module 112. A database server 204 stores digital media in a database 206, including, in some cases, scanned versions of physical documents and objects stored in the storage module for backup should reconstruction of those documents or objects become necessary. The information on the server may be replicated to an offsite server for backup redundancy.

[0097] Within the secure facility provided by the storage module 112 there are climate-controlled compartmented storage rooms 208 for storing collectibles such as artwork or heirloom furniture. Acid-free archive compartments, 210 can be used to store paper, fabrics and small mementoes. In some cases and for certain purposes, the archive compartments can serve as what we call memory boxes. Larger objects such as statues may be stored in protective crates 212. The storage facility may include specialized storage facilities for the storage of a diverse array of assets. For instance, a storage facility may be provided to store and/or synthesize odors, such as the scent of a favorite perfume. An example storage facility includes automated climate control, e.g., at non-freezing temperatures; radio frequency identification (RFID) labeling of stored items; robotic assisted retrieval of stored items (e.g., such as the robotic assisted retrieval used by amazon.com in its distribution warehouses); and authenticated access control and access tracking. As another example, flash-frozen food such as baked goods or biological material such as cryogenically frozen sperm, eggs, embryos, or stem cells from baby teeth can be stored in a cryogenic storage module 214, such as a cryogenic bio-repository. An example cryogenic bio-repository is the Angelatoni Industries Automated Freezers/Smartfreezer® Series with nominal working temperature down to -180 °C, humidity control to eliminate icing, fully automated retrieval of stored items by a robotic arm, sample identification by two-dimensional and linear barcode readers, and built-in matching between inventory data and physical sample location with authenticated access control and access tracking. In some examples, the storage module can be arranged to store, preserve, and deliver any possible kind of tangible, physical, or digital manifestation of a transfer item.

[0098] The storage module 112 may provide storage for physical memory boxes or digital memory boxes or both, for instance in the archive compartments 210 or the database 206. Memory boxes enable users, including children and adults, to store "memories," or records of their thoughts, plans, expectations, or other ideas. The contents of a memory boxes may be maintained indefinitely until a user requests retrieval of some or all of the contents of the memory box, or may be delivered to the user or to another recipient at a specified time (e.g., a time specified upon creation of the memory box or upon deposit of a particular item into the memory box). Memory boxes may also be used for the storage of messages, such as birthday or anniversary greetings, that a user wishes to have delivered to a recipient at a later date.

[0099] A physical memory box may be used to store, for instance, drawings, essays, journal entries, or other written material. In some cases, the user may be provided with a prompt to prepare material for storage in the physical memory box. For instance, a different subject may be provided regularly, such as monthly, as a prompt to the user. Example subjects may include questions about what the user hopes or expects to see or experience in the future (e.g., what the user hopes to accomplish within the next year); questions about the user's personal thoughts (e.g., what are the user's favorite things, which ethnic or religious groups does the user identify with); questions about current events (e.g., the user's opinion about a current election or political controversy); questions about the user's daily life (e.g., a description of "a day in the life" of the user); or other prompts. The subjects may be provided uniformly to all users who maintain a physical memory box, or the subjects may be tailored to each user or to a subgroup of users (e.g., children may receive different prompts than adults). A physical memory box may also include a recorder, such as a digital voice recorder, to record conversations, which may be related to any topic, including in response to the previously mentioned prompts.

[00100] A digital memory box may include scanned versions of materials included in a physical memory box (e.g., scanned copies of a child's drawings) and/or may include material created specifically for the digital memory box. For instance, a user may record a conversation and email or upload the conversation to a server of the multigenerational social network, which then causes the conversation to be stored in the user's digital memory box. In some embodiments, the multigenerational social network may provide a phone number that a user can dial to have a conversation recorded and stored directly in the user's digital memory box. The phone number may be a general phone number such that the user enters an identification code in order to access his account; or the phone number may be a phone number specific to the user. When the user dials the phone number, he may be presented with a prompt, such as the example prompts listed above; or he may be given the opportunity to record an open-ended conversation. The user may be prompted to dial the phone number, e.g., by an email message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a phone call. In some cases, the user may be prompted to select what to do with the recording, such as when and to whom to release the recording. A memory box is a type of transfer item and can be subjected to instructions of the donor user about the recipient, the transfer time, and other information that will control the use of the memory box.

[00101] FIG. 3 is an example donor communication interface 300 of a multigenerational social network (a system). The user device 106 displays a donor communication interface 300, which provides a communication selection window 302 allowing a donor user to input instructions 304 and orders 306, e.g., related to a communication or delivery of a transfer item. The donor communication interface 300 is also operable to transcribe media messages, 309, which may be in the form of e-mail, voice, images, scanned or real-time photographs, or video.

[00102] Example media messages include birthday greetings, congratulations on graduation, celebration of an anniversary, or holiday greetings. Other example media messages include videos of the birth of a baby, a toddler's first steps, or a child's first day at a school. For a multigenerational social network (system) in which the donor user is an agent of a corporation or an institution such as a school, a city, state or federal government, an example video media message may be an event or "day in the life of the organization for future reference or dissemination to viewers of interest. In some examples, a media message may include last words or a more extensive message from a donor user to his survivors, such as the donor user's children, including the donor user's autobiography to be delivered in full or released in stages.

[00103] FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a donor user's delivery or other transfer selection interface 400 of a multigenerational social network. The user device 106 displays a donor delivery selection interface 400, which provides a delivery selection window 402 allowing a donor user to select a type of communication or asset for delivery within a multigenerational social network or other system, including, e.g., transcribed media 404, documents 406, assets 408, and gifts 410, including digital coupons 412 from a vendor 124 and any combination of two or more of them. The donor user is prompted to select a recipient user and optionally to select an event associated with the delivery of the communication or asset (e.g., flowers to be delivered on an anniversary) or other transfer of a transfer item. The delivery selection interface 400 allows the donor user to select a preferred vendor and method of delivery, where appropriate. Once the donor user has entered the appropriate information, a communication engine 120 of the multigenerational social network determines the location, status, or affinities or any combination of two or more of them of the recipient user. In some cases, the analytics engine 122 is employed to assist the donor user in selecting a delivery date (e.g., by using historical data to forecast personal milestones of a recipient user), an appropriate asset or transfer item for delivery (e.g., by forecasting future needs and wants of a recipient user), or delivery times (transfer times) best suited for the recipient user, or any combination of two or more of them, among other things.

[00104] FIG. 5 is a block diagram of a communications engine 120 of a multigenerational social network or other system 100. The communication engine 120 facilitates intergenerational commerce (transfers of transfer items) for a donor user 108 by providing access to the physical location, profile interest information, or affinity information or any combination of them pertaining to one or more recipient users 114. In some examples, the location, interest, and affinity information may be displayed by a display module 504 on a webpage belonging to the donor user. The communication engine 120 also displays the recipient user's location profile within the

multigenerational social network 100. The communication engine 120 includes an affinity database 502 for storing recipient user affinity information and a location database 510 for storing the physical location of a recipient user. The location database 510 may receive data relevant to the location of a recipient user from a GPS translation module 506. [00105] FIG. 6 is a block diagram of an analytics engine 122 of the multigenerational social network or other system 100. The analytics engine 122 facilitates intergenerational commerce for donor user 108 by determining or inferring milestone events for the recipient user 114 or determining or inferring an appropriate gift or asset (transfer item) for a recipient user or both, among other things. A predictive analytics module 602 applies forecasting models stored in a forecasting models library 606 to analyze present and/or historical recipient user data in view of data stored in a database 608 containing data related to vendor profiles and lifestyle information to identify milestone events and to suggest appropriate gifts for a recipient user. The predictive analytics module 602 implements a variety of forecasting techniques beyond simple algorithms, such as future date calculation, including statistical techniques such as machine learning (e.g., as applied by IBM's Watson computer), game theory, and data mining, to analyze current and historical data to make predictions about future recipients, to identify appropriate document, asset or gift selections, and to identify appropriate delivery times and methods, among a wide variety of other analyses and algorithms. For instance, historical data representative of purchases made by a recipient user may be modeled against data representative of categories of purchased items to identify potential gifts for the recipient user. Analytics engine 122 may use data specific to a user to identify potential milestone events (e.g., to identify a bar mitzvah date for a child based on the child's birth date or to identify appropriate religious holidays based on the user's specified religious affiliation or a prevailing religion in the region where the user lives). In some cases, the predictive analytics module 602 may incorporate present or historical donor user data or both to identify relevant recipient user milestone events or gifts or both in keeping with preferences of the donor. [00106] A display module 604 of the analytics engine 122 may display the milestone events of a recipient user on a webpage belonging to a donor user. In some embodiments, the analytics engine 122 may automatically communicate notices of an event relevant to a recipient user, such as a birthday, to communications module 120, which sends the notices to relatives of the recipient user. The analytics engine may use information about a recipient user found in various databases to determine when to send out the notices. In some embodiments, the predictive analytics incorporate the robust, optimizing forecasting techniques of Pinto et al. (United States patent 7,499,897, issued on March 3, 2009; United States patent 7,562,058, issued on July 14, 2009; United States patent 7,725,300, issued on May 25, 2010; United States patent 7,730,003, issued on June 1, 2010; United States patent 7,933,762, issued on April 26, 2011; and United States patent application 10/826,949, filed April 16, 2004, the contents of all of which are incorporated herein by reference), that manage historical data using missing values, which must be inferred.

[00107] In some embodiments, the analytics engine acts as a surrogate of a donor user 108 to generate responses (e.g., messages, gift selections, and/or delivery instructions) based on historical data specific to the recipient user. For instance, the analytics engine may be configured as described by Gruber et al. (United States patent application 12/987,982, filed January 10, 2011, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference) to include an automated assistant receiving user input; an active ontology with representations of concepts and relations among concepts drawn from various databases of historical data (for instance, for the case in which the donor user is the agent of a corporation, the corporate personnel database may be referenced); and a language interpreter parsing the donor user input to derive a representation of donor user intent in terms of the active ontology together with a services orchestration to output responses and instructions to implement the donor user's intent.

[00108] FIG. 7 is an example recipient display interface 700. A recipient delivery display 702 indicates the arrival of a communication or delivery of a transfer item. A communication alert window 706 indicates that recipient user 114B has received the delivery of a communication. A delivery alert window 708 indicates that recipient user 114B has received the delivery of a gift 710, an asset 712, a document 714, or a printable digital coupon 716. For a communication, after the donor user 108 has transcribed a media message and provided instructions for its delivery to a recipient user 114B, the instructions are stored in an order database along with the transcribed message until a prescribed event occurs or other conditions are met for delivery of the message. An alert message is then displayed to the recipient user 114B in the communication alert window 706 along with an icon (which may be the alert message) which, when activated (e.g., clicked), delivers the transcribed message. A similar process occurs in the case of a gift 710 or an asset 712, particularly when the gift or asset is a vendor coupon that is printable, with the alert message and icon (which may be the alert message) displaying in delivery alert window 708. If the gift or asset is in physical storage (e.g., in the storage module 200) or is to be provided by a vendor, then the alert message displayed in delivery alert window 708 indicates the availability of the gift or asset. The recipient user 114B is given the opportunity to arrange for delivery from the storage facility, for example by a common carrier such as FEDEX, UPS, DHL, or the USPS. Alternatively, the recipient user is put into contact with the vendor of the physical or digital item to arrange for delivery. [00109] FIG. 8 is a block diagram of an example sequence 800 of intergenerational social commerce (including transfers of transfer items by a system) across a family tree facilitated by a multigenerational social network (the system). A registered user 802D belonging to a first generation (802A, ...,802H) has composed (transcribed) a digital media message and selected a gift to be delivered on the 21^st birthday of a potential recipient user 810 in the third succeeding generation. Assuming the donor user 802D meets one or more criteria that indicate a relationship with the potential recipient user 810 the donor user 802D is given access to the profile of the recipient user 810. Upon receiving an inquiry from a donor user 802D to view the multigenerational social network 100 in which the recipient user 810 has a profile, the donor user 802D is provided access to the available information or the projected information about recipient user 810 inferred by the analytics engine. The analytics engine can act as a surrogate for the donor user 802D by specifying communications, goods, and services or any other transfer items for placement into storage. Provided the potential recipient user 810 is registered on the multigenerational social network, the communication engine 120 will determine the location of the recipient user, e.g., by GPS tracking or similar means. The recipient user's interests and status may be available in the recipient user's profile, which, taken together with historical data, enable the analytics engine 122 utilizing inferences from missing data, if necessary, to determine an appropriate gift to accompany the message and an optimal time for delivery. The delivery time is selected by a predictive analytics algorithm, based on historical data specific to the recipient user.

[00110] In the example of FIG. 8, the recipient user is the projected offspring of a current member in the multigenerational social network and the donor user is incapacitated at the time of delivery. By a computer-implemented method, data relevant to the recipient user may be extracted from his profile and/or generated implicitly based, at least in part, on the recipient's stored profile together with historical data by a predictive analytics algorithm based on historical data. Based on the extracted or generated data a gift is selected, in some cases without input from the donor user.

[00111] FIG. 9 is a flowchart of an example process 900 for communicating a multimedia message in a multigenerational social network. In the process 900, a donor user 108 selects a recipient user 114D or a potential recipient user in the multigenerational social network (902). For an existing recipient user within the relationship group, the donor user 108 requests the recipient user's profile that includes biographical details, location, and interests which are retrieved by the communication engine 120 ( 904). If the recipient user has not yet activated or become a member of the multigenerational social network, the analytics engine 122 infers the probable profile, location, and interests subject to later adjustment. The donor user 108 then transcribes a multimedia message (906), which might be in the form of an email and confirms, through review, that the communication message is correct. The donor user 108 then designates a delivery method, date, and time; or rules or criteria or both for determination of the delivery method and date (steps 908 and 910), in some cases with the help of the analytics engine 122. Upon confirmation by the donor user, the transcribed communication is stored pending delivery. At the specified future delivery time or at a time determined by the analytics engine 122 the transcribed communication is retrieved from storage and delivered in the manner specified. The recipient user can acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and even reply to the donor user 108 or to his proxy. [00112] FIG. 10 is a flowchart of an example process 1000 for distributing a gift (more generally, for transferring a transfer item) in a multigenerational social network (or other system). In the process 1000, a donor user 108 selects a recipient user 114D or potential recipient user in the multigenerational social network (1002). For an existing recipient user within the relationship group or community, the donor user 108 requests the recipient user's profile consisting of biographical details, location, and interests which are retrieved by the communication engine, 120 (1004). If the recipient user has not yet activated the multigenerational social network, the analytics engine 122 infers the probable profile, location, and interests subject to later adjustment. The donor user 108 then selects a gift (1006), which might be physically stored in the secure facility 200 or available from a vendor in the form of a pre-paid coupon for some good or service, and confirms, through review, that the selected gift is correct. The donor user 108 then designates a delivery method, date, and time; or rules and/or criteria for determination of the delivery method and the date (steps 1008 and 1010), in some cases with the help of the analytics engine 122. Upon confirmation of the correctness of the foregoing by the donor user, the transcribed communication is stored pending its delivery. At the specified future delivery time, or the time determined by the analytics engine 122 (the transfer time) the selected gift is retrieved from storage or ordered from a vendor and delivered in the manner specified. The recipient user can acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and can even reply to the donor user 108 or can reply to the donor user's proxy.

[00113] FIG. 11 is a flowchart of an example process 1100 for distributing an asset in a multigenerational social network environment. In the process 1100, a donor user 108 selects a recipient user 114D or a potential recipient user in the multigenerational social network (1102). For an existing recipient user within the relationship group the donor user 108 requests the recipient user's profile consisting of biographical details, location, and interests which are retrieved by the communication engine 120 (1104). If the recipient user has not yet activated or become a member of the multigenerational social network, the analytics engine 122 infers the probable profile, location, and interests subject to later adjustment. The donor user 108 then selects an asset (1106), which might be physically stored in the secure facility 200 or available from a vendor, and confirms, through review, that the selected asset is correct. The donor user 108 then designates a delivery method, date, and time; or rules and/or criteria for determination of the delivery method and the date (1108 and 1110), in some cases with the help of the analytics engine 122. Upon confirmation by the donor user 108, the transcribed communication is stored pending its delivery. At the specified future delivery time, or the time determined by the analytics engine 122 the asset 1102 is retrieved from storage or ordered from a vendor and delivered as specified. The recipient user can acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and even reply to the donor user 108 or to the proxy of the donor user.

