Abstract:
In an approach for selectively displaying a push notification, audio is captured using a microphone. A processor receives a push notification, wherein the push notification includes information. A processor identifies a keyword associated with the push notification based on the information. A processor determines that the captured audio includes the keyword. A processor determines whether to display the push notification based on the determination of whether the captured audio includes the keyword.

Description:
BACKGROUND 
       [0001]    The present invention relates generally to the field of device push notifications, and more particularly to utilizing passive listening and analytics to decide whether a push notification should be displayed. 
         [0002]    A push notification is the delivery of information from an application server to a computing device without a specific request from the device user. The majority of applications today offer the capability to provide push notifications. Computing device users can receive these push notifications on their smart phones, smart watches, tablets, laptops, etc. Typically, when an application is installed, the user is prompted to select whether they would like to allow push notifications to be sent to the computing device. Oftentimes, the user can manage his or her push notification selection in the device&#39;s settings. Generally, to receive push notifications, the specific application(s) on a computing device do not need to be open. This may allow a computing device to receive and display push notifications even when the device&#39;s screen is locked and the specific application that is associated with the notification is closed. 
         [0003]    Passive listening can be used by mobile devices, generally, to listen for commands from a user. For example, an application or program passively listens for a trigger word or phrase summoning the application or program to actively listen to the user. After stating the trigger word or phrase, the user will state a command or question for the application or program. The application or program will then analyze the command or question from the user and follow out the command or respond to the question. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0004]    Aspects of an embodiment of the present invention disclose a method, computer program produce, and computer system for selectively displaying a push notification. A processor captures, by a microphone, audio. A processor receives a push notification, wherein the push notification includes information. A processor identifies a keyword associated with the push notification based on the information. A processor determines that the captured audio includes the keyword. A processor determines whether to display the push notification based on the determination of whether the captured audio includes the keyword. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0005]      FIG. 1  depicts a diagram of a computing environment, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0006]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart of the steps of a passive listening function executing within the computing environment of  FIG. 1 , for capturing and storing audio from the surrounding external environment of a computing device, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0007]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the steps of a notification analysis program executing within the computing environment of  FIG. 1 , for analyzing a push notification to determine if the push notification should be displayed to a user, in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0008]      FIG. 4  is a block diagram of internal and external components of the application server and computing environment of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0009]    Embodiments of the present invention recognize the increasing number of push notifications mobile device users are receiving. In some instances, users receive push notifications with information that they already have been exposed to. For example, a user may receive a push notification with a sports score update. However, the user may currently be watching the game indicated by the push notification. Thus, the user has already been exposed to the information in the push notification and embodiments of the present invention recognize that the push notification is redundant. Embodiments of the present invention provide solutions for determining what information a user has already been exposed to. In this manner, as discussed in greater detail herein, embodiments of the present invention can provide a way to determine if a user has already been exposed to the information in a push notification and then decide whether to display, or otherwise present, the push notification to the user. 
         [0010]    The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the Figures. 
         [0011]      FIG. 1  depicts a diagram of computing environment  10 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention.  FIG. 1  provides only an illustration of one embodiment and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. 
         [0012]    In the depicted embodiment, computing environment  10  includes application server  20  and computing device  40  interconnected over network  30 . Network  30  may be a local area network (LAN), a wide area network (WAN) such as the Internet, the public switched telephone network (PSTN), any combination thereof, or any combination of connections and protocols that will support communications between application server  20  and computing device  40 , in accordance with embodiments of the invention. Network  30  may include wired, wireless, or fiber optic connections. Computing environment  10  may include additional computing devices, servers, computers, mobile devices, or other devices not shown. 
         [0013]    Application server  20  is associated with an application (not shown) stored to computing device  40  and operates to generate and send push notifications to users of the application, based on their preferences. Application server  20  may be a management server, a web server, or any other electronic device or computing system capable of receiving and sending data. In some embodiments, application server  20  may be a laptop computer, tablet computer, netbook computer, personal computer (PC), a desktop computer, a smart phone, or any programmable electronic device capable of communicating with computing device  40  via network  30 . In other embodiments, application server  20  may represent a server computing system utilizing multiple computers as a server system, such as in a cloud computing environment. Application server  20  may include components, as depicted and described in further detail with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0014]    Computing device  40  receives push notifications for the application associated with application server  20 . Computing device  40  may be a laptop computer, netbook computer, tablet computer, personal digital assistant (PDA), smart watch, smart phone, or cell phone. In general, computing device  40  may be any electronic device or computing system capable of receiving and recording audio with a microphone, sending and receiving data, and communicating with application server  20  over network  30 . In the depicted embodiment, computing device  40  contains notification analysis program  50 , passive listening function  60 , and passive listening file  70 . Computing device  40  may include components, as depicted and described in further detail with respect to  FIG. 4 . 
