Activity Feed Notification Time Estimation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face difficulties in determining the order in which to address notifications in an activity feed due to a lack of information on the time required to complete each task, leading to inefficient interaction with the feed, especially when dealing with a large number of notifications.

Innovation Solution

A method is implemented to provide users with estimated time indicators for each notification, allowing them to prioritize and filter tasks based on time constraints, using user-specific time estimates calculated from historical data and content parameters, and incorporating virtual assistance for optimizing task management.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If users manually review and prioritize notifications without time estimates, then the system maintains simplicity, but user productivity decreases due to inefficient task prioritization

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveuser productivityVSAvoidsystem complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary calculation of time estimates for each notification task before the user needs to prioritize them. By pre-computing the time required to complete each task based on historical data and task characteristics, the system enables users to make informed prioritization decisions without manual analysis, thus improving productivity while keeping the interface simple.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system automatically generates time estimates using historical user data and task parameters without requiring user input or manual configuration. The estimation engine self-adjusts and refines predictions based on accumulated data, allowing the system to serve itself in providing accurate time information that directly enhances user productivity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

2Ease of operation

If the system provides detailed time estimates for each notification, then task prioritization improves, but information processing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask prioritization easeVSAvoidinformation processing complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system replaces manual mechanical analysis of task duration with an automated computational estimation engine. Instead of requiring users to mentally estimate or manually track time requirements, the system uses algorithms that process task parameters and historical data to generate accurate time estimates automatically, simplifying the user interaction while handling the processing complexity behind the scenes.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The time estimation engine acts as an intermediary between the notification system and the user. It translates complex task parameters and historical data into simple, actionable time estimates that users can easily understand and use for prioritization, effectively mediating between raw data and user decision-making without exposing users to the underlying complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Measurement precision

If the system collects and processes historical user data for time estimation, then estimate accuracy improves, but data processing time and resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetime estimate accuracyVSAvoiddata processing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary processing and storage of historical user data as it is generated, organizing it into structured formats that can be quickly queried and analyzed. By pre-processing and indexing historical interactions, task completion times, and user behaviors, the system reduces the computational burden during real-time estimation, maintaining high accuracy while minimizing processing delays.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

4Productivity

If users must switch context and launch separate applications to address notifications, then application functionality remains independent, but interaction efficiency decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinteraction efficiencyVSAvoidcontext switching requirement

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system merges the notification feed with task management capabilities in a single interface. Users can view notifications, see their estimated completion times, prioritize tasks, and track progress without leaving the activity feed or launching separate task management applications. This consolidation eliminates context switching while preserving the functional independence of underlying applications through integrated access.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentUS11531610B2Time cost estimation for activity feed notifications

Publication Date: 2022.12.20 CITRIX SYSTEMS INC

AI summary

Disclosed is a method involving identifying a first activity a user is to complete using a computing resource; causing a client device operated by the user to output a first notification concerning the first activity, the first notification including at least one first user interface element with which the user can interact to begin the first activity; determining an estimated time for the user to complete the first activity; and causing the client device to output an indication of the estimated time in association with the first notification.