[00114] In some embodiments, the donor user 108 is an agent of a corporation or other entity who sends an asset or transfers a transfer item to current or past employees in good standing, e.g., stock options, or, more personally an award or achievement plaque. In some embodiments, the analytics engine acts as a surrogate of a donor user 108 in which the analytics engine is configured to generate an asset selection. In the case where the analytics engine acts as a surrogate for a donor user who is an agent of a corporation, the analytics engine would use the corporate personnel database to determine the recipient users and based on their profiles determine the appropriate asset or transfer item to select, e.g., stock option, achievement award or other valuable consideration. [00115] In some instances, the multigenerational social network is a social network of family members. The donor user may be a member of an older generation and the recipient user may be a member of a younger generation. In some cases, the intended recipient user is not yet a member of the multigenerational social network, either because the recipient user has not yet enrolled or because the recipient user has not yet been born. In some cases, the donor user may be incapacitated or even dead at the time of delivery (e.g., the donor user may be an incapacitated or dead grandparent of the recipient user). If the donor user is incapacitated or dead, the multigenerational social network may carry out the instructions of the donor user and request confirmation as appropriate from a designated proxy of the donor user, such as a parent of the recipient user or an executor of the donor user's estate. In some cases, the multigenerational social network requests confirmation of the identity and/or role of the designated proxy. For instance, if the executor of the donor user's estate logs into the multigenerational social network using the deceased donor user's credentials, the executor may be considered to have been authenticated as the donor user's proxy.

[00116] In some instances, the donor user is an institution or other entity or an agent of such an institution or other entity, such as a school or a city, state, or federal government; or a company, or a trust or foundation, or a non-profit organization, for example. The recipient user may be a current employee in good standing or a past employee, e.g., a retiree or someone who was terminated or resigned. For a variety of reasons the institution or entity may find it useful to maintain a relationship with the employee and to transfer items at transfer times to the employee to maintain the relationship. [00117] For instance, the donor user may use a multigenerational social network or other system to send a message to the recipient user, such as a holiday greeting, a message of

congratulations on a promotion, a greeting card for a birthday or other anniversary, a reminder of a spouse's or child's birthday, or a suggested message to be forwarded to the spouse or child.

Deliveries may include a gift card for a holiday, birthday, or award; stock options; an achievement plaque; or another award. In some cases, the analytics engine may act as a surrogate for the donor user and may use the corporate personnel database to identify recipient users and, based on the profiles of the recipient users, determine appropriate milestones and/or gifts. For instance, an analytics engine customized to a particular company may track the addresses, email addresses, or other contact information of past employees to enable the company to maintain relationships with the past employees. In other examples, the multigenerational social network may provide an employee feedback portal for a company, in which employees of the company (acting as donor users) submit suggestions, complaints, or comments, which are then forwarded, singly or in aggregate, to the human resources department (acting as the recipient user) of the company.

[00118] In other instances, the multigenerational social network is used by a group of people, such as a group of friends, acquaintances, coworkers, or another group of people. For instance, a friend may act as a donor and arrange for the delivery of a birthday gift to another friend through the multigenerational social network or other system.

[00119] In some instances, the multigenerational social network enables the transfer of items from a donor user to a recipient, who may not necessarily be a member of the social network, through a proxy recipient user who is a member of the social network. For example, a grandfather may use the multigenerational social network to set up the delivery of a chemistry set to his two- year-old granddaughter on her tenth birthday. The grandfather dies before the granddaughter turns ten. When the granddaughter does reach her tenth birthday, she is too young to join the social network. The analytics module is able to determine the transfer item (the chemistry set), the delivery location (e.g., the granddaughter's parents' house), and the delivery (transfer) date (the

granddaughter's tenth birthday), but is unable to send a delivery message to the granddaughter directly because she is not a member of the multigenerational social network. The analytics module can identify the granddaughter's parents as proxies for the granddaughter and send the delivery message to the parents. For instance, the parents may be automatically considered the proxy of the recipient or may be asked to provide authentication of their relationship with the recipient prior to being considered the proxy of the recipient. In some cases, the parents, as proxy for the recipient, may be asked to approve the relationship between the recipient and the donor user and/or the appropriateness of the transfer item.

[00120] In some examples of the use of proxies, a corporate human resources department may want to send flowers to the wife of a current or retired employee, but the wife is not a member of the multigenerational social network (in the context of an entity or institution and individuals related to the entity or institution, the phrase multigenerational social network may be thought of as a communication system between the entity or institution through its proxy and the individuals; we call such a system a multigenerational social network for convenience even though it may not be multigenerational and may not use a social network for its operation. The analytics module determines that the wife works at another company and identifies that she has kept her maiden name. However, a message cannot be sent to the wife directly over the multigenerational social network, and furthermore the wife cannot be directly authenticated. The multigenerational social network thus identifies her husband (i.e., the current or former employee of the company) as a proxy for the wife and sends the delivery message and/or the delivery of flowers to the husband, who can then deliver the flowers to his wife. [00121] In some instances of the use of the system, the donor user may be the same person as the recipient user, but from an earlier point in time. For example, a donor user may specify that a video expressing his political opinions, aspirations, or conceptions for a future spouse is to be delivered to himself twenty years in the future. In other instances, a recipient user may receive a purported message from a donor user's dog or cat. In other instances, a recipient user may receive a notification from a benefactor donor user, e.g., a dead relative, to retrieve memorabilia, gifts, or other assets from a storage module.

[00122] The adoption of social networks by commercial vendors and non-profit organizations provides an opportunity to extend the range of assets or transfer items than can be transferred. For instance, a prepaid coupon to a coffee shop, a just-in-time delivery of flowers for Valentine's Day, or a donation to a charitable organization by a deceased donor user's estate may all be effected by the multigenerational social network or other system.

[00123] In some implementations, the system that we describe here enables a person

(sometimes called a curator) to generate and/or curate a message (e.g., a multimedia message) to be published or to be delivered to one or more other people in response to a significant event (e.g., a life event such as a birthday, marriage, anniversary, death, or other life event; a promotion or other change in employment status; or another event, such as purchasing a car or voting in an election) of the person generating the message, the person receiving the message, or another person. We sometimes refer to such a person as the "significant event person". For instance, the system described here can be used to automatically deliver birthday greetings, sympathy messages, messages of congratulations, or obituaries to the recipient. We sometimes refer to such messages as communications. The message can be communicated in the present or at future times, e.g., at a time that is suggested by or associated with the significant event, which may have already occurred or which may occur in the future. The system is able to automatically detect occurrence of such a significant event and to populate the message or a draft of the message with content generated by the person generating and/or curating the message and content obtained via automated analysis of various sources of information, such as websites, publications, social networks, and other online sources, among others.

[00124] FIG. 12 is a functional diagram of an example of process for communicating items, e.g., communicating messages (e. g., multimedia messages) about significant events from a publisher user to a reader user, using the system 100. A significant event person 103, the associated trigger event, and any requisite action(s) are identified for registration in a notification engine 308 (154). The identification may rely on the publisher's direct personal knowledge of the significant event person 103 and may sometimes be assisted by an interest profile and status information about the significant event person 103 obtained from the communication engine 120, information about the significant event person 103 determined analytically by the analytics engine 122, or both, in an automated fashion as described in more detail below. The trigger event may be an event with a definite date such as a birthday. The trigger event may also be an event with a threshold probability for occurrence, such as a point in time at which the significant event person has a high propensity for purchasing an automobile. When the trigger event occurs, the notification engine 308 notifies the publisher (162), allowing the publisher to generate and curate a message for a reader 119 (164), who may or may not be the significant event person. Curating the message may be aided by an interest profile and status information of the reader 119 and/or the significant event person obtained from the communication engine 120 or information determined analytically from various sources about the significant event person and/or reader from the analytic engine 122 or both in an automated fashion as described in more detail below. The curated message may be subject to editing (166) by one or more editors 320, including reviewing, revision, and/or commenting. The editors 320 may also be aided by the interest profile and status information of the reader 119 and/or the significant event person obtained from the communication engine 120 or information determined analytically from various sources about the significant event person 103 and/or the reader 119 from an analytic engine 122 or both in an automated fashion as described in more detail below. The curated and possibly edited message communicated (168), including delivery of the message to the reader 119 and/or the significant event person and/or publication of the message, The communication of the message may be aided by interest profile and status information of the reader 119 and/or the significant event person obtained from the communication engine 120 or information determined analytically from various sources about the reader 119 and/or the significant event person from the analytic engine 122 or both in an automated fashion as described in more detail below.

[00125] FIG. 13 is an example of a media message 220 curated for a significant event person. In this example, the media message 220 is a birthday greeting for a person named John, where John is both the significant event person and the reader. The media message 220 consists of a background 222 upon which are superimposed one or more verbal/text messages 232 together with one or more objects 226 and 228 with varying components 224, 230. In this example, the curator has

superimposed the image of an object, the birthday cake, 226 upon a patterned colored background 222 then added animated elements including the flaming candles 224 and a video clip 228 of friends singing "Happy Birthday," which can be initiated by a video start control 230.

[00126] In another example involving purchasing cars, the significant event person 103 and the reader 119 each represent classes of individuals and the communication process relies heavily on automated support provided by the system. To identify the triggering event (i.e., a likely time at which a car will be purchased), the analytic engine 122 uses historical data regarding past purchases obtained from profiles collected by the communication engine 120 to enable predictive analytics (e.g., as discussed in greater detail below) to determine the joint propensity of the significant event person to purchase a particular brand of automobile at a particular time of year, to the curator / system occurs at a point in time (e.g., in March) when that joint propensity reaches a predetermined threshold level determined by the notification engine 308. Curation of a message involves automated generation of a personalized marketing letter to the reader for the brand of automobiles, in some cases with collateral material, such as an advertising brochure or a $500 discount coupon. Curation of the message is supported by information determined by the analytics engine 122 and personal profile information determined by the communication engine 120. This automated curation process may be sampled by an editor for quality control.

[00127] As used here, the term publication refers broadly to, for example, distribution of the communication to the public, e.g., on a publically available website; or to a relatively large number of people, e.g., on an internal corporate website accessible to some or all employees of the corporation. The term delivery refers broadly to, for example, delivery of the communication to one or more particular recipients via a private communication, such as via email, short message service (SMS) messaging, telephone, communication via a social networking service, or another type of private communication.

[00128] In general, a publisher user retains oversight over the generation and curation of the message. For instance, the publisher user may identify a person whose significant event is to be identified, specify the content of and/or delivery options for the message, and otherwise oversees the message. We use the term publisher broadly to include, for example, a party that is going to make it communication publicly available and also to a party who is going to send a message privately to one or more specific targets. An editor user may also be involved in the curation of the message, e.g., by reviewing the message and then adding or removing material from an automatically generated message. In some examples, the publisher user and the editor user are the same user. The recipient of the message is referred to as the reader user. In some examples, the message is generated by the publisher user and/or the editor user based on background information provided by the system. In some examples, the message is automatically drafted in the name of the publisher user, and the message is subject only to brief review by the publisher user and/or the editor user. [00129] In some examples, the system is implemented in the context of a social network, in which one or more of the publisher user and the reader user is a member of a community of users of a network, for example, service providers and clients, employees of a corporation, members of a community that includes multiple generations of an extended family, a group of friends or any other group of people or entities known or unknown to each other, and combinations of any two or more of those. In other examples, none of the users has a membership in or other affiliation with a social network. Implementations of the system are not limited to social networks. For instance, the system may allow a publisher user to create an account with the system to generate the communication item without joining a social network and/or may allow a publisher user to interact with the system as a guest without creating an account. The system may also allow the communication item to be sent to reader users who do not belong to a social network or who are not enrolled in the system. .

[00130] The publisher user(s) and reader user(s) of a particular communication item may be related in any of a variety of ways, including, e.g., as family members (of a single generation or multiple generations), friends, members of an interest group, employees of the same corporation, or another type of relationship, and may or may not be members of the same social network or of any social network. [00131] In an example implementation of the system, publication of a multimedia message

(which we also refer to as a communication item) occurs at a future time associated with a significant event of a person about whom or for whom a publisher user is constructing the communication item. The publisher user is, e.g., the person or entity that arranges for or causes publication or delivery of the communication item. For instance, the publisher user may be a service provider, such as attorney, that arranges for a congratulatory message to be sent whenever one of his clients is promoted. As another example, the publisher user may be a grandfather that arranges for birthday greetings to be sent automatically to each of his grandchildren on the appropriate date.

[00132] An editor user, who may be designated by the publisher user, reviews, edits, and/or comments on the message prior to publication or delivery of the message. For example, if the publisher has composed his life story for future publication as his obituary, an editor may be authorized to review and revise the communication in keeping with social norms or family sensibilities and/or may be permitted to add his own observations about significant events of the publisher. As another example, the editor user may be the attorney's associate or assistant who proofreads the message and confirms the accuracy of the statements made in the congratulatory message prior to delivery of the message.

[00133] Once published or delivered, the communication item is read by a reader user at the communication time. The communication time can be a specific day (e.g., the reader user's birthday) and even a specific time on a specific day (e.g., on the morning of the reader user's birthday), or can be defined less specifically as a period of time (for example, during a grandchild's 13^th year) or as an event (e.g., upon the marriage of the fourth great-grandchild).

[00134] One or more of the publisher user, editor user, and/or reader user may be the same person. For instance, the publisher user and the editor user may be the same person, or the reader user may be the publisher user in the future (e.g., if the publisher user wants to send himself a communication item for his own 50^th birthday). In addition, the person whom the communication item is about may be none of the publisher user, the editor user, or the reader user. For instance, the publisher user may be a son who is preparing an obituary about his deceased father for distribution to the family and friends (the reader users) of the father.

[00135] The content of the communication item may be about the publisher user, the editor user, the reader user, and/or another person. For instance, if the communication item is a birthday greeting to the reader user from the publisher user, the communication item may include, e.g., photographs of the reader user or an anecdote written by the publisher user about an experience the publisher user and the reader user shared. As another example, if the communication item is an obituary for the death of the publisher user's father, the communication item may include information about the life of the father but no information about either the publisher user or the reader users, who are the father's family and close friends. As still another example, if the publisher user is using the system to prepare his own future obituary, then the communication item will include information about the publisher user but no information about the reader users, who will be the close friends and family of the publisher user.

[00136] In some cases, one or more of the publisher user, the editor user, and the reader user are members of the community served by the network, and we sometimes use the terms publisher users or editor users or reader users and members interchangeably. However, the publisher user and/or reader user need not have been or be a member of the network community. For example, when a grandfather, who is not a member of the network community, dies, his son, who is a member, may assemble a multimedia message about the grandfather's significant events and publishes the media message on a website for the grandfather's not yet living great-grandchildren, who may never be members of the network.

[00137] In some instances, deliveries (we sometimes refer to communications as deliveries) may be scheduled for events such as, e.g., the death of an individual; birthdays, anniversaries, bar mitzvahs, first communions, or other special occasions; a high school or college graduation; the birth of a child; or an accomplishment such as a promotion or attainment of an achievement or award. More generally, deliveries may be scheduled at any time pre-specified by the publisher user in general or specific terms. The form or context of the communications made using the system may be multimedia messages, and other types of communications. The communication items can be an unlimited variety of communications, and other items. [00138] In some examples, the communication time is named specifically in advance, e.g., by the publisher user. For instance, the publisher user may specify that the communication time is January 17, 2013. In other examples, conditions for determining the communication time can be defined, e.g., by the publisher user. For instance, the publisher user may specify that the

communication item is to be published or delivered upon the death of a particular person without specifying the exact date. Upon detecting the person's death, the system notifies the publisher user to publish or deliver the communication item and/or automatically publishes or delivers the communication item. In still other examples, the communication time can be determined later by the system itself or by the system with the help of others. For instance, the system may detect the occurrence of a significant event of a person named as a person of interest by the publisher user (e.g., the publisher user specifies a particular client as a person of interest, and the system detects when the client receives a promotion).