         [0015]    Notification analysis program  50  operates to analyze an incoming push notification sent by application server  20  over network  30  to computing device  40 . Notification analysis program  50  will determine whether the push notification should be displayed, or otherwise presented, to a user. Notification analysis program  50  has access to passive listening file  70 . In some embodiments, notification analysis program  50  resides on computing device  40 . In other embodiments, notification analysis program  50  may reside on another server, or another computing device, provided that notification analysis program  50  has access to location identifying information associated with computing device  40 . 
         [0016]    Passive listening function  60  operates to capture audio from the surrounding external environmental of computing device  40 . In some embodiments, passive listening function  60  continually captures audio. In other embodiments, passive listening function  60  periodically captures audio. In an embodiment, a user may specify in the computing device&#39;s settings to only passively listen at certain times. For example, passive listening function  60  can be set to only passively listen between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. In another embodiment, a user may specify in the computing device&#39;s settings to only passively listen during certain events. For example, passive listening function  60  can be set to only passively listen when a football game of a particular team of interest is being played. 
         [0017]    In the depicted embodiment, passive listening function  60  utilizes a microphone of computing device  40  to capture audio. Passive listening function  60  has access to passive listening file  70 . In an embodiment, passive listening function  60  may write the captured audio in passive listening file  70 . In one embodiment, passive listening function  60  extracts text from the audio utilizing speech-to-text processes, and writes the text in passive listening file  70 . In some embodiments, passive listening function  60  resides on computing device  40 . In other embodiments, passive listening function  60  may reside on another server, or another computing device, provided that passive listening function  60  has access to location identifying information associated with computing device  40 . 
         [0018]    Passive listening file  70  is a file, cache, or other repository that may be written by passive listening function  60  and read by notification analysis program  50 . Audio and/or text captured by passive listening function  60  may be stored to passive listening file  70 . In an embodiment, passive listening file  70  may be overwritten after a pre-determined time period by passive listening function  60 . For example, a user may specify the period of time that passively listened data should be stored. In another example, the manufacturer of the device, or the developer of an application may specify the time period that passively listened data should be stored. In some embodiments, passive listening file  70  resides on computing device  40 . In other embodiments, passive listening file  70  may reside on another server, or another computing device, provided that passive listening file  70  is accessible to notification analysis program  50  and passive listening function  60 . 
         [0019]      FIG. 2  depicts a flowchart  200  of the steps of a passive listening function  60  executing within the computing environment of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the depicted embodiment, passive listening function  60  operates to capture audio from the surrounding external environment of computing device  40 . 
         [0020]    In step  210 , passive listening function  60  captures audio. In an embodiment, computing device  40  may include a microphone to allow passive listening function  60  to capture audio. In an embodiment, passive listening function  60  may continuously capture audio. For example, passive listening function  60  may cause a microphone of computing device  40  to remain continuously active, such that audio from the surrounding external environment can be captured. In other embodiments, passive listening function  60  may periodically capture audio. In an embodiment, a user may specify in the computing device&#39;s settings to only passively listen at certain times. For example, passive listening function  60  can be set to only passively listen between 10:00 am and 6:00 pm. In another embodiment, a user may specify in the computing device&#39;s settings to only passively listen during certain events. For example, passive listening function  60  can be set to only passively listen when a football game is being played. 
         [0021]    In step  220 , passive listening function  60  may optionally analyze the audio. In an embodiment, passive listening function  60  may use speech recognition techniques, or another type of speech-to-text analysis, to convert the audio into text to be stored in passive listening file  70 . 
         [0022]    In step  230 , passive listening function  60  stores the captured audio. In an embodiment, passive listening function  60  may store the captured audio in passive listening file  70 . In another embodiment, passive listening function  60  may store captured audio that has been converted to text in passive listening file  70 . 
