Designs, interfaces, and policies for systems that enhance communication and minimize disruption by encoding preferences and situations

Abstract

The present invention relates to utilizing identity and context-sensitive decision-making for handling communications, including, channel selection, routing, and rescheduling operations. The systems and methods provide a service that allows users to assess preferences regarding real-time call handling and performs dynamic decision-making about the best timing and channel for interpersonal communication. This service can be based on various cost-benefit analyses (e.g., basic and extended) that consider cost of interruption and preferences of contactors and contactees to guide communications, and / or on decision-making under uncertainty. Statistical models that are learned from data are joined with user preferences to generate expected costs of interruption for office activity and over time, based on a user's activities, locations, calendar information and preference assessments. In addition, statistical forecasting provides presence and availability predictions. The foregoing can provide an enhanced interpersonal communication system that can maximize the value and minimize the cost of communication among people.

Description

[0001] References to related applications [0002] This application claims a U.S. Provisional Patent Application entitled "SYSTEMS AND METHODS THAT UTILIZE DYNAMICDECISION MAKING TO PROVIDE A BEST MEANS INTERPERSONAL COMMUNICATION SERVICE," filed October 15, 2003 Priority of Ser. No. 60 / 511,533, which is hereby incorporated by reference in its entirety. technical field [0003] The present invention relates generally to communication systems, and more particularly to systems and methods for facilitating communication between parties using contact / contactee preferences and / or costs / benefits of disruption. Background technique [0004] While online calendaring systems are commonly used to store reminders and create connections with others regarding meeting times and locations, a great deal of collaboration is based on opportunity communications scheduled under uncertainty. Such informal coordination often relies on people's shared intuitions about the current and future locat...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Unfortunately, commercial managers are often not sure whether the non-responding party has received the message, and cannot determine with any degree of confidence when all parties will be available

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