[00139] The notification engine 308 determines an appropriate delivery date to be used as the communication time by detecting the occurrence of a significant event (e.g., any significant event or a particular significant event specified by the publisher user). The engine can base this

determination, for example, on data associated with the reader user, predetermined criteria specified by the publisher user, and/or other information. In some examples, the engine detects the occurrence of a significant event by monitoring publicly available sources of information or private sources of information to which the engine has been granted access. These sources of information include, e.g., online or mobile social networking facilities, online or mobile periodicals (e.g., newspapers, magazines, scientific journals, university alumni magazines, newsletters of interest groups, and other periodicals), and/or websites. For instance, if the publisher user has specified a list of individuals of interest for whom he wants to be alerted to all detected significant events, the system monitors the sources of information to detect the occurrence of a significant event for any of the specified individuals, such as a promotion, an award, or a death (e.g., by detecting a press release describing the person's promotion, a newspaper article about the person's award, or an obituary published in a local newspaper). As another example, if the publisher user has specified an person and a particular significant event (e.g., the birth of the person's first child), the system monitors the sources of information to detect when the child is born (e.g., by detecting a status update on a social networking facility).

[00140] At the communication time (e.g., at the date or time specified by the publisher user and/or upon occurrence of a significant event detected by the system), the communication item is published or delivered. The communication item includes information generated by, received from, about the reader user, and/or otherwise associated with the reader user, the publisher user, and/or another person (e.g., the person whose significant event triggered the communication). The communication item may be a page of a website, a mobile application, or an email application. For instance, the communication item may be a congratulatory email sent to the reader user on his birthday, or may be a welcome website provided to a new employee on his first day at his new job. The communication item may be or include, e.g., verbal communications, such as text, digitized handwriting, voice recordings, or other types of digital speech; photographs, such as scanned physical photographs and other digital images; video, other media formats that can be served over the Internet or another type of communications network; or other types of communications. [00141] In some cases, the entire communication item has been prepared and assembled prior to the communication time. For instance, the publisher user may have specified the exact content of a message to be communicated (e.g., the publisher user prepares a standard birthday greeting message that is to be sent to each of a list of individuals on their birthday). In other cases, some or all of the communication item is prepared by the publisher user and/or by the system at the communication time. For instance, at the communication time, the publisher user or editor user may be prompted to modify or add content to a previously prepared message or to confirm that the previously prepared message is up-to-date. As another example, the predictive analytics engine 122 may assemble some or all of the message at the communication time based on previously collected data and/or data collected at the communication time. [00142] The predictive analytics engine 122 may generate some or all of the message based on data associated with the reader user, the publisher user, and/or another person (e.g., the person whose significant event triggered the communication) and/or based on predetermined criteria specified by the publisher user or by the system. For example, the predictive analytics engine 122 conducts an automated analysis of publicly available and/or private sources of information to which it has access, including, e.g., online or mobile social networking facilities, online or mobile periodicals, and/or websites to identify information to be included in the communication item. For instance, upon the death of an individual specified by the publisher user, the predictive analytics engine 122 prioritizes and selects information collected by the communication engine 120 about the individual, including, e.g., a list of the individual's awards, publications, employment history, family connections, and/or other information.

[00143] The reader users may be specified by the publisher user and/or recommended by the system. For instance, the publisher user may specify that the communication item is a birthday greeting to be sent to his mother, who is the reader user. As another example, the publisher user may specify that a new employee greeting be sent to all new employees (the reader users) of a corporation without specifying the exact identity of the new employees; in this case, the system detects the identities of the new employees (e.g., based on analysis of human resources databases to which it has access). In still another example, the communication item is an obituary, the publisher user specifies only that the reader users are to be close friends and family members of the deceased, and the system identifies close friends and family members of the deceased based on analysis of social networking activity of the deceased. [00144] Thus, the publisher user is able to specify the content of the communication items, the communication times, and/or the readers of the communication either specifically or by criteria that can be used to determine the specific items, times, and/or readers. In some implementations, an engine, for example, an analytics engine, can participate in the determinations. In some cases, people other than the publisher can have a role. For instance, editors designated by the publisher may revise or comment upon a communication item. As another example, a parent of a child designated as a reader may be authorized to participate in the determination of when the child will receive a communication item and the content of the item to be communicated.

[00145] The layout of the communications, including, e.g., the relative positions of the various types of information included in the communication item, may be specified by the publisher user, arranged automatically by the system, or some combination of the two. For instance, the system may prepare a draft communication based on a standard template and offer the publisher user the opportunity to alter the layout of the communication prior to publication or delivery.

[00146] In some examples, the predictive analytics engine may recommend actions to be taken. For example, if a deceased individual has requested donations to a named charitable foundation in lieu of flowers, a suggestion to donate to the named charity may be included in the communication item. The actions may be recommended based on a statement from the publisher user (e.g., the publisher user states his own preferences to be recited in his obituary upon his death) or may be recommended based on an automated analysis (e.g., the analytics engine may determine the charitable intentions of the deceased by analyzing an obituary in a local newspaper). The actions may also be recommended based on the system's knowledge of another party. For instance, the system may recommend a particular charity for donations on behalf of the deceased by analyzing the profile and/or affinities of the deceased or the deceased's next of kin.

[00147] In some examples, when the delivery date (we sometimes refer to the communication time as the delivery date) occurs, the reader user may be notified by the system and delivery of the communication item can be arranged, if appropriate. For instance, the system may send an email to the reader user directing the reader user to visit a specified webpage to view the communication item. In some cases, delivery notification of the communication item may be given by a member of the network to a non-member (e.g., from a parent who is a member to her four-year-old daughter, who is not), or to a member as a proxy for a non-member (e.g., to a parent as a proxy for her son).

[00148] In some cases, materials are stored in a storage module, e.g., in a digital capsules associated with the publisher user's account with the system. In some cases, the publisher user may be provided with a prompt to prepare material for inclusion in the communication item or to be used to prepare a communication at a later date. For instance, a different subject may be provided regularly, such as monthly, as a prompt to the publisher user. Example subjects may include questions about what the user hopes or expects to see or experience in the future (e.g., what the user hopes to accomplish within the next year); questions about the user's personal thoughts (e.g., what are the user's favorite things, which ethnic or religious groups does the user identify with); questions about current events (e.g., the user's opinion about a current election or political controversy);

questions about the user's daily life (e.g., a description of "a day in the life" of the user); or other prompts. The subjects may be provided uniformly to all publisher users who maintain significant event records, or the subjects may be tailored to each user or to a subgroup of users (e.g., children may receive different prompts than adults). Other digital materials may also be stored in a user's digital account, including, e.g., digital photographs, digital audio, digital videos, scanned documents (e. g., scanned copies of a graduation program),recordings of conversations, and other types of digital materials. In some examples, the user can email or upload the digital material to a server of the system, which stores the material in the user's digital capsule.

[00149] In some embodiments, the system may provide a phone number that a user can dial to have a conversation recorded and stored directly in the user's digital capsule. The phone number may be a general phone number such that the user enters an identification code in order to access his account; or the phone number may be a phone number specific to the user. When the user dials the phone number, he may be presented with a prompt, such as the example prompts listed above; or he may be given the opportunity to record an open-ended conversation. The user may be prompted to dial the phone number, e. g., by an email message, a short message service (SMS) message, or a phone call. In some cases, the user may be prompted to select what to do with the recording, such as when and to whom to release the recording. The contents of the digital capsule may be accessed by the publisher user when preparing a communication item. For instance, the user may want to include photographs of a memorable vacation in a birthday greeting for his mother. The digital capsule itself may also be a communication item to be published or delivered to a reader user. In general, the digital capsule and its contents can be subjected to instructions of the publisher user about the reader or readers, the editor or editors, the communication time, and other information that will control the use of the digital capsule and its contents. [00150] In one specific example, the system is employed by an attorney to monitor and send messages for notable significant events for each of his clients. The attorney provides a list of clients and a list of notable significant events to be monitored by the system, such as employment promotions and new jobs. When the system detects that, for instance, one of the listed clients has been promoted, the notification engine 308 notifies the attorney that such event has occurred for that client. The attorney composes a message of congratulations to the client based on background information provided by the system, such as information about the client (e.g., news clippings about the promotion or about the client's recent awards) analyzed by the analytics engine 122. For instance, the attorney may include in the message suggestions of additional projects involving that attorney's work that are now pertinent to the client's new position. The communication item is reviewed by the attorney's associate, whom the attorney has designated as an editor. Upon making any necessary corrections, the attorney arranges for the communication item to be sent to the client, e.g., by sending an email to the client using the best address determined by a communication engine 120 of the system or by instructing the system to send an email on his behalf.

[00151] In another specific example, a university maintains, in the system, a list of major donors to the university. If the notification engine 308 detects the death of one of the individuals on the list, information about that individual is ordered and selected by the analytics engine 122 and provided to the publisher user (e.g., an agent of the university who specified or maintains the list).

The publisher user composes (curates) a sympathy message to be sent to the donor's next of kin or other close family members, who are identified and located by the communication engine 120. In addition, the publisher user may instruct a vendor such as a florist to send an appropriate

arrangement of flowers or may make a contribution to an appropriate charity in the name of the deceased, e.g., based on a recommendation by the analytics engine 122.

[00152] In another specific example, the system is used by the Human Resources (HR)

Department of a corporation to send a welcome message to each new employee on his first day of work. In some cases, the HR department provides a list of newly hired individuals and a list of associated start dates. In other cases, the system is given access to HR databases or other corporate databases and the analytics engine 122 determines, from the information in the databases, the identity and start date of the new employees. On the start date of each new employee, the notification engine 308 triggers the automated assembly, by the analytics engine 122, of a welcome message. The welcome message is based on a template and includes a message from the president of the corporation or chairman of the board, depending on the rank of the newly hired individual. The welcome message also includes relevant professional information about the new employee collected by the communication engine 120 from various data sources, such as the employee's social networking profile , the employee's publically available resume, and scientific journals or news publications including articles written by the employee. The automatically generated message is reviewed and approved by an editor user, such as an HR employee. The system then publishes or delivers the approved personalized welcome message (e.g., in a private message to the employee or as a website available to some or all employees of the corporation) at the start of business on the individual's start date. The HR department may also employ the system in this manner to generate messages for employee promotions and/or retirements. [00153] In another specific example, a funeral director maintains a list of clients who have contracted for funeral services at a funeral home after their death. When the system detects the death of one of the clients, a significant event used as a trigger by the notification engine 308, a notification is sent to the funeral director. A draft obituary is prepared by the system using the analytics engine 122, including, e.g., information collected in part by the communication engine 120 about the client from publically available and/or privately accessible sources (e.g., a list of the client's awards, publications, employment history, or other information), materials provided by the client prior to his death (e.g., photographs, essays, or other materials), and/or information provided by the funeral director (e.g., contact information for the client's next of kin, the name of a preferred charity, or other information). The funeral staff and/or the family of the deceased may act as editor users to edit the obituary prior to its publication, e.g., to ensure its accuracy, to ensure that it complies with any family or personal sensitivities, to ensure that it includes information the editor user deems important, or to perform any other sort of review. After fmalization, the obituary is published on the website of the funeral home.

[00154] The system can be implemented in a very wide variety of ways. In some examples, the system is implemented on a social network platform and the publisher user, editor user, and/or reader users are members of the social network. However, the system can also be implemented in a wide variety of other ways as well, some of which do not involve use of a social network platform, and concepts encompassed in such a system.)

[00155] Referring to Fig. 1, the system can be used for communicating items, e.g., messages

(e. g., multimedia messages) about significant events from a publisher user to a reader user. In some examples, the publisher user and/or the reader users are members of a community that participates in a social network or other type of community associated with the system.

[00156] The donor user 308, also referred to here as a publisher user, can create, write, dictate, preform, copy, define, or otherwise transcribe media messages, enter instructions about communication items, criteria, editors, readers, and communication times, for example; give orders to vendors 124 and give orders to storage modules 1 12 regarding media communications (we sometimes use the terms communications and media communications interchangeably), and other communication items for delivery to reader users 114 (114A, 114B, .... ,114M). Publisher-permitted editor users 320 (320A, 320B..., 324N) review, modify, augment the media communications and other items for delivery to the reader users 114, as described in more detail below. [00157] The communication engine 120 facilitates identification of the location, status, interest profile (e.g., affinities) and other current and historical data of the person described in the communication or for the intended reader users 114 that can be accessed by an authenticated publisher user 108. For example, an employer may learn about the hobbies or recreational activities of a new employee. A notification engine 308 facilitates identification of the significant events of individuals of interest to an authenticated publisher user 108. For example, the notification engine 308 scans various data sources (e.g., websites; periodicals such as newspaper websites, magazine websites, and scientific journal websites; and/or social networking facilities) upon demand or on a periodic basis, e.g., daily, to identify information (e.g., news items) associated with specified individuals, e.g., individuals on a list of individuals to be tracked . The analytics engine 122 uses information from various databases to facilitate the composition, by the publisher user 108, of an appropriate communication item to be delivered, published, or otherwise provided to readers 114.

[00158] Referring again to Fig. 2, each publisher user can be assigned a digital capsule in the storage module 112 for storage of digital materials such as text, photographs, videos, scanned documents, recorded conversations, and other digital materials. If the publisher user responded to prompts provided by the system, the user's responses to those prompts are also stored in the user's digital capsule. The database server 204 in the storage module 112, connected to the computer network 102, stores a wide variety of information including information associated with inventory, transaction history, status, and scheduled delivery dates for communication items stored in the storage module 112. The database server 204 stores digital media in a database 206. The information on the server may be replicated to an offsite server for backup redundancy. [00159] FIG. 14 is an example publisher curating interface 520 of the system 100. The publisher's user device 526 displays the publisher curating interface 520, which provides an editing capability to a publisher. Through the publisher curating interface 520, a publisher can set up identification for notifications by selecting or specifying significant event persons; curate information about a significant event person into a message for a reader by inserting or deleting text, images, video into a multimedia message and rearranging the display of the components of the multimedia message; selecting a reader from a list of potential readers; and/or control the communication and/or delivery of the message to the reader. For instance, the curating window 522 allows the publisher user to insert pictures, shapes, text, animation video, sound or any other multimedia object. The publisher communication interface 520 is also operable to transcribe or edit media messages, which may be in the form of e-mail, voice, images, scanned or real-time photographs, or video. The messages may be served up by the analytics engine 106 as the result of searching various data sources for relevant information, as described in greater detail below. The publisher communication interface 520 may also be made available to an editor user 320B for review, revision, approval, and/or commenting on the communication item generated by the publisher user. Alternatively, a distinct editor communication interface may be provided, as described in more detail below.

[00160] The communication engine 120 of the system 100 determines the location, status, and/or affinities and other current of historical information of the significant event person and of the reader user. [00161] The analytics engine 122 may be employed to assist the publisher user in selecting a delivery date (e. g., by using historical data to forecast personal milestones of a reader user, by analyzing news articles or social networking facilities to identify the occurrence of a significant event, or by another method); an appropriate communication item for delivery (e. g., by identifying information about or associated with the significant event person that is appropriate for inclusion in a message about the particular significant event or by forecasting future needs and wants of a reader user); delivery times (communication times) best suited for the reader user; and/or delivery methods (e.g., the reader user's most recent email address or phone number).

[00162] Example media messages include congratulations on promotions or achievements, autobiographical summaries, obituaries, sympathy notes, birthday wishes, welcome messages to new employees, or other messages. For instance, if the publisher user is an agent of a corporation or an institution such as a school, a city, state or federal government, an example video media message may be emailed to new employees or new clients as a welcome message. In some examples, a media message may include last words or a more extensive message from a publisher user to his survivors, such as the publisher user's children, including the publisher user's autobiography to be delivered in full or released in stages.