         [0023]    In step  240 , passive listening function  60  overwrites the stored audio after a pre-defined time period. In an embodiment, a user may specify in computing device  40  settings the length of time a portion of audio will be in passive listening file  70  before the portion of audio is overwritten. In another embodiment, a developer of passive listening function  60  or notification analysis program  50  may pre-define the length of time audio or text will be in passive listening file  70  before the audio or text is overwritten. In some embodiments, passive listening function  60  will not overwrite any stored audio that has been flagged for further analysis by notification analysis program  50 . 
         [0024]      FIG. 3  depicts a flowchart of the steps of notification analysis program  50 , executing within computing environment of  FIG. 1 , in accordance with an embodiment of the present invention. In the depicted embodiment, notification analysis program  50  operates to analyze an incoming push notification sent by application server  20  to computing device  40  and determine whether the push notification will be displayed, or otherwise presented, to the user. 
         [0025]    In step  310 , notification analysis program  50  receives a push notification. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may receive the push notification from application server  20 . A push notification includes the delivery of information from an application server to a computing device without a specific request from the user. When an application is installed on computing device  40 , a user may be prompted to select whether to allow push notifications from the application. Then, computing device  40  can receive push notifications without the user having the application open or requesting the information. In the application&#39;s settings, a user may specify what type of push notifications will be allowed. For example, for a sports application, a user may select to receive score updates from a specific football team. Then, the sports application may send the user a push notification containing a score update, without the user having the application open or requesting the information. In another example, for a news application, a user may select to receive breaking news updates only with information about the presidential election. Then, the news application may send the user a push notification containing a breaking news update about the presidential election without the user having the application open or requesting the information. 
         [0026]    In decision  320 , notification analysis program  50  determines whether the push notification should be processed. In one embodiment, notification analysis program  50  accesses rules defined by a user as to which push notifications should be processed. In an embodiment, a user may individually select which application&#39;s push notifications should be processed by notification analysis program  50 . For example, a user can select that all push notifications from a certain sports application be processed. In another embodiment, a user may specify that all push notifications with information of a certain type be processed. For example, a user can specify that all push notifications that contain a sports score be processed. In another example, a user can specify that all push notifications that contain information about the presidential election be processed. In another embodiment, a combination of the above two rule types may be used. For example, a user can specify that all push notifications from a certain sports application that contain a sports score be processed. In another example, a user can specify that all push notifications from a certain news application that contain information about the presidential election be processed. If notification analysis program  50  determines that the incoming push notification should not be processed (decision  320 , no branch), then notification analysis program  50  causes the push notification to be displayed to the user (see step  390 . If notification analysis program  50  determines that the incoming push notification should be processed (decision  320 , yes branch), then notification analysis program  50  analyzes the push notification for trigger words (see step  330 ). 
         [0027]    In step  330 , notification analysis program  50  analyzes the push notification for trigger words or keywords. Notification analysis program  50  may use several different techniques to extract trigger words from the push notification. In some embodiments, trigger words or keywords may include proper nouns, acronyms, etc. In some embodiments, common words like “a, the, I, etc.” might be on a list of words that should generally not be considered trigger words. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may extract trigger words directly from the text in the push notification. For example, if a push notification included the sentence, “John Doe throws a TD to put Football Team A up 21-0,” notification analysis program  50  can extract “John Doe” and “Football Team A” as trigger words. 
         [0028]    In another embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may extract trigger words from the derived meaning of the text by using natural language processing (e.g., deep linguistic processing, sentence splitting, named entry recognition, tokenization, word sense disambiguation, chunking, parsing, and topic segmentation, etc.) to process the semantics of the push notification. In one embodiment, notification analysis program  50  uses text analytics to parse through the push notification. Using natural language processing and at least one set of dictionaries and rules, notification analysis program  50  may perform text analytics on the push notification. Text analytics can be performed using an Unstructured Information Management Architecture (UIMA) application configured to analyze unstructured information to discover patterns relevant to notification analysis program  50  by processing plain text and identifying trigger words. For example, notification analysis program  50  can use natural language processing to extract the word “TD” from the push notification and know that this stands for “touchdown.” 