[00163] FIG. 15 illustrates an example of an editor's interface 620 of the system 100. The user device 106 displays an editor's media message selection and modification interface 620, which provides an editing window 622 allowing the editor user 620A to select a publisher's

communication for viewing, revising, approving, or commenting upon. The interface 620 may be a shareable web editor designed for collaboration via Internet access to the document (e.g., Sky Drive® by Microsoft®, or Google Drive® for Google® Docs). The editor user may be the same person as the publisher user or may be another person designated by the publisher user. The editing selection interface 620 allows the editor to review, modify, correct, amend or add to the message composed by the publisher user. Upon completion of the editor's task, the revised media message is saved and can be served up to the publisher user for delivery to a reader or sent directly to a reader, who may have been preselected by the publisher user.

[00164] Referring again to Fig. 5, the communication engine 120 (Fig. 5) facilitates identification of a significant event person and provides criteria used by the notification engine 308 to trigger notification of the curator for composing a message, publishing or delivery of

communication items) for a publisher user 108 by providing information about a reader user's physical location, profile interest information, and/or affinity information including current or historical data on purchase transactions, income, socio-economic status, voter registration or other information that is web-accessible. In some examples, the location, interest, and affinity and other current and historical information may be displayed by the display module 504 on a webpage belonging to or accessible by the publisher user. The affinity database 502 can store significant event person and reader user affinity information and the location database 510 can store the physical location of a reader user. The location database 510 may receive data relevant to the location of a reader user from the GPS translation module 506 or may obtain the reader user's location from the Analysis engine's analysis of websites or other sources of information. For example, the publisher user may have composed a sympathy note regarding an individual killed in an accident; the communication engine 120 determines that the next of kin is traveling in another country and thus likely to be reachable by email but not by phone.

[00165] Referring again to Fig. 6, the analytics engine 122 facilitates identification and notification of trigger events for significant event persons, curation of an appropriate message upon notification, and publication or delivery of communications in response to a significant event on behalf of publisher user 108 by inferring information about the person described in the

communication item from one or more data sources or determining or inferring milestone events for the reader user 114 or for the person described in the communication item, among other things. The person described in the communication item may be the intended reader of the communication item, the publisher of the communication item, both the reader and the publisher, or neither the reader nor the publisher.

[00166] The predictive analytics module 602 in the analytics engine 122 applies search algorithms and forecasting models to analyze present and/or historical subject user data in view of data stored in the database 608 containing data related to identify milestone events and to suggest appropriate media messages or items for a reader user. The predictive analytics module 602 can determine significant event triggers for notification, to make predictions about future readers, identify communication media messages, and identify appropriate delivery times and methods, among a wide variety of other analyses and algorithms. For example in the case of an

autobiographical communication item of a grandfather (the publisher user), the reader user is the projected offspring of a current member in the system but the publisher user may incapacitated at the time of publication and delivery or both. By a computer-implemented method, data relevant to the publisher user may be extracted from his profile in the system 100 and/or generated implicitly based, at least in part, on the publisher user's stored profile together with historical data by a predictive analytics algorithm based on historical data. Based on the extracted or generated data, a significant event is identified, content for a communication is selected, appropriate reader users are identified, and/or other analysis is performed, in some cases without input from the publisher user. [00167] In some examples, the analytics engine 122 may use data specific to a user to identify potential milestone events (e. g., to identify a bar mitzvah date for a child based on the child's birth date or to identify appropriate religious holidays based on the user's specified religious affiliation or a prevailing religion in the region where the user lives). In some cases, the predictive analytics module 602 may also incorporate present or historical data or both to identify relevant information for the communication subject or reader user or both that are in keeping with preferences of the publisher user. In other examples, the analytics engine 122 analyzes publically available sources of information and/or private sources of information to which it has access, including, e.g., social networking facilities, online or mobile periodicals such as newspapers or magazines, and websites, to identify the occurrence of significant events associated with the reader user or with the person whom the communication is about. For instance, the analytics engine 122 may analyze trade journal websites to set up criteria so the notification engine 308 can identify when a target person receives an award or a promotion.

[00168] The display module 604 of the analytics engine 122 may display the significant events of an individual of interest (e.g., a reader user or another individual specified by the publisher user) on a webpage belonging to or accessible by the publisher user. These events with associated actions can be selected for notifications stored in the notification engine 308. In some embodiments, upon notification by the notification engine, the analytics engine 122 may automatically

communicate messages of a significant event relevant to a reader user, such as a birthday, to the communication module 120, which sends the notices to relatives of the reader user, who can act as publisher users. The analytics engine 122 may use information about a reader user found in various databases to determine when to send out the notices.

[00169] The analytics engine 122 can act as a surrogate for the publisher user 108 by specifying communications and services or any other communication items for placement into storage. Provided the potential reader user 114 is registered in the system 100, the communication engine 120 will determine the location of the reader user, e. g., by GPS tracking or similar means. The reader user's interests and status may be available in the reader user's profile, which, taken together with historical data, enable the analytics engine 122 utilizing inferences from missing data, if necessary, to determine an appropriate gift to accompany the message and an optimal time for delivery. The delivery time is selected by a predictive analytics algorithm, based on historical data specific to the reader user. [00170] In some embodiments, the analytics engine acts as a surrogate of a publisher user 108 to generate communication items (e. g., messages, sympathy tribute selections, and/or delivery instructions) based on data, e.g., historical data, specific to the reader user. In the example of FIG. 6, the reader user is the projected offspring of a current member of the system and the publisher user, who wants to send a birthday greeting to the reader user, is incapacitated at the reader user's birthday. By a computer-implemented method, data relevant to the reader user may be extracted from his profile, generated implicitly based, at least in part, on the reader user's stored profile with the system together with historical data by a predictive analytics algorithm based on historical data, and/or obtained from publically available or privately accessible information sources. Based on the extracted or generated data a communication is selected, generated, and delivered, in some cases without input from the publisher user.

[00171] FIG. 16 is a block diagram of the notification engine 308 of the system 100. The notification engine 308 facilitates publishing or delivery of communications for a publisher user 108 by detecting significant events of individuals significant to the publisher as listed in a data file 922. For example, a publisher user may be notified about the death of friend by means of a search module 924 supported by a parsing and interpretation library 928. The publisher user may then compose and publisher or deliver a sympathy message to the friend's family. In some examples, information the individual whose significant event has been detected (referred to here as the tracked individual) may be displayed by a display module 926 on a webpage belonging to the publisher user. The

notification engine 308 may also display the tracked individual's profile within the system 100 for confirmation of the individual's significant event. The notification engine 308 includes a tracked individual affinity database 112B for storing tracked individual affinity information

[00172] As an example, the publisher user is an agent of a corporation; e.g., the publisher user is a Human Resources professional. The data lists of the notification engine 308 include current employees, retired employees, and newly hired employees who have not yet started to work. The notification engine identifies a newly hired employee whose start date is in the future and alerts the publisher user or another module of the system 100. The publisher user composes a welcome notice from a template on behalf of the chief executive officer. The welcome notice also includes automatically integrated material, such as a listing of the new employee's awards, education, or employment history, assembled from various data sources by the analytics engine 122 to personalize the message. The message is then reviewed by an associate of the publisher user and scheduled for publication or delivery on the employee's start date. In some cases, publication or delivery is scheduled with the aid of the communication engine, e.g., to account for the new employee's time zone and location in scheduling the publication or delivery.

[00173] FIG. 17 is an example reader display interface 1020 for the example in which the reader user is a member of a social network implementing the system 100. A reader delivery display 1022 indicates the arrival of a communication or delivery of a communication item. A reader display window 1022 shows the multimedia message that the publisher 108 has delivered. A similar process occurs in the case of a sympathy tribute or other item, particularly when the item is a vendor coupon that is printable. The reader user 114B is given the opportunity to arrange for delivery, for example by a common carrier such as FEDEX, UPS, DHL, or the USPS. Alternatively, the reader user is put into contact with the vendor of the physical or digital item to arrange for delivery. In other examples, the reader user is notified directly about the publication or delivery of a communication item, for instance, via an email message to the reader user's email address or a phone call or SMS to the reader user's mobile phone. [00174] FIG. 18 is a flowchart of an example process 1120 for communicating a multimedia message in the system 100. In the process 1120, a publisher user 108 identifies a significant event person (1122) then requests that person's profile from the communication engine 120 (1124). With that profile and other additional information, the publisher user 108 configures a notification event that is saved in the notification engine's database (1126). There is a pause in the action until the notification event occurs. (1128). Upon notification (1130), the publisher starts assembling a communication by identifying the reader (1132) by requesting a profile (1134). Then the publisher curates the communication from the selected information and additional input (1136). The communication draft is edited (1138) and served back to the publisher who selects a delivery time (1140) and then queues up the communication for publication (1142). [00175] For instance, an attorney monitoring a list of his clients receives notification that one of his clients has received a promotion. The publisher user composes a message to be sent to the individual, e.g., by filling in a template with publisher-generated content (e.g., a personalized message) together with information about the individual from various data sources supplied by direct search by the communication engine 120 and/or with the help of the analytics engine 122. For instance, the attorney may compose a congratulatory message to his client following a template, include press releases about the client's promotion collected by the analytics engine, and add a paragraph inquiring about additional business opportunities facilitated by the client's new position. An editor reviews and revises the message (923). For instance, the attorney's associate as a designated editor 320B reviews the saved message and makes a minor emendation. The publisher user conducts a final review of the message and sends the message or arranges for the system to send the message on his behalf in some cases with the help of the communication engine. The communication engine 120 directs the message to the reader user at his current location (e.g., the message is directed to the attorney's client, who is presently staying at a hotel in Shanghai. The reader user 114D receive and reads the message. The reader user may be given the opportunity to acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and even reply to the publisher user 108 or to his proxy. [00176] FIG. 19 is a flowchart of an example process 1200 for commenting upon a communication item. In this example, the system is used to compose an obituary for a deceased individual to be published on a website accessible to relatives, colleagues, and friends of the deceased user. The next of kin as publisher user 108 composes an obituary and publishes the obituary on a website hosted by the system 100. The publisher user 108 sets up the restriction that relatives, colleagues and friends designated as editors can append comments to the obituary but cannot alter the main content of the obituary. The publisher user 108 receives notification of the individual's death either directly or through the notification engine 308 (1210). The publisher user then composes the obituary drawing on various data sources at times with the aid of the

communication engine 120 and the analytics engine 122 (1212) and saves the obituary. In some examples, the obituary is directly published to reader users 114 (1220) on a website hosted by the system 100. In other examples, the obituary is published for editorial comments by editor users 320 (1216) subject to review by the publisher user 108 (1220) before general publication to readers 114 (1220). In some cases, after publication to reader users, comments can be added by editor users without further review (1218). [00177] FIG. 20 is a flowchart of an example process 1300 for distributing a tribute or gift in the system 100. In the process 1300, a publisher user 108 receives notification of a significant event occurring to an individual of interest either directly or with the help of the notification engine 308 (1310). The publisher user 108 composes a communication item for a selected reader 114D drawing on various data sources at times with the help of the communication engine 102 and analytics engine 122 (1316). For example, the significant event is the death of an individual on the data list of significant individuals for the publisher user 108 and the intended reader user 114D is the next of kin of the deceased individual. To accompany the publication or delivery of the communication item, e.g., a sympathy note, the publisher user 108 selects a tribute or gift for the selected reader 114D, drawing upon the preference and affinities of the reader either directly or with the help of the communication engine 102 (1318). For example, a floral arrangement may be ordered or a donation may be made to a charitable organization designated by the deceased individual or by the selected reader 114D. The publisher user 108 delivers the communication item (1324) and arranges with a vendor 124, which in this example may be a florist or floral delivery service or charitable

organization (1322). The reader user 114D may be given the opportunity to acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and to reply to the publisher user 108 or the publisher user's proxy (1326). [00178] In some embodiments, the publisher user 108 is an agent of a corporation or other entity who sends a communication item to current or past employees in good standing, e. g., a congratulatory message including stock options, or, more personally, an award or achievement plaque. In some embodiments, the analytics engine acts as a surrogate of a publisher user 108 in that the analytics engine is configured to generate a communication. For instance, for a publisher user who is an agent of a corporation, the analytics engine uses the corporate personnel database to identify reader users and, based on their profiles, select an appropriate communication, e.g., congratulations or achievement or other valuable communication.

[00179] In some instances, the system operates within a social network of family members.

The publisher user may be a member of an older generation and the reader user may be a member of a younger generation. In some cases, the intended reader user is not yet a member of the social network, either because the reader user has not yet enrolled or because the reader user has not yet been born. In some cases, the publisher user may be incapacitated or even dead at the time of delivery (e.g., the publisher user may be an incapacitated or dead grandparent of the reader user). If the publisher user is incapacitated or dead, the system may carry out the instructions of the publisher user and request confirmation as appropriate from a designated proxy of the publisher user, such as a parent of the reader user or an executor of the publisher user's estate. In some cases, the system requests confirmation of the identity and/or role of the designated proxy. For instance, if the executor of the publisher user's estate logs into the system using the deceased publisher user's credentials, the executor may be considered to have been authenticated as the publisher user's proxy. [00180] In some instances, the publisher user is an institution or other entity or an agent of such an institution or other entity, such as a school or a city, state, or federal government; or a company, or a trust or foundation, or a non-profit organization, for example. The reader user may be a current employee in good standing or a past employee, e. g., a retiree or someone who was terminated or resigned, or a current or past individual client. For a variety of reasons the institution or entity may find it useful to maintain a relationship with the employee and to communicate items at communication times to the employee or client to maintain the relationship. For instance, the publisher user may use the system to send a message to the reader user, such as a holiday greeting, a message of congratulations on a promotion, a greeting for a birthday or other anniversary, a reminder of a spouse's or child's birthday, or a suggested message to be forwarded to the spouse or child. The publisher user may also use the system to communicate a sympathy message to the reader user's next of kin upon the death of the reader user.

[00181] . In some cases, the analytics engine may act as a surrogate for the publisher user and may use the corporate personnel database to identify reader users and, based on the profiles of the reader users, determine appropriate milestones and/or communications. For instance, an analytics engine customized to a particular company may track the addresses, email addresses, or other contact information of past employees or clients to enable the company to maintain relationships with the past employees. In other examples, the system may provide an employee feedback portal for a company, in which employees of the company (acting as publisher users) submit suggestions, complaints, or comments, which are then forwarded, singly or in aggregate, to the human resources department (acting as the reader user) of the company. [00182] In other instances, the system is used by a group of people, such as a group of friends, acquaintances, coworkers, or another group of people. For instance, a friend may act as a publisher and arrange for the delivery of a birthday greeting to another friend through the system.

[00183] In some instances, when the system is a social network implemented system, the system enables the communication of items from a publisher user to a reader, who may not necessarily be a member of the social network or user of the system, through a proxy reader user who is a member or user of the social network or system. For example, a grandfather may use the system to set up the delivery of a birthday greeting to his two-year-old granddaughter on her tenth birthday. The grandfather dies before the granddaughter turns ten. When the granddaughter does reach her tenth birthday, she is too young to enroll in the system. The analytics module is able to determine the communication item and the delivery (communication) date (the granddaughter's tenth birthday), but is unable to send a delivery message to the granddaughter directly because she is not a member of the system. The analytics module can identify the granddaughter's parents as proxies for the granddaughter and send the delivery message to the parents. For instance, the parents may be automatically considered the proxy of the reader or may be asked to provide authentication of their relationship with the reader prior to being considered the proxy of the reader. In some cases, the parents, as proxy for the reader, may be asked to approve the relationship between the reader and the publisher user and/or the appropriateness of the communication item.

[00184] In some instances of the use of the system, the publisher may be the same person as the editor. For example, the publisher composes his own summary of his significant events as a future memorial or obituary. [00185] In some implementations, the system that we describe here enables a communication to be sent from one party (sometimes called a sender) to one or more other parties (sometimes called recipients) based on a location of the recipient at a future time. In some examples, the

communication is to be sent when the recipient is at a previously identified location (which we sometimes call a triggering location). For instance, a welcome message may be sent to travelers when they arrive at an airport. In some examples, the communication is to be sent when the recipient is at a triggering location at a previously identified time (which we sometimes call a triggering time). For instance, a coupon for use at a coffee shop may be sent to one or more potential customers who are within a certain distance of the coffee shop in the morning.

[00186] In some examples, the system described here automatically identifies the one or more recipients of the communication, the triggering location, or the triggering time, or a combination of any two or more of them. In some examples, the sender identifies the one or more recipients of the communication, the triggering location, or the triggering time, or a combination of any two or more of them.

[00187] The communication to the recipient may be generated by the system, the sender, or both. The system described here conducts an automated analysis of sources of information, such as websites, publications, social networks, or other electronically-accessible sources, or a combination of any two or more of them, to identify content for the communication that is to be sent to the recipient. The system may automatically generate the communication using some or all of the identified content. The system may also provide the identified content to the sender, who may then choose to include some or all of the identified content in the communication. We use the term

"electronically-accessible" broadly to include, for example, accessible through a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN), the Internet, a mobile phone network, or by any other method or combination of methods.

[00188] Referring to Fig. 21, in some implementations, the system 100 enables a

communication 50 to be sent from a sender 108 to a recipient 114 when the recipient 114 is at or near a triggering location 52. The communication 50 may be a multimedia message (e.g., a message that includes voice, text, images, or video, or any combination of two or more of them) that is sent over the network 102 to a computing device 106 associated with the recipient 114. The computing device 106 may be a personal computer, a mobile computing device such as a smartphone or a tablet, or another type of computing device. [00189] The communication system 40, which can be hosted on a server 54, facilitates the sending of the communication 50 to the recipient 114. In some examples, a registration module 56 in the communication system 40 registers a person as a potential recipient. For instance, the registration module 56 may collect personal information 58, such as name, phone number, e-mail address, social networking information, or communication preferences, or a combination of any two or more of these. The registration module 56 may also collect device information 60 about the computing device 106 through which the person's location is to be tracked. The personal information 58 and device information 58 are stored in a recipient database 62. In some examples, a person may register directly with the communication system 40, e.g., through a recipient interface 64. In some examples, a person is registered automatically with the communication system 40, e.g., when he enrolls in the social network 104 or other electronically-accessible service or when he joins a particular group in a social network. In some examples, a person is registered with the

communication system 40 by another party. For instance, a human resources officer of a corporation may register all employees of the corporation with the communication system 40.

[00190] In some examples, the sender 108 and the recipient 114 are related through a relationship, such as a family relationship, an employment relationship, or another type of relationship, or a combination of any two or more of them. For instance, in an example of a family relationship, the sender 108 may be a grandfather who wants to send a message to his as-yet-unborn grandchild (the recipient 114) at a future time. In an example of an employment relationship, the sender 108 may be the human resources department of a corporation and the recipients 114 are employees of the corporation. In some examples, the sender 108 and the recipient 114 have no particular relationship. For instance, the sender 108 may be an advertiser sending a marketing offer or a coupon to one or more potential customers, who are the recipients 114.

[00191] The sender 108 (or an agent for the sender 114) provides instructions 66 for the sending of the communication 50 to the communication system 40 by accessing a sender interface 68 using a computing device 106, such as a personal computer or a mobile computing device or other type of computing device. For instance, the sender 108 may specify the recipient 114, provide one or more recipient criteria to be used by the communication system 40 to identify the recipient 114, specify the triggering location 52, provide one or more location criteria to be used by the communication system 40 to identify the recipient, specify the triggering time, or provide one or more time criteria to be used by the communication system 40 to identify the triggering time, or a combination of any two or more of them.

[00192] If the sender provided one or more of recipient criteria, triggering criteria, and triggering criteria, the analytics engine 122 uses the provided criteria to identify the recipient 114, the triggering location 52, and the triggering time, respectively. The analytics module may use data stored in the recipient database 62 to identify one or more of the recipient 1 14, the triggering location 52, or the triggering time. The analytics module 122 may access data sources 71, such as websites 72, electronically-accessible publications 74, social networks 76, electronically-accessible databases 78, or other electronically-accessible sources, or a combination of two or more of them, to identify one or more of the recipient 114, the triggering location 52, or the triggering time. [00193] The identity of the recipient 114 and the associated triggering location 52, the triggering time, or a combination of two or more of them, as specified by the sender 108 or as identified by the analytics module 122, are stored in a triggering database 80.

[00194] The communications engine 120 facilitates the preparation of the communication 50 that is to be sent to the recipient 114. In some examples, the communication module 120 identifies information that may be about or of interest to the sender 108, the recipient 114, or both, and automatically generates the communication 50 based on that information. For instance, the communication module 120 aided by the analytics module 122 may identify news articles, photographs, multimedia files, coupons or special offers, or other information, or a combination of any two or more of them, that are about or of interest to the sender 108, the recipient 114, or both. The automatically generated communication 50 may be approved by the sender 50. In some examples, the communication module 120 generates a draft or template of a communication to be edited or completed by the sender 108. For instance, a draft communication may include some of the information identified by the communication module 120 and may further include space for the sender to compose a message, insert a photograph, or otherwise supplement or edit the

communication. In some examples, the sender 108 prepares the communication 50 with no assistance from the communication module 120.

[00195] In some examples, a communication 50 is prepared specifically for a particular recipient 114 (e.g., the grandfather sending a message to his grandchild). In some examples, a communication 50 is prepared for multiple recipients (e.g., a coupon sent to many prospective customers). [00196] The communication is stored in a communication database 206 of the storage module

112. In some examples, the information about or of interest to the sender 108, the recipient 114, or both that is identified by the communication module 120 is also stored in the communication database 206. In the illustrated example, the storage module is separate from the communication system 40; in some examples, the storage module 112 may be co-located in the same physical location with the communication system.

[00197] In some examples, a physical item 84, such as a gift or a memento, may be sent to the recipient 108 along with the communication 50. The physical item 84 may be stored in a physical storage, such as a warehouse, associated with the storage module 112, until it is to be sent to the recipient 114. The physical item 84 may also be ordered from a vendor 124 and sent directly to the recipient 114. In some examples, the communication 50 may include a coupon or voucher for services (e.g., a massage or a car wash) to be provided by a vendor 124.

[00198] For each recipient 114 stored in the triggering database 80, a location module 86 monitors the location of the computing device 106 associated with the recipient 114 (i.e., as a proxy for the location of the recipient 114). For instance, the location module 86 may monitor the GPS coordinates of the computing device 106, the proximity of the computing device to a WiFi hotspot, or another location-based signal. The location module 86 may monitor the location of the computing device 106 continuously or regular intervals, such as every 5 minutes, every hour, or every day. In some examples, the monitoring interval may be dependent on the nature of the triggering location 52. For instance, if the triggering location is a city or country, the location module 86 may monitor the location of the computing device 106 less frequently than if the triggering location is a street address or a store. [00199] When the location module 86 detects that the recipient 114 is at or near the triggering location 52 (e.g., within a particular distance of the triggering location), the location module 86 alerts the communication module 120, the sender 108, or both. In some examples, the

communication module 120 automatically sends the communication 50 to the recipient 114. In some examples, the sender 108 instructs the communication module 120 to send the communication 50 to the recipient 114.

[00200] In some examples, the sender 108 and the recipient 114 may be the same person. For example, the sender 108 may request to be reminded of a planned trip, event, or visit in the future. For instance, the sender 108 may instruct the communication module 120 to send a communication 50 to his mobile telephone when he checks into his hotel on his trip to New York the next month. The sender 108 may specify that the communication 50 is to remind him to visit the Frick Museum and should contain images of important paintings at the museum.

[00201] Referring to Fig. 22, in an example process for sending a communication from a sender to a recipient, the recipient is registered with the communication system (280). For instance, the recipient may provide information such as his name, contact information, or information about his computing device. The recipient may also provide information about the types of

communications he is interested in receiving. For instance, the recipient may indicate that he only wants to receive communications from his friends in a particular social network or that he does not want to receive communications from commercial entities. [00202] The sender specifies the recipient, provides recipient criteria to be used by the communication system to identify the recipient, or both (282). If the sender provides recipient criteria, the communication system automatically determines the recipient (284). For instance, the recipient criteria may describe a relationship between the sender and the recipient (e.g., "my oldest granddaughter" or "hourly employees of BankOne Corp."). The recipient criteria may describe one or more characteristics of the recipient (e.g., "professional women who live in Boston," "people who are likely to attend the theater," or "dog owners").

[00203] The sender specifies the triggering location, provides location criteria to be used by the communication system to identify the triggering location, or both (286). If the sender provides location criteria, the communication system automatically determines the location (288). The triggering location may be an address (e.g., 1911 Main Street, Philadelphia, PA) or a place (e.g., John F. Kennedy International Airport). The triggering criteria may describe one or more characteristics of the triggering location (e.g., "my mother's tennis club" or "coffee shops near the recipient's office"). In some examples, the sender specifies a threshold distance around the triggering location within which the recipient can be considered to be "at" the triggering location. In some examples, the communication system determines the threshold distance, e.g., based on the location or by applying a default threshold value.

[00204] The sender may also specify the triggering time, provide time criteria to be used by the communication system to identify the triggering time, or both (290). If the sender provides time criteria, the communication system automatically determines the triggering time (292). The triggering time may be, for example, a specific time (e.g., 10:00 am), a period of time (e.g., the morning), a specific day (e.g., Monday), or a specific date (e.g., January 1, 2013), or another time. The triggering time may be a threshold time (e.g., any time after April 12, 2020). The time criteria may describe the triggering time in terms of an event (e.g., "my niece's birthday"), in terms of a propensity for an activity (e.g., "a period of time when the recipient is likely to buy ice cream"), or in another way. In some examples, no triggering time is specified and no time criteria are provided. In these examples, the communication is sent to the recipient whenever the recipient is at or near the triggering location.

[00205] A communication is generated (294) by the sender, the communication system, or both. In some examples, the sender generates the communication and provide (e.g., upload) the communication to the communication system. In some examples, the communication is generated at a future time determined by the communication system, specified by the sender, or both. For instance, a communication that is to be sent on the tenth birthday of an as-yet-unborn grandson is generated only once the grandson is born. In some examples, the communication is generated immediately when the sender provides instructions to the communication system.

[00206] In some examples, the communication system automatically generates the communication, e.g., based on data collected from electronically-accessible data sources, based on information about the recipient, or both. For instance, the communication system may include images from social networking websites in a communication generated for a recipient's birthday. In some examples, the communication is generated by a combination of the sender and the

communication system. For instance, the communication system may collect potentially relevant data from online data sources, format the collected data into a draft communication, and provide the communication to the sender for editing. The communication system may also provide data to the sender, e.g., in a list form, so that the sender can prepare the communication based on the collected data.

[00207] The communication system monitors the location of the recipient (296). For instance, the communication system monitors the GPS coordinates of the computing device associated with the recipient. If a triggering time was specified by the sender or identified by the communication system, the communication system monitors the location of the recipient at the triggering time. For instance, if the triggering time is a specific date, the communication system may monitor the location of the recipient on that date only. If the triggering time is a threshold time (e.g., any time after April 12, 2020), the communication system begins monitoring the location of the recipient at or after the threshold time.

[00208] When the communication system detects that the recipient is at or near the triggering location (298), the communication is sent to the recipient (299). In some examples, the

communication is sent automatically. In some examples, the communication is sent after approval by the sender. [00209] Referring to Fig. 23, in some examples, a person enrolls with the communication system through a recipient interface 330 to register as a recipient available to receive

communications through the communication system. The person enters personal information 332, such as name, phone number, e-mail address, social networking information, or other personal information, or a combination of any two or more of these. In some examples, a person may be registered automatically with the communication system. For instance, a person may be registered, e.g., when he enrolls in a social network or other electronically-accessible service or when he joins a particular group in a social network. A person may also registered by another party. For instance, a human resources officer of a corporation may register all employees of the corporation.

[00210] Upon registration, the person identifies one or more computing devices whose location is to be monitored by the computing system when a communication is to be sent to the person. In some examples, the person enters device information 334 about the computing device, such as a unique device identifier. In some examples, the device information 334 is populated automatically, e.g., if the person registers using the computing device he intends to associate with the communication or if the person is registered automatically. The person may enter device information 335 about one or more computing devices and may specify a device preference 336, e.g., by marking a particular computing device as a preferred device. The person may also enter communication preferences (menu 338), e.g., to indicate specific people, groups of people, or entities from which he does or does not wish to receive communications. For instance, the person may restrict his communication preferences such that, e.g., he receives communications only from his family members or only from people to whom he is linked on a social network. [00211] Referring to Fig. 24, an example sender interface 340 allows the sender to administer the sending of a communication to a recipient. The sender can specify the recipient 342, e.g., by typing the name of the recipient, by selecting the recipient from a list of contacts (e.g., social network users with whom the sender is linked, family members, or business partners) or a list of suggested recipients (e.g., recipients suggested by the communication system), by speaking the name, or in another manner. The sender can also provide recipient criteria 344, e.g., by typing recipient criteria, by selecting recipient criteria from a list of potential criteria, or in another manner. The sender can specify one or more triggering locations 346 for each recipient, e.g., by typing an address or a particular location, by identifying a location on a map, by selecting the triggering location from a list of potential triggering locations (e.g., recipients suggested by the communication system), by speaking the location, or in another manner. The sender can also provide location criteria 348, e.g., by typing triggering criteria, by selecting triggering criteria from a list of potential criteria (e.g., triggering criteria suggested by the communication system), by speaking the location or in another manner. The sender can also specify one or more triggering times 350 or triggering criteria 352 for each recipient and each triggering location, e.g., by typing a triggering time or event, by selecting the triggering time from a list of potential triggering times or triggering criteria (e.g., triggering times suggested by the communication system), by speaking the time or event or in another manner.

[00212] Using the sender interface, 340, the sender can prepare or edit the communication

(button 354) using a built-in communication editor, upload a communication that was prepared elsewhere (button 356), and view and approve a communication prepared by the communication system (button 358). The sender can also monitor the status of a previously scheduled

communication (e.g., to monitor the delivery of a communication) by selecting the communication from a menu 360.

[00213] Referring again to Fig. 6, the analytics engine 122 provides analytic capabilities that assist the sender in selecting a recipient, a triggering location, a triggering time, contents of the communication, or other details related to the delivery of a communication, or a combination of any two or more of them. In some embodiments, the analytics engine 122 may act as a surrogate of a sender to generate responses (e. g., messages, offers and/or delivery instructions) based on historical data specific to the recipient. Recipient data, such as current or historical data retrieved from websites, social networks, publications, other electronically-accessible sources, recipient registration information, or other sources, or a combination of any two or more of them, are stored in the database 608. The models library 606 stores search algorithms and forecasting models that can be used to analyze the recipient data stored in the database 608.

[00214] The predictive analytics module 602 applies the search algorithms and forecasting models stored in the models library 606 to select potential recipients, triggering locations, triggering times, contents of the communication, or other details related to the delivery of a communication.

[00215] In some examples, the predictive analytics module 602 may include an automated assistant receiving user input. The predictive analytics module 602 may also include an active ontology with representations of concepts and relations among concepts drawn from various databases of historical data. For instance, for the example in which the sender is an agent of a corporation, the corporate personnel database may be referenced in the active ontology. The predictive analytics module 602 may also include a language interpreter to parse the sender's input in order to derive a representation of the sender's intent in terms of the active ontology. The predictive analytics module 602 may also include a services orchestration component to output responses and instructions to implement the sender's intent. [00216] The display module 604 communicates the results of the analysis conducted by the predictive analytics module 602 to the communication engine 120, the triggering database 80 (Fig. 21), or both. In one example, potential triggering locations and triggering times for a recipient specified by the sender are identified by the predictive analytics module 602 and provided to the communications engine 120. The communications engine 120 presents the potential triggering locations to the sender, who may select one or more of the locations. In one example, if the sender instructed the communication system to automatically identify recipients to whom coupons for a clothing store are to be sent, then the recipients identified by the predictive analytics module 602 are stored in the triggering database 120 without review by the sender.

[00217] For example, the predictive analytics module 602 may select content for a communication to be sent to a recipient specified by the sender at a triggering location specified by the sender. For instance, a grandfather may instruct the communications system to prepare an autobiographical communication to be sent to his grandson when the grandson is in the vicinity of the Metropolitan Museum of Art. The predictive analytics module 602 conducts an analysis of data relevant to the grandfather to select content that may be included in the autobiographical

communication. The data may be sourced from the grandfather's social networking profile (e.g., photographs or status updates), from publications or news articles about the grandfather, from websites visited by the grandfather, or from any other source having data accessible to the predictive analytics module 602. The predictive analytics module 602 may also generate data relevant to the grandfather based, e.g., on historical data available about the grandfather. In some examples, the triggering location may also be used to identify content that may be included in the communication. For instance, content that is related to art, culture, or museums may be given special consideration in the selection of content for the grandfather's autobiographical communication. The selected content is provided to the communications engine 120, which may assemble the grandfather's

communication or may provide the content to the sender for assembly.