         [0029]    In another embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may use associated content from an external resource or third party service to help understand the information in the push notification. The external resource or third party service may be the closed captions for a broadcast or an associated online resource. In an embodiment, the push notification may indicate an associated broadcast or online resource. For example, a sports application associated with the push notification including a score update may indicate that there is an associated broadcast of the football game and notification analysis program  50  can analyze the closed captions. In another example, a news application associated with a push notification about the presidential election may indicate that there is an associated news article or news broadcast and notification analysis program  50  can analyze the article or closed captions. In one embodiment, notification analysis program  50  uses text analytics to parse through the associated content. Using natural language processing and at least one set of dictionaries and rules, notification analysis program  50  may perform text analytics on the associated content. Text analytics can be performed using an UIMA application configured to analyze unstructured information to discover patterns relevant to notification analysis program  50  by processing plain text and identifying trigger words. For example, if a push notification includes the text, “Football Team A scores TD”, notification analysis program  50  can use natural language processing to extract additional trigger words from the closed captions of the football game broadcast, such as what player scored the touchdown. Notification analysis program  50  will generate a list of identified trigger words. 
         [0030]    In step  340 , notification analysis program  50  searches passive listening file  70  for the identified trigger words. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may use voice recognition technology to search the audio in passive listening file  70  for the identified trigger words. In one embodiment, passive listening function  60  may initially convert audio to text (see  FIG. 2 , step  220 ), and notification analysis program  50  may search the stored text for the identified trigger words. 
         [0031]    In decision  350 , notification analysis program  50  determines if any of the identified trigger words from the push notification are found in passive listening file  70 . Notification analysis program  50  may determine whether any of the identified trigger words from the push notification are found in passive listening file  70  based on the results of the search (see step  340 ). If notification analysis program  50  determines that no trigger words are found, then notification analysis program  50  causes the push notification on computing device  40  (see step  390 ). If notification analysis program  50  determines that trigger words are found, notification analysis program  50  continues onto step  360 . In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may flag identified portions of the audio in passive listening file  70  when an identified trigger word is found to prevent the audio from being overwritten by passive listening function  60 . For example, in such an embodiment, if “Football Team A” is an identified trigger word and is found in a portion of audio in passive listening file  70 , then notification analysis program  50  will flag that portion of audio for further analysis and prevent passive listening function  60  from overwriting the flagged portion. 
         [0032]    In step  360 , in some embodiments, notification analysis program  50  analyzes the determined trigger words from the stored audio. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may analyze the determined trigger words for context. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may analyze the wording that occurs both before and after the determined trigger word. In an embodiment, notification analysis program  50  may use natural language processing (e.g., deep linguistic processing, sentence splitting, named entry recognition, tokenization, word sense disambiguation, chunking, parsing, and topic segmentation, etc.) to understand the context in which the trigger word is being used in the stored audio. Using natural language processing and at least one set of dictionaries and rules, notification analysis program  50  may perform text analytics on the stored audio. Text analytics can be performed using an UIMA application configured to analyze unstructured information to discover patterns relevant to notification analysis program  50  by processing plain text and understanding the context of the determined trigger word in the stored audio. 
         [0033]    In some embodiments, notification analysis program  50  assigns a confidence level to the determined trigger word. A confidence level expresses the likelihood, based on the analysis of the determined trigger word from the captured audio, that a user has already been exposed to the information in the push notification. A trigger word that is less commonly used or is used in only a few contexts may have a higher confidence level than a trigger word that is more commonly used in many contexts. For example, if “touchdown” and “Denver” are both trigger words, “touchdown” will have a higher confidence level because it is used in fewer contexts than “Denver”. A confidence level may be a percentage, score, etc. In an embodiment, if more than one trigger word was determined, notification analysis program  50  may aggregate the confidence levels assigned to each trigger word and determine an overall confidence level. 
         [0034]    In decision  370 , notification analysis program  50  determines whether the push notification should be displayed. Notification analysis program  50  may determine whether the push notification should be displayed by averaging the assigned confidence levels to each trigger word. In an embodiment, a user may specify the minimum threshold confidence level that must be exceeded before notification analysis program  50  will prevent the push notification from being displayed. If notification analysis program  50  determines the minimum threshold confidence level has been exceeded, notification analysis program  50  will display the push notification (step  390 ). If notification analysis program  50  determines the minimum threshold confidence level has not been exceeded, notification analysis program  50  will prevent the push notification from being displayed (step  380 ). 