[00218] In another example, the predictive analytics module 602 may identify potential triggering locations, triggering times, or both for a particular recipient. Triggering locations and times may be identified based on the recipient's age, personal characteristics, home address, work address, commute pattern, travel habits, consumption habits, or other characteristics. For instance, a bar mitzvah date may be identified for a child based on the child's birth date. Appropriate religious holidays may be identified for a recipient based on the recipient's religious affiliation (e.g., as specified by the recipient or as inferred by the predictive analytics module 602) or based on the prevailing religion in the region where the recipient lives. The predictive analytics module 602 may also identify appropriate times for delivery of a communication separately from identifying the triggering time. For instance, based on a recipient's age, profession, computer usage patterns, or other factors, the predictive analytics module 602 may estimate when the recipient is expected to wake up in the morning such that a communication is not delivered before the recipient wakes up.

[00219] In another example, the predictive analytics module 602 may identify potential recipients based on an analysis of electronically-accessible sources of information, data stored in the recipient database, or both. For instance, potential recipients may be identified that meet one or more specified characteristics (e.g., high-income professional women or commuters who ride the 66 bus in the morning). Potential recipients may be identified by their relationship with the sender (e.g., all employees of Acme Corp. who live in the Chicago area or all social network connections of the sender). In some examples, the predictive analytics module 602 may have access to marketing databases to analyze characteristics of potential recipients. In some examples, the predictive analytics module 602 may have access to a list of past or potential customers of a business and may identify and rank potential recipients based on that list in terms of propensity to purchase based on historical data.

[00220] Referring again to Fig. 5, the preparation of communications and the delivery of communications to recipients are coordinated by the communication engine 120. A communications editor, which can be included in the display module 504, may assemble a draft communication including some or all of the content selected by the analytics module 122. The draft communication is provided to the sender for review, editing, and approval through the sender interface 340. The communications editor may also assemble the content selected by the analytics module 122 into a format (e.g., a summary presentation, a spreadsheet, or a series of documents) to be presented to the sender through the sender interface 340. The sender may then prepare the communication. The recipient affinity database 502 stores recipient affinity information, such as preferences and interests of the recipients. In some examples, the recipient affinity information may be used to guide the communications editor in the assembly of the communication.

[00221] In instances where the sender is incapacitated, the communications editor, with the aid of the analytics engine 122, can serve as a surrogate in composing communications

automatically. For example, the sender may be seriously ill or even dead at the time of delivery (e.g., the sender may be an incapacitated or dead grandparent of the recipient). If the sender user is incapacitated or dead, the communications editor may carry out previous instructions of the sender and request confirmation as appropriate from a designated proxy of the sender, such as a parent of the recipient or an executor of the sender's estate. In some cases, the communications editor may requests confirmation of the identity, or role, or both, of the designated proxy. For instance, if the executor of the sender's estate logs into the proximity messaging social network using the deceased sender's credentials, the executor may be considered to have been authenticated as the sender's proxy.

[00222] In some examples, the communications editor may review or edit a communication that was generated in the past to confirm that the communication is still valid, appropriate, or relevant, or a combination of any two or more of them. For instance, if a grandmother had previously prepared a communication with the message "Have a coffee on me at the Happy Coffee Shop" and including a coupon to the Happy Coffee Shop, the communications editor may review the communication to determine whether the grandmother is still alive, whether the grandson drinks coffee, and whether the Happy Coffee Shop is still in business. For example, if the communications editor determines that the grandson's religion denies him caffeine but that his favorite beverage is blueberry tea, and further determines that the Happy Coffee Shop has been purchased by a larger corporation, the communications editor may inform the grandmother of these changes, may automatically edit the communication to reflect these changes, or both.

[00223] The display module 504 coordinates the delivery of a communication to a recipient.

The display module 504receives notification from the location module 52 (described below) when the recipient is at or near a triggering location. The display module 504then accesses the triggering database to retrieve the triggering time, if any, associated with the recipient and the triggering location. If the triggering time is satisfied, the display module 504causes the communication to be sent to the recipient's computing device. In some examples, the display module 504may alert the sender that the communication has been sent or may ask the sender for authorization to send the communication. If a physical item is to be sent to the recipient, the display module 504sends a message to the recipient to schedule delivery of the physical item using a vendor 124, for example by a common carrier such as FEDEX, UPS, DHL, or the USPS, or to provide instructions for the recipient to retrieve the physical item.

[00224] The communication may be sent to the recipient by voice, email, by text message, or by an alert in an application specific to the communication system. In some examples, the communication itself is sent, e.g., in the body of an email. In some examples, a link to the communication is sent and the recipient clicks on or otherwise follows the link to access the communication.

[00225] Referring to Fig. 25, for each recipient, the location module 52 determines when the recipient arrives at or near one of the associated triggering locations. A monitoring submodule 630 accesses the triggering database 80 (Fig. 21) to determine which recipients are to be monitored and to retrieve the triggering location associated with each recipient. In some examples, the triggering time for each recipient is used by the monitoring submodule 630 to determine whether the recipient's location is to be monitored. For instance, if the triggering time for a particular recipient is far in the future, the monitoring submodule 630 may not monitor the location of that recipient. [00226] A coordinates submodule 632 in the location module 52 determines GPS coordinates for each triggering location by accessing maps and data sources. For instance, if the triggering location is "Royal Theater, Boston, MA," the location submodule 630 determines the GPS coordinates for that location by determining the address of the theater (e.g., by accessing a website for the theater) and then identifying the GPS coordinates for that address. In some examples, the coordinates submodule 632 may perform analytics to determine GPS coordinates. For instance, if the triggering location is "the ice cream shop by the recipient's house," the coordinates submodule 632 determines the address of the recipient's house, (e.g., by accessing the recipient database 62 (Fig. 1)), identifies the ice cream shop nearest that address (e.g., by accessing maps or websites), and then identifies the GPS coordinates for the address of the ice cream shop.

[00227] A GPS submodule 634 in the location module 52 monitors the location of the computing device associated with each recipient who is scheduled to receive a communication, e.g., by monitoring the GPS coordinates of the computing device. When the GPS submodule 634 determines that the GPS coordinates of a recipient's computing device are sufficiently close to the GPS coordinates of a triggering location for that recipient, the GPS submodule alerts the

communication module 120 (Fig. 1). In some examples, a database 636 of proximity rules and algorithms is used to determine when the recipient is to be considered sufficiently close to the GPS coordinates of the triggering location.

[00228] Referring again to Fig. 2, the storage module 112 includes a communication database 206 hosted on a storage server 204 connected to the network 102. Communications, such as a communication generated by a sender, a communication generated automatically by the system, or both, can be stored in the communication database 206. When the communication system

determines a particular recipient is at a triggering location, the communication associated with that recipient is retrieved from the communication database 206 and transferred over the network 102 to the communication system, from where the communication is sent to the recipient. The

communication database 206 may also store multimedia content about or potentially of interest to the sender, the recipient, or both. This multimedia content may be used by the system to generate a communication or may be provided to the sender to assist in the generation of a communication. Examples of multimedia content include, e.g., digitized speech, digitized music, digital text documents, digital photographs or videos, scanned documents or photographs, screenshots of websites, and other content. The storage module 1 14 may also include a facility 208, such as a warehouse, for the storage of physical items such as, e.g., photographs, mementoes, heirlooms, souvenirs, and other physical items. The storage server 204 stores information related to the physical items 84 stored in the facility 208, such as inventory, status, location in the warehouse, scheduled delivery dates, and other information. [00229] The communication system described here can be used to send a location-based communication from a sender to a recipient in a wide variety of situations. Some examples uses of the communication system are described below.

[00230] Referring to Fig. 26, in a first example, a grandmother wants to send her unborn first grandchild a message when the grandchild first visits the family homestead. The grandmother provides information to allow the communication system to later determine the identity of the unborn first grandchild (370). The grandmother also specifies the address of the family homestead (the triggering location) and indicates that the message is to be composed of photographs of and news clippings about the grandmother and grandfather (372). The communication system identifies the grandfather and retrieves potentially relevant photographs and news clippings, e.g., from social networking sites and newspaper and magazine websites (374). The photographs and news clippings are formatted into a draft message which is sent to the grandmother for editing and approval (376). Later, the communication system determines the identity of the grandmother's unborn first grandchild (378), e.g., from a birth announcement in a local newspaper, from a social networking post by the grandchild's parents, or from the grandchild's own enrollment in the communication system or an affiliated social networking site. The communication system monitors the location of the grandchild's computing device, one or more of the grandchild's parents' computing devices, or another proxy for the grandchild's location (380). When the communication system detects that the grandchild is at the family homestead (382), the message is sent to the computing device that is at that location (384). [00231] Referring to Fig. 27, in a second example, the Awake! Coffee Shop wants to send a coupon for use at the coffee shop to every registered recipient who passes within two miles of the coffee shop during the morning rush hour and who is a qualified prospect for purchases. The registered recipients may be people who were already registered with the communication system, e.g., by virtue of their enrollment in a social network site. The registered recipients may also be people who registered with the communication system in response to a promotion by the Awake! Coffee Shop, by the communication system itself, or by another entity. For instance, the Awake! Coffee Shop may have notified its customers that those customers who register with the communication system would be eligible to receive coupons. In one example, social network users who "like" the Awake! Coffee Shop are automatically registered with the communication system. The communication system uses historical data regarding past purchases of potential recipients obtained from profiles of those potential recipients collected by the communication module 120 to enable the predictive analytics module 602 to determine the joint propensity of each potential recipient to purchase a particular type of beverage at a particular time of day (392). When that joint propensity for a particular recipient reaches a predetermined threshold level (393) and that recipient is in proximity to the Awake! Coffee Shop (394), a personalized marketing message is automatically generated (396) and delivered to a mobile device of the recipient (398). For example, during the triggering time (i.e., during the morning rush hour), the communication system monitors the location of each registered recipient and sends a coupon to each recipient whose joint propensity reaches the threshold level and who passes within two miles of the coffee shop. In this example, there may be a vast number of potential recipients whose location the communication system may monitor (e.g., every registered recipient in the communication system or every registered recipient who has purchased coffee in the last year). The communication system may selectively monitor some potential recipients less frequently than others, or even not at all, to improve system performance. For instance, the communication system may monitor only registered recipients whose regular commute takes them past the Awake! Coffee Shop and whose joint propensity reaches the threshold level.

[00232] Referring to Fig. 28, in a third example, the Boston Tourism Board prepares a welcome message to be sent to each traveler who is registered with the communication system upon the traveler's arrival at Boston's Logan International Airport. A traveler may register with the communication system, e.g., by "liking" a Boston-related entity on a social networking site, by purchasing a plane ticket to Boston, by reserving a hotel room in Boston, or by another action.

Based on each registered traveler's profile and other historical data including, e.g., past purchases and attendance at events or restaurants, the predictive analytics module 602 calculates the propensity of each registered traveler to attend or patronize various restaurants, events, and other activities (440). When a registered traveler arrives in Boston (442), the communication system retrieves information such as maps, restaurant listings, and event schedules from publically available websites and other sources of information (444) and automatically generates a customized message including information determined to be most relevant to the traveler based on the calculated propensity of that traveler (446). The customized message is delivered to the traveler (448).

[00233] In a fourth example, a human resources department of a corporation registers each employee of the corporation with the communication system. In some cases, the communication sytem may act as a surrogate for a corporate sender and use the corporate personnel database to identify recipients and, based on the profiles of the recipients, determine appropriate parameters and/or communications. The communication system may be used for location-based

communication with the employees. In one example, a worksite in Atlanta, GA, is in need of additional employees for a short-term project. The communication system may be used to send a message to all qualified employees who are within a certain distance (e.g., 100 miles) of the worksite alerting them to the project opportunity. In one example, an employee traveling to India requests that additional parts be sent to him for use in completing a repair. The communication system determines the location of the employee (e.g., the address of his hotel, the address of his worksite, or another location) and arranges for the additional parts to be sent directly to the employee. In one example, the corporation may offer a discounted health club membership to its employees. The communication system may be used to send a reminder message to any employee who passes within one mile of the health club.

[00234] Referring to Fig. 29, in a fifth example, a mobile navigation device, such as a GPS device or mobile computing device installed in a car, may be linked to the communication system via the internet, a mobile communications network, or both. A sender can instruct the

communication system to send a message to a recipient based on the location of the recipient's mobile navigation device. The message can be sent to the recipient's computing device (e.g., a smartphone), to the recipient's mobile navigation device, or both. For instance, a grandmother may instruct the communication system to send a message to her as-yet-unborn grandson if his car ever passes by the Coffee Cafe in New York City, as determined by the grandson's mobile navigation device (450). The predictive analytics module 602, using electronically-accessible sources, determines when the grandson acquires a car or other vehicle with a registered mobile navigation device (452), the grandson's preferred caffeinated beverage if any (454), and whether the Coffee Cafe still exists or has merged with another company (456). If the grandmother's message is still relevant, the communication system delivers it to the car's mobile device when it passes a Coffee Cafe in New York City (458). In case the grandmother is dead or incapacitated the communication system as her surrogate (described above) composes a relevant message and delivers it to the vehicle's mobile device. The message may include images, voice recordings, videos, icons to be clicked on, or other media, or a combination of any two or more of them. For instance, the message may include an icon that, when clicked, leads to a Quick Response (QR) code for a coupon to the Coffee Cafe. The grandson can scan the QR code with his smartphone and then bring the smartphone into the Coffee Cafe to redeem the coupon.

[00235] In some implementations, the system described here enables members of a community of users on a network to imbue a surrogate, which is matched in digital appearance, voice, and manner, with their personal knowledge, expertise and discernment in order to carry out the user's directives and intent at some predetermined future time. For example, a senior user with access to a social media network to embed his life story in digital format together with a

personalized digital avatar to present that life story or portions thereof in response to natural language questions and using an intelligent surrogate to act on the senior's behalf to carry out the senior's directives in the future after the senior dies or becomes incompetent.

[00236] FIG. 30 shows the conceptual framework 170 of the interaction of the system with the principal person 172 for extracting and transforming a life history. The principal person 172 logs onto the system and answers some standard identification questions, 174, so the system aided by the analytic engine 122 can search for relevant internet accessible information on the individual and events that occurred during his lifetime found in external data sources 176A or currently in internal data sources 176B. The system then progresses to collecting answers, 178 to autobiographical questions, which cover aspects usually published in a biographical note or obituary article. To assist the principal person 172 in answering the questions and to be consistent with the historical record, the system aided by the analytic engine 122 assembles material from internal data sources 176B or internet accessible data sources 176A about the principal person 172 or the events and presents that informational material along with the questions. The image of the principal person 172 along with his verbal answers are collected digitally by the system 100. The system then progresses to more personal, individual questions presented by an interrogation avatar during a session of elaboration 182 with whom the principal person 172 is relaxed and comfortable. The interrogation avatar, which is generated by the analytics engine 122 using techniques similar to those for LivingActor™ and can be selected by gender, age, ethnicity, voice type and other variables, is programmed with natural language understanding similar to that of Apple's SIRI or Nuance Communications Systems' Nuance Interactive Natural Assistant (Nina™), and exhibit a number of behavioral expressions as do those avatars of LivingActor™ in response to the answers of the principal person 172. This elaboration 182 of autobiographical information then uses a third set of open-ended questions presented by the interrogation avatar to elicit life stories, such as those recorded by StoryCorps, covers more personal topics, such as "What is you earliest memory?", "Who was your favorite teacher?" "What is your favorite flavor of ice cream?", "What was it like growing up in

[neighborhood, city, region, wartime, depression]? The elaboration 182 using the analytics engine 122 can interactively expand upon the questions along the lines of Weizenbaum's ELIZA program but in a more sophisticated manner guiding the principal person 102 there a series of life

experiences. The responses of the principal person 172 are recorded digitally both in terms of voice, and three-dimensional appearance with behavioral gestures.

[00237] The system aided by the analytic engine 122 then creates a surrogate of the principal person 172 consisting of an avatar of the principal person 172 linked with the personal knowledge of the principal person 172 and the ontology of his world at that point in time. The avatar of the principal person is generated using the digitized three-dimensional video image of the principal person 172 parsed into behavioral expressions employed to morph the avatar's image, for example, facial expressions of the principal person 172 using software such as that of FaceShift.com and employing the principal person's voice to generate the avatar's voice in pitch and other sound attributes using articulatory synthesis and a database of speech units,which may amount to a billion or more for responding to arbitrary questions but some life stories or jokes may be recorded and used in their entirety

[00238] The accuracy of the surrogate transformation is assessed 184 by the principal person

172 or a second person. The principal person 172 or a second person then interrogates the system's surrogate of the principal person using a script of frequently asked conventional questions. If there are gaps or errors the process iterates until the performance of the surrogate of the principal person reaches a predetermined level of correctness in terms of this limited Turing Test.

As a result of the training and testing, the system enables the surrogate of the principal person 172 to answer general and specific questions by means of an avatar matching in appearance, voice, manner and gesture the principal person 172 and by means of the analytics engine 122. Using the communications engine 120 and the analytics engine 122 the transformed digital representation of the principal person 172 is edited 186 for particular formats and audiences then communicated 188 when appropriate to that audience 190. So the surrogate of the principal person can be used to generate an interactive obituary, a digitized life history in the Story Corps sense or as a published autobiography using the book assembly techniques of Parker (Philip M. Parker, U.S Patent

7, 266,767 B2, 09/04/2007 Method and Apparatus for Automated Authoring and Marketing, which is incorporated by reference) or serve in place of the principal person 102 at a memorial service or at subsequent anniversaries or on special occasions.

[00239] It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the framework described may be practiced using only voice communication or text communication and or more broadly for expertise in various domains. For example, a business may wish to deploy the expertise of one of its employees to several remote location simultaneously interactively or in the form of a manual or multimedia-based expert system.

[00240] FIG. 31 shows the conceptual framework 250 for the entering and execution of advance directives for future actions. The principal person 172 logs in to his account for

Identification 254, to access identification information and all the information known or inferred by the analytic engine that has been collected, organized and transformed into an intelligent personal assistant that can act as a surrogate when the principal person 172 becomes incompetent. The advance directives enable the system acting as the surrogate of the principal person to compose and deliver messages, to purchase gifts and arrange for their delivery to living persons specifically identifiable at the time the directives were entered or to persons unborn or not yet part of the social network; and to convene and organize social gatherings to similarly chosen guests. The principal person 172 initiates directives with a process of Selection 156 of the occasion or event chosen from a set provided by the analytics engine 122. Then a Designation 260 of the person or persons to be contacted and using the notification engine specifies a future date of notification 264 or a means to determine a future date to be notified. When the system detects the said date has occurred the communication engine 120 aided by analytics engine 122 initiated a notification 266 of the person or person previously selected and manage carrying out the directives 268. For example the system with the aid of the analytics engine 122 which can access an ontology of future time, can determine the birthday of selected individuals, analyze with the aid of the communication engine 120 their preferences from their profiles then contact a vendor for a suitable gift and arrange for its delivery. In some embodiments, the analytics engine acts as a surrogate of a principal person 172 to generate responses (e. g., messages, and/or delivery instructions) based on historical data specific to the Recipient 270. It will be apparent, however, to one skilled in the art, that the framework described may be practiced for more than communicating multimedia messages at future times, delivering gifts to relatives or friends on future occasions, or organizing future meetings and presentations.. For example, a business in the event of an emergency may wish to deploy the expertise of one of its employees to several remote locations simultaneously interactively or in the form of a manual or multimedia-based expert system.

[00241] Referring again to Fig. 1, the system 100 can be used for this framework, with the principal person 172 represented by the user 108. The principal person 108 by means of his computing device 106, which is connected to the Internet 102, is enabled to generate a

representational surrogate imbued with his personal knowledge and capable of discerning his intent for executing directives for future actions. The network 102 further connects to the analytic engine 122, the communication engine 120, the notification engine 308 and the services of a vendor 124. These engines and services draw up internet-accessible databases on the network 102, which include the data and relationship supporting the lifetime ontology of the principal person 108 as well as the present and future ontologies in which the directives of the principal person 108 will be carried out. The communications, interactive presentations and directives of the principal person 108 are targeted at internet-enabled recipients 114.

[00242] Fig. 32 shows an exemplary embodiment of the editing interface 420 presented to the principal person 108. The internet-accessible computing device 422 is a means of presenting an avatar 430 , which can be the interrogating avatar for interactively collecting life history information from the principal person 108 or the avatar of the principal person to testing determine if the system surrogate has met a predetermined criterion of correctness. The Window Title 424 indicates the stage of surrogate development. The website URL is noted by 426. The video start button 428 can be clicked or commanded verbally to start the session. When the system surrogate has met the predetermined criterion of correctness the principal person 108 can proceed to set up directives future actions.

[00243] Fig. 33 is a view of an editing interface 530 for entering surrogate directives. The internet-accessible computing device 532 is a means of presenting an avatar of 540 to receive instructions by natural language dialog for executing future actions. The Windows title 536 indicates the type of directive being edited. The website URL is indicated by 534. A progress bar 538 indicates the steps completed and still to be completed

[00244] The analytics engine 122 facilitates identifying notification trigger events for significant event persons, curating an appropriate message upon notification, then publishing or delivery of communications in response to a significant event on behalf of principal person 108 by inferring information about the person described in the communication item from one or more data sources or determining or inferring milestone events for the recipient user 114 or for the person described in the communication item, among other things. The person described in the

communication item may be the intended reader of the communication item, the publisher of the communication item, both the reader and the publisher, or neither the reader nor the publisher.

[00245] The predictive analytics module 602 in analytics engine 122 applies search algorithms and forecasting models to identify milestone events and to suggest appropriate media messages or items for a reader user. For example in the case of an autobiographical communication item of a grandfather (the publisher user), the reader user is the projected offspring of a current member in the system but the publisher user may incapacitated at the time of publication and delivery or both. By a computer-implemented method, data relevant to the publisher user may be extracted from his profile in the system 100 and/or generated implicitly based, at least in part, on the publisher user's stored profile together with historical data by a predictive analytics algorithm based on historical data. Based on the extracted or generated data, a significant event is identified, content for a communication is selected, appropriate reader users are identified, and/or other analysis is performed, in some cases without input from the publisher user.

[00246] In some examples, analytics engine 122 may use data specific to a user to identify potential milestone events (e.g., to identify a bar mitzvah date for a child based on the child's birth date or to identify appropriate religious holidays based on the user's specified religious affiliation or a prevailing religion in the region where the user lives). In some cases, the predictive analytics module 602 may also incorporate present or historical data or both to identify relevant information for the communication subject or reader user or both that are in keeping with preferences of the publisher user. In other examples, the analytics engine 122 analyzes publically available sources of information and/or private sources of information to which it has access, including, e.g., social networking facilities, online or mobile periodicals such as newspapers or magazines, and websites, to identify the occurrence of significant events associated with the reader user or with the person whom the communication is about. For instance, the analytics engine 122 may analyze trade journal websites to set up criteria so the notification engine 308 can identify when a target person receives an award or a promotion.

[00247] A display module 504 of the analytics engine 122 may display the significant events of an individual of interest (e.g., a reader user or another individual specified by the publisher user) on a webpage belonging to or accessible by the publisher user. These events with associated actions can be selected for notifications stored in the notification engine 308. In some embodiments, upon notification by the notification engine, the analytics engine 122 may automatically communicate messages of a significant event relevant to a reader user, such as a birthday, to the communication engine 120, which sends the notices to relatives of the reader user, who can act as publisher users. The analytics engine 122 may use information about a reader user found in various databases to determine when to send out the notices.

[00248] The analytics engine 122 can act as a surrogate for the principal person 108 by specifying communications, goods, and services or any other communication items for placement into storage. Provided the potential reader user 114 is registered in the system 100, the

communication engine 120 will determine the location 100 the reader user, e.g., by GPS tracking or similar means. The reader user's interests and status may be available in the reader user's profile, which, taken together with historical data, enable the analytics engine 122 utilizing inferences from missing data, if necessary, to determine an appropriate gift to accompany the message and an optimal time for delivery. The delivery time is selected by a predictive analytics algorithm, based on historical data specific to the reader user.

[00249] In some embodiments, the analytics engine 122 acts as a surrogate of a principal person 108 to generate communication items (e.g., messages, sympathy tribute selections, and/or delivery instructions) based on data, e.g., historical data, specific to the reader user. By a computer- implemented method, data relevant to the reader user may be extracted from his profile, generated implicitly based, at least in part, on the reader user's stored profile with the system together with historical data by a predictive analytics algorithm based on historical data, and/or obtained from publically available or privately accessible information sources. Based on the extracted or generated data a communication is selected, generated, and delivered, in some cases without input from the publisher user.

[00250] The communication engine 120 facilitates identification of a significant event person along with criteria used by the notification engine 308 to trigger notification of the curator for composing a message, publishing or delivery of communication items) for a principal person 108 by providing information about a reader user's physical location, profile interest information, and/or affinity information. In some examples, the location, interest, and affinity and other current and historical information may be displayed by a display module 504 on a webpage belonging to or accessible by the publisher user. The communication engine 120 includes an affinity database 502 for storing significant event person and reader user affinity information and a location database 510 for storing the physical location of a reader user. The location database 510 may receive data relevant to the location of a reader user from a GPS translation module 506 or may obtain the reader user's location from the Analysis engine's analysis of websites or other sources of information. For example, the publisher user may have composed a sympathy note regarding an individual killed in an accident; the communication engine determines that the next of kin is traveling in another country and thus likely to be reachable by email but not by phone.

[00251] Fig. 34 is a block diagram 460 of a notification engine 308 of the system 100. The notification engine 308 facilitates publishing or delivery of communications for a principal person 108 by detecting significant events of interest to the principal person 108 as listed in a data file 462. For example, a publisher user may be notified about the death of friend by means of a search module 464 supported by a parsing and interpretation library 468. The publisher user may then compose and publisher or deliver a sympathy message to the friend's family. In some examples, information the individual whose significant event has been detected (referred to here as the tracked individual) may be displayed by a display module 466 on a webpage belonging to the publisher user. The

notification engine 308 may also display the tracked individual's profile within the system 100 for confirmation of the individual's significant event.

[00252] Fig. 35 is a view 930 of a recipient interface. The internet-connected computing device 932 enables a multimedia display that shows an avatar of the principal person 940

programmed to deliver answers to natural language inquiries using the detailed knowledge of the principal person 108 previously collected, curated and transformed.

[00253] Fig. 36 is a flowchart of an example process 1030 for communicating a multimedia message in the system 100. In the process 1030, a principal person 108 has directed his surrogate with an occasion and an specific audience (1032). The surrogate using the communication engine 120 requests the profiles of the audience members (1034). The analytic engine then provides event constraints for the communication (1036). Using the notification engine 308 there is a pause for the first question of request (1038). When the question or request is received the intent is determined by the analytic engine (1042) and the response is prepared (1044). The communication engine using the surrogate avatar delivers the communication (1046). Then there is a pause for follow-up (1048) and the cycle repeats until the notification engine 308 determines the presentation is complete. Then there is a closure of the presentation (1050). The audience may be given the opportunity to acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and even reply to the principal person 108 or to his proxyv

[00254] Fig. 37 is a flowchart of an example process 1150 for distributing a gift or tribute in the system 100. In the process 1150, a principal person 108 has selected or set up a directive to select a recipient person (1152) and a particular life cycle event (1154) and using the communication engine for profile of the person and analytic engine for predictive forecasting a gift or tribute is chosen (1156). Then there is a pause (1158) but at the appropriate date as determined by the notification engine 308 (1160) the recipient is located by means of the communication engine 120 (1162) using the current recipient profile for location (1164). Under the directives the system makes arrangement with a vendor (1166) using the analytics engine 122 for vendor selection (1168) and delivery time selection (1 170). The gift vendor or another vendor then delivers the gift to the recipient (1172). The recipient 114D may be given the opportunity to acknowledge receipt and confirm delivery and to reply to the principal person 108 or the publisher user's proxy.

[00255] Fig. 38 shows a flowchart 1210 of the management of an advance event directive planned by the principal person 108 The principal person selects the type of event to host (1212) and selects the attendees either directly (1214) or by description using profiles if available (1216). The principal person 108 then sets the date of the event or some triggering criterion, e.g., birthday party or graduation party (1218) and the venue directly or by description, e.g, function room at Waldorf Astoria in New York (1222) . Based on the guest's profiles, the Proxy surrogate selects the menu and caterer which may be the regular venue caterer (1224). In advance of the appropriate date or immediately after notice of the triggering event, the Proxy surrogate of the principal person sends out the invitations (1226) using a service such as EventBrite™ to collect RSVPs (1230) then confirms the appropriate venue and catering arrangements (1232). Then the Proxy surrogate arranges for an internet-accessible telepresence display (1234). On the date of the event, the Proxy surrogate uses the telepresence display to attend the event and greet the attendees and during the event the Proxy surrogate interacts with attendees. At the end of the end the Proxy surrogate thanks the attendees, coordinates with the caterer and venue provider and shuts off the telepresence display.

[00256] As desired, the multigenerational social network may include more or fewer than the components illustrated.

[00257] The multigenerational social network is described above with reference to block and flow diagrams of systems, methods, apparatuses, and/or computer program products according to examples. In some instances, the donor and recipient users may access the social network by desktop or laptop computers. In some embodiments, the donor and recipient users may access the social network by mobile devices such as smart phones. In some embodiments, the donor and recipient users may access the social network by tablet computers or any commercial computing device connected to the internet. In some cases, the social network may be constructed to operate on the internet independent of existing social networks. The multigenerational social network may operate using existing social networks, e.g., Facebook, as platforms using existing application interfaces open to website developers. [00258] One or more blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, respectively, can be implemented by computer- executable program instructions. Some blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams may not necessarily need to be performed in the order presented, or may not necessarily need to be performed at all, in some cases. [00259] These computer-executable program instructions may be loaded onto a general- purpose computer, a special-purpose computer, a processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a particular machine, such that the instructions that execute on the computer, processor, or other programmable data processing apparatus create means for implementing one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. These computer program instructions may also be stored in a computer-readable memory that can direct a computer or other

programmable data processing apparatus to function in a particular manner, such that the

instructions stored in the computer-readable memory produce an article of manufacture including instruction means that implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. As an example, embodiments may provide for a computer program product, comprising a computer-usable medium having a computer-readable program code or program instructions embodied therein, said computer-readable program code adapted to be executed to implement one or more functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks. The computer program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer or other programmable data processing apparatus to cause a series of operational elements or steps to be performed on the computer or other programmable apparatus to produce a computer-implemented process such that the instructions that execute on the computer or other programmable apparatus provide elements or steps for implementing the functions specified in the flow diagram block or blocks.

[00260] Accordingly, blocks of the block diagrams and flow diagrams support combinations of means for performing the specified functions, combinations of elements or steps for performing the specified functions and program instruction means for performing the specified functions. It will also be understood that each block of the block diagrams and flow diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and flow diagrams, can be implemented by special-purpose, hardware- based computer systems that perform the specified functions, elements or steps, or combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions.

[00261] While the multigenerational social network has been described in connection with certain examples, is the system is not limited to the disclosed embodiments, but on the contrary, includes various modifications and equivalent arrangements. Embodiments of the subject matter and the functional operations described in this specification can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, in tangibly-embodied computer software or firmware, in computer hardware, including the structures disclosed in this specification and their structural equivalents, or in combinations of one or more of them. Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented as one or more computer programs, i.e., one or more modules of computer program instructions encoded on a tangible non-transitory program carrier for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus. Alternatively or in addition, the program instructions can be encoded on an artificially generated propagated signal, e.g., a machine-generated electrical, optical, or electromagnetic signal, that is generated to encode information for transmission to suitable receiver apparatus for execution by a data processing apparatus. The computer storage medium can be a machine-readable storage device, a machine-readable storage substrate, a random or serial access memory device, or a combination of one or more of them.