         [0035]      FIG. 4  depicts a block diagram  400  of components of application server  20  and computing device  40  in accordance with an illustrative embodiment of the present invention. It should be appreciated that  FIG. 4  provides only an illustration of one implementation and does not imply any limitations with regard to the environments in which different embodiments may be implemented. Many modifications to the depicted environment may be made. 
         [0036]    Application server  20  and computing device  40  each include communications fabric  402 , which provides communications between cache  416 , memory  406 , persistent storage  408 , communications unit  410 , and input/output (I/O) interface(s)  412 . Communications fabric  402  can be implemented with any architecture designed for passing data and/or control information between processors (such as microprocessors, communications and network processors, etc.), system memory, peripheral devices, and any other hardware components within a system. For example, communications fabric  402  can be implemented with one or more buses or a crossbar switch. 
         [0037]    Memory  406  and persistent storage  408  are computer readable storage media. In this embodiment, memory  406  includes random access memory (RAM). In general, memory  406  can include any suitable volatile or non-volatile computer readable storage media. Cache  416  is a fast memory that enhances the performance of computer processor(s)  404  by holding recently accessed data, and data near accessed data, from memory  406 . 
         [0038]    Notification analysis program  50 , passive listening function  60 , and passive listening file  70  may be stored in persistent storage  408  of computing device  40  and in memory  406  of computing device  40  for execution and/or access by one or more of the respective computer processors  404  of computing device  40  via cache  416  of computing device  40 . In an embodiment, persistent storage  408  includes a magnetic hard disk drive. Alternatively, or in addition to a magnetic hard disk drive, persistent storage  408  can include a solid state hard drive, a semiconductor storage device, read-only memory (ROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), flash memory, or any other computer readable storage media that is capable of storing program instructions or digital information. 
         [0039]    The media used by persistent storage  408  may also be removable. For example, a removable hard drive may be used for persistent storage  408 . Other examples include optical and magnetic disks, thumb drives, and smart cards that are inserted into a drive for transfer onto another computer readable storage medium that is also part of persistent storage  408 . 
         [0040]    Communications unit  410 , in these examples, provides for communications with other data processing systems or devices. In these examples, communications unit  410  includes one or more network interface cards. Communications unit  410  may provide communications through the use of either or both physical and wireless communications links. Notification analysis program  50 , passive listening function  60 , and passive listening file  70  may be downloaded to persistent storage  408  of computing device  40  through communications unit  410  of computing device  40 . 
         [0041]    I/O interface(s)  412  allows for input and output of data with other devices that may be connected to server computer  102 . For example, I/O interface  412  may provide a connection to external devices  418  such as a keyboard, keypad, a touch screen, and/or some other suitable input device. External devices  418  can also include portable computer readable storage media such as, for example, thumb drives, portable optical or magnetic disks, and memory cards. Software and data used to practice embodiments of the present invention, e.g., notification analysis program  50 , passive listening function  60 , and passive listening file  70  can be stored on such portable computer readable storage media and can be loaded onto persistent storage  408  of computing device  40  via I/O interface(s)  412  of computing device  40 . I/O interface(s)  412  also connect to a display  420 . 
         [0042]    Display  420  provides a mechanism to display data to a user and may be, for example, a computer monitor. 
         [0043]    The programs described herein are identified based upon the application for which they are implemented in a specific embodiment of the invention. However, it should be appreciated that any particular program nomenclature herein is used merely for convenience, and thus the invention should not be limited to use solely in any specific application identified and/or implied by such nomenclature. 
         [0044]    The present invention may be a system, a method, and/or a computer program product. The computer program product may include a computer readable storage medium (or media) having computer readable program instructions thereon for causing a processor to carry out aspects of the present invention. 
         [0045]    The computer readable storage medium can be a tangible device that can retain and store instructions for use by an instruction execution device. The computer readable storage medium may be, for example, but is not limited to, an electronic storage device, a magnetic storage device, an optical storage device, an electromagnetic storage device, a semiconductor storage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. A non-exhaustive list of more specific examples of the computer readable storage medium includes the following: a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory (RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM or Flash memory), a static random access memory (SRAM), a portable compact disc read-only memory (CD-ROM), a digital versatile disk (DVD), a memory stick, a floppy disk, a mechanically encoded device such as punch-cards or raised structures in a groove having instructions recorded thereon, and any suitable combination of the foregoing. A computer readable storage medium, as used herein, is not to be construed as being transitory signals per se, such as radio waves or other freely propagating electromagnetic waves, electromagnetic waves propagating through a waveguide or other transmission media (e.g., light pulses passing through a fiber-optic cable), or electrical signals transmitted through a wire. 
         [0046]    Computer readable program instructions described herein can be downloaded to respective computing/processing devices from a computer readable storage medium or to an external computer or external storage device via a network, for example, the Internet, a local area network, a wide area network and/or a wireless network. The network may comprise copper transmission cables, optical transmission fibers, wireless transmission, routers, firewalls, switches, gateway computers and/or edge servers. A network adapter card or network interface in each computing/processing device receives computer readable program instructions from the network and forwards the computer readable program instructions for storage in a computer readable storage medium within the respective computing/processing device. 
         [0047]    Computer readable program instructions for carrying out operations of the present invention may be assembler instructions, instruction-set-architecture (ISA) instructions, machine instructions, machine dependent instructions, microcode, firmware instructions, state-setting data, or either source code or object code written in any combination of one or more programming languages, including an object oriented programming language such as Smalltalk, C++ or the like, and conventional procedural programming languages, such as the “C” programming language or similar programming languages. The computer readable program instructions may execute entirely on the user&#39;s computer, partly on the user&#39;s computer, as a stand-alone software package, partly on the user&#39;s computer and partly on a remote computer or entirely on the remote computer or server. In the latter scenario, the remote computer may be connected to the user&#39;s computer through any type of network, including a local area network (LAN) or a wide area network (WAN), or the connection may be made to an external computer (for example, through the Internet using an Internet Service Provider). In some embodiments, electronic circuitry including, for example, programmable logic circuitry, field-programmable gate arrays (FPGA), or programmable logic arrays (PLA) may execute the computer readable program instructions by utilizing state information of the computer readable program instructions to personalize the electronic circuitry, in order to perform aspects of the present invention. 
         [0048]    Aspects of the present invention are described herein with reference to flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams of methods, apparatus (systems), and computer program products according to embodiments of the invention. It will be understood that each block of the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, and combinations of blocks in the flowchart illustrations and/or block diagrams, can be implemented by computer readable program instructions. 
         [0049]    These computer readable program instructions may be provided to a processor of a general purpose computer, special purpose computer, or other programmable data processing apparatus to produce a machine, such that the instructions, which execute via the processor of the computer or other programmable data processing apparatus, create means for implementing the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. These computer readable program instructions may also be stored in a computer readable storage medium that can direct a computer, a programmable data processing apparatus, and/or other devices to function in a particular manner, such that the computer readable storage medium having instructions stored therein comprises an article of manufacture including instructions which implement aspects of the function/act specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0050]    The computer readable program instructions may also be loaded onto a computer, other programmable data processing apparatus, or other device to cause a series of operational steps to be performed on the computer, other programmable apparatus or other device to produce a computer implemented process, such that the instructions which execute on the computer, other programmable apparatus, or other device implement the functions/acts specified in the flowchart and/or block diagram block or blocks. 
         [0051]    The flowchart and block diagrams in the Figures illustrate the architecture, functionality, and operation of possible implementations of systems, methods, and computer program products according to various embodiments of the present invention. In this regard, each block in the flowchart or block diagrams may represent a module, segment, or portion of instructions, which comprises one or more executable instructions for implementing the specified logical function(s). In some alternative implementations, the functions noted in the block may occur out of the order noted in the figures. For example, two blocks shown in succession may, in fact, be executed substantially concurrently, or the blocks may sometimes be executed in the reverse order, depending upon the functionality involved. It will also be noted that each block of the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, and combinations of blocks in the block diagrams and/or flowchart illustration, can be implemented by special purpose hardware-based systems that perform the specified functions or acts or carry out combinations of special purpose hardware and computer instructions. 
         [0052]    The descriptions of the various embodiments of the present invention have been presented for purposes of illustration, but are not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the embodiments disclosed. Many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention. The terminology used herein was chosen to best explain the principles of the embodiment, the practical application or technical improvement over technologies found in the marketplace, or to enable others of ordinary skill in the art to understand the embodiments disclosed herein.