[00262] The term "data processing apparatus" encompasses all kinds of apparatus, devices, and machines for processing data, including by way of example a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple processors or computers. The apparatus can include special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit). The apparatus can also include, in addition to hardware, code that creates an execution environment for the computer program in question, e.g., code that constitutes processor firmware, a protocol stack, a database management system, an operating system, or a combination of one or more of them.

[00263] A computer program (which may also be referred to or described as a program, software, a software application, a module, a software module, a script, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, or declarative or procedural languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a standalone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable for use in a computing environment. A computer program may, but need not, correspond to a file in a file system. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data, e.g., one or more scripts stored in a markup language document, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files, e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub programs, or portions of code. A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers that are located at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[00264] The processes and logic flows described in this specification can be performed by one or more programmable computers executing one or more computer programs to perform functions by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus can also be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application specific integrated circuit).

[00265] Computers suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, can be based on general or special purpose microprocessors or both, or any other kind of central processing unit. Generally, a central processing unit will receive instructions and data from a read only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a central processing unit for performing or executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto optical disks, or optical disks. However, a computer need not have such devices. Moreover, a computer can be embedded in another device, e.g., a mobile telephone, a personal digital assistant (PDA), a mobile audio or video player, a game console, a Global Positioning System (GPS) receiver, or a portable storage device, e.g., a universal serial bus (USB) flash drive, to name just a few.

[00266] Computer readable media suitable for storing computer program instructions and data include all forms of non volatile memory, media and memory devices, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices; magnetic disks, e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks; magneto optical disks; and CD ROM and DVD- ROM disks. The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry. [00267] To provide for interaction with a user, embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube) or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, e.g., a mouse or a trackball, by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well; for example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback; and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input. In addition, a computer can interact with a user by sending documents to and receiving documents from a device that is used by the user; for example, by sending web pages to a web browser on a user's client device in response to requests received from the web browser. [00268] Embodiments of the subject matter described in this specification can be

implemented in a computing system that includes a back end component, e.g., as a data server, or that includes a middleware component, e.g., an application server, or that includes a front end component, e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a Web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described in this

specification, or any combination of one or more such back end, middleware, or front end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network ("LAN") and a wide area network ("WAN"), e.g., the Internet.

[00269] The computing system can include clients and servers. A client and server are generally remote from each other and typically interact through a communication network. The relationship of client and server arises by virtue of computer programs running on the respective computers and having a client-server relationship to each other.

[00270] While this specification contains many specific implementation details, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of any invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features that may be specific to particular embodiments of particular inventions. Certain features that are described in this specification in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such, one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be excised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or variation of a subcombination.

[00271] Similarly, while operations are depicted in the drawings in a particular order, this should not be understood as requiring that such operations be performed in the particular order shown or in sequential order, or that all illustrated operations be performed, to achieve desirable results. In certain circumstances, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Moreover, the separation of various system modules and components in the embodiments described above should not be understood as requiring such separation in all embodiments, and it should be understood that the described program components and systems can generally be integrated together in a single software product or packaged into multiple software products.

Particular embodiments of the subject matter have been described. Other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims. For example, the actions recited in the claims can be performed in a different order and still achieve desirable results. As one example, the processes depicted in the accompanying figures do not necessarily require the particular order shown, or sequential order, to achieve desirable results. In certain implementations, multitasking and parallel processing may be advantageous.

Other implementations are also within the scope of the following claims.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising: maintaining information provided by a donor about an item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient, the information being maintained until the transfer time, and managing a transfer of the item to the recipient at the transfer time, the donor and the recipient being individuals who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor or at the transfer time or at both times.

2. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the recipient does not identify a specific person.

3. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the recipient comprises information that can be used at the transfer time to determine the specific recipient.

4. The method of claim 1 comprising inferring the identity of the recipient at the transfer time.

5. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the transfer item identifies a specific item.

6. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the transfer item comprises information that can be used at the transfer time to determine the specific transfer item.

7. The method of claim 1 comprising inferring the transfer item analytically from the information or from other data or from both.

8. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the transfer time identifies a specific transfer time.

9. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the transfer time identifies an event the occurrence of which is associated with the transfer time.

10. The method of claim 1 in which the information about the transfer time comprises information that can be used to determine a specific transfer time.

11. The method of claim 1 comprising inferring a specific transfer time from the information or from other data or both.

12. The method of claim 1 comprising storing the transfer item on behalf of the donor until the transfer time.

13. The method of claim 1 in which the transfer time, the transfer item, or the transfer recipient or any combination of two or more of them, is inferred based on one or more of historical information about the donor or the recipient, inferred personal milestones or future needs or wants or affinities of the recipient, or both.

14. The method of claim 1 in which the transfer item comprises biological material and managing the transfer of the item comprises storing the biological material cryogenically.

15. A computer-implemented method comprising : maintaining information provided by a donor about a transfer item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient, the information being maintained until the transfer time, and managing a transfer of the item to the recipient at the transfer time, the donor and the recipient being individuals who have a specific relationship to one another that is the basis of the transfer, their specific relationship being authenticated before the transfer occurs.

16. The method of claim 15 in which the specific relationship comprises a family relationship based on birth or marriage.

17. The method of claim 15 comprising providing the donor online information about one or more of people who may be potential recipients, times that may be an appropriate transfer time, and items that may be appropriate items to be transferred.

18. The method of claim 15 in which the donor comprises an institution or an entity and the recipient comprises a person currently or previously associated with the institution or entity.

19. A computer-implemented method comprising enabling a donor to provide through an interactive facility information about an item to be transferred, a recipient who is to receive the item, and a transfer time when the transfer item is to be transferred to the recipient, the donor and the recipient being individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b).

20. A method comprising operating a storage facility in which physical items to be transferred to recipients at corresponding transfer times are stored, and managing the transfer of the items to the recipients at the transfer times in accordance with information provided by donors of the items about the items to be transferred, the recipients who are to receive them, and the transfer times in the future, each of the donors and the corresponding recipients being individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b).

21. A method comprising operating a storage facility in which digital items to be communicated to recipients at corresponding transfer times in the future are stored, and managing the transfer of the items to the recipients at the transfer times in accordance with information provided by donors of the items about the items to be transferred, the recipients who are to receive them, and the transfer times in the future, each of the donors and the corresponding recipients being individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b).

22. A computer-implemented method comprising hosting a social networking facility that enables individuals who are related by birth or marriage to engage as a limited community in social networking activities that include

communications, posting of information, and in the transfer of items from donors in the community to recipients in the community based on information provided by the donors, each of the donors and a corresponding recipient being individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the donor, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the transfer time, or (c) both (a) and (b).

23. A system comprising: a donor user input module configured to receive, from a donor user of a multigenerational social network, instructions to deliver at least one of a message and an item to a recipient user of the multigenerational social network; an analysis module configured to select at least one of a delivery event, a delivery date, and an identity of the item based on data associated with the recipient user; and a delivery module configured to deliver, to the recipient user, at least one of the message, the item, and a message associated with the item according to at least one of the identified delivery event and the identified delivery date.

24. The system of claim 23 comprising a storage module configured to store the item.

25. The system of claim 23 comprising a communications module configured to determine at least one of a location and a status of the recipient user.

26. The system of claim 23 in which the delivery module is configured to deliver according to at least one of the location and the status of the recipient user

27. The system of claim 23 comprising a display module configured to display a delivery instructions interface to the donor user and to display a representation of the delivery to the recipient user.

28. The system of claim 23 in which the analysis module is configured to select an identity of the item based on data stored in the distribution database.

29. A method comprising: enabling a person who wants to give a tangible, physical, virtual, or digital item to another family member of a different generation at a future time, to provide information from which the item, the future time, and the recipient can be determined, the giver and the recipient being individuals (a) who are not both living or not both competent at the time when the information is provided by the giver, (b) or may not both be living or may not both be competent at the future time, or (c) both (a) and (b), storing the information, and transferring the item to the other family member at the future time based on the provided information.

30. A computer-implemented method comprising making a digital or physical memory box accessible to a person, by an electronic message, encouraging the person to engage in an activity the result of which will be a digital or physical item, the recipient and the person having a relationship with respect to which the result of the activity will represent a memory for the recipient with respect to the person, receiving and storing the digital or physical memory box containing the result of the activity, and giving the recipient access to the digital or physical memory box at a future time.

31. The method of claim 30 in which the future time is a time when the person is dead or incapacitated.

32. A computer-implemented method comprising enabling people who have a relationship with one another to participate in an online community of members, the members being controlled and limited based on the relationship, enabling transfer-initiating members to specify transfers of transfer items to be made at future transfer times to other members of the community, receiving from the transfer-initiating members, at initiation times, information from which the recipients of transfer items, the transfer items, and the transfer times can be determined, causing the transfer items to be stored prior to the transfer times. the recipients, the transfer items, and the transfer times being selected to cause the recipients to have favorable memories about the initiating members associated with the relationships.

33. A computer-implemented method comprising notifying a first person that a significant event is going to occur with respect to a second person; receiving from the first person, the second person, or another person a communication that relates to the significant event and to the first person and that has been curated at least in part from information that has been accumulated automatically from online resources, and sending the curated communication to the communication target.

34. The method of claim 33, further comprising detecting an occurrence of the significant event.

35. The method of claim 34, further comprising receiving information provided by the first person defining at least one condition for occurrence of the significant event.

36. The method of claim 33, further comprising receiving an identification of the second person from the first person.

37. A computer-implemented method comprising in connection with an occurrence of a significant event of a person the conditions for occurrence of which had been defined earlier by a user, automatically generating a page of a website or a mobile application or an email application that is associated with the significant event of the person and includes information generated by and received from the user, information about the person, and information associated with the person that has been obtained by automated analysis of publicly available (a) online or mobile social networking facilities, (b) online or mobile periodicals, and (c) websites, and serving the page for display through a web browser or a mobile application or an email application.

38. The method of claim 37, wherein the page is served after the user is given an opportunity to curate the page.

39. The method of claim 37, wherein notification of the occurrence of the significant event is given automatically to someone, in particular someone who needs to take some action regarding the event.

40. The method of claim 37, further comprising detecting the occurrence of the significant event.

41. The method of claim 37, wherein the page is served in the future to parties whose existence and identity with respect to the user and the significant event is undetermined at the time when the conditions for occurrence are defined.

42. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient who are related to one another by blood or employment; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient based on a future location of the recipient, wherein the content of the communication and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender, the recipient, or both.

43. The method of claim 42, comprising sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location.

44. The method of claim 42, comprising detecting a location of the recipient.

45. The method of claim 42, wherein scheduling delivery includes scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient at a specified future time.

46. The method of claim 45, comprising sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location at the specified future time.

47. The method of claim 45, comprising: receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and determining the future time based on the time criteria.

48. The method of claim 42, comprising receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria.

49. The method of claim 42, comprising conducting an automated analysis of the electronically- accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location.

50. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a communication to be sent from a sender to a recipient; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the recipient at a specified future time based on a future location of the recipient, wherein the identity of the recipient, the content of the communication, the future time, and the future location of the recipient are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the sender or the recipient.

51. The method of claim 50, comprising sending the communication to the recipient when the recipient is at or near the future location at the specified future time.

52. The method of claim 50, comprising detecting a location of the recipient.

53. The method of claim 50, comprising receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria.

54. The method of claim 50, comprising receiving recipient criteria for determining the identity of the recipient; and wherein the identity of the recipient is determined based on the recipient criteria.

55. The method of claim 50, comprising receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and wherein the specified future time is determined based on the time criteria.

56. The method of claim 50, comprising conducting an automated analysis of the electronically- accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location.

57. A computer-implemented method comprising: generating a communication to be sent from an employer to an employee; and scheduling delivery of the communication to the employee based on a future location of the employee, wherein the content of the communication and the future location of the employee are determined from an analysis of electronically-accessible resources by or about the employee.

58. The method of claim 57, comprising sending the communication to the employee when the employee is at or near the future location.

59. The method of claim 57, comprising detecting a location of the employee.

60. The method of claim 57, scheduling delivery includes scheduling delivery of the

communication to the employee at a specified future time.

61. The method of claim 60, comprising sending the communication to the employee when the employee is at or near the future location at the specified future time.

62. The method of claim 60, comprising: receiving time criteria for determining the specified future time; and determining the future time based on the time criteria.

63. The method of claim 57, comprising receiving location criteria for determining the future location; and wherein the future location is determined based on the location criteria.

64. The method of claim 57, comprising conducting an automated analysis of the electronically- accessible resources to determine the content of the communication and the future location.

65. A method comprising: maintaining first information characterizing a person; receiving second information indicative of contents of a message to be delivered to a recipient on behalf of the person, an identity of the recipient, and a delivery time for delivery of the message; and delivering the message to the recipient at the delivery time, including conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient on behalf of the person based on the first information characterizing the person.

66. The method of claim 65, in which delivering the message includes delivering the message using a digital representation of the person.

67. The method of claim 66, comprising generating the digital representation of the person based on the first information characterizing the person.

68. The method of claim 65, comprising generating the message based on the first information, the second information, or both.

69. The method of claim 65, in which the second information includes one or more of a specification of the identity of the recipient, a specification of a relationship between the person and the recipient, and a specification of the delivery time.

70. The method of claim 65, in which the second information indicative of the delivery time includes an identification of an event.

71. The method of claim 65, in which the second information includes a specification of the contents of the message.

72. The method of claim 65, in which the person is not alive or not competent at the time when the message is delivered.

73. The method of claim 65, in which the recipient is not alive or not competent at the time when the second information is received.

74. A method comprising: receiving first information characterizing a person and second information indicative of an identity of a recipient; and conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient using a digital representation of the person that is generated based on the first information, in which the person is not alive or not competent when the natural language interaction is conducted.

75. The method of claim 74, in which conducting the natural language interaction includes conducting the natural language interaction based on the first information.

76. The method of claim 74, comprising determining a content of the natural language interaction based on the first information.

77. The method of claim 74, in which the digital representation of the person includes a representation of one or more of the following: a voice of the person, a behavior of the person, and an appearance of the person.

78. The method of claim 74, comprising identifying the recipient based on the second information.

79. The method of claim 74, in which the recipient is not alive or not competent when the second information is received.

80. A system comprising: a storage device for maintaining first information characterizing a person; and an analytics engine for: receiving second information indicative of contents of a message to be delivered to a recipient on behalf of the person, an identity of the recipient, and a delivery time for delivery of the message, and delivering the message to the recipient at the delivery time, the analytics engine configured to conduct a natural language interaction with the recipient on behalf of the person based on the first information characterizing the person.

81. The system of claim 80, in which the analytics engine is configured to generate a digital representation of the person for display on a user interface, respond to a question or statement from the recipient with a natural language response, or both.

82. The system of claim 80, comprising a communication engine configured to identify the recipient based on the second information.

83. A system comprising: a communication engine for receiving first information characterizing a person and second information indicative of an identity of a recipient; and an analytics engine for conducting a natural language interaction with the recipient using a digital representation of the person that is generated based on the first information, in which the person is not alive or not competent when the natural language interaction is conducted.

84. A method comprising receiving information from which at least one of the following can be derived: content of a message to be delivered from a first party to a second party about a life event, a manner of delivery of the message, a future time when the message is to be delivered, and the recipient of the message, automatically on behalf of the first party, forming an integrated, conversational multimedia message that is to be part of a natural language dialog with the second party.

85. The method of claim 84, in which the integrated, conversational multimedia messages is formed to be responsive to natural language communication of the second party.

86. The method of claim 84, in which the information is received interactively.

87. A method comprising maintaining digital information that enables the formation of an interactive digital surrogate of an originating person based on digital audio or video information derived from the originating person, and at a time when the originating person is not alive or otherwise not available, causing the digital surrogate to engage in a natural language dialog with a receiving person who is determined on the basis of information that had been provided by the originating person.