Context-Aware Actuator Selection for Mobile Alerts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current alert systems on mobile devices lack flexibility in selecting the appropriate actuator for conveying attention alerts, as they do not adapt to context and user preferences, leading to suboptimal user experience.

Innovation Solution

A method for selecting and activating the most suitable actuator on an end-user device by considering user preferences, current usage statistics, and user scenario estimates, which involves analyzing alert signals and determining the best actuator to use based on availability, detectability, and preference, ensuring adaptive and context-sensitive alert delivery.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If legacy notification systems are used to send alerts, then alerts can be delivered to users, but the system lacks flexibility in selecting appropriate actuators for different contexts

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator selection flexibilityVSAvoidalert delivery simplicity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The system dynamically selects actuators based on real-time context factors including user preferences, current usage statistics, and user scenario estimates. The actuator selection is not static but adapts continuously based on changing conditions, making the notification system flexible and context-aware while maintaining ease of operation through automated decision-making

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The system changes the parameters of actuator selection by considering multiple variables such as user preferences, usage statistics, and scenario estimates. By evaluating these parameters and making informed decisions based on their combined input, the system achieves both adaptability in actuator selection and simplicity in operation through algorithmic optimization

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If multiple actuators are available on the device, then more alert delivery options exist, but determining which actuator to choose becomes complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveactuator availabilityVSAvoidactuator selection complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The notification system performs self-service by automatically evaluating user preferences, usage statistics, and scenario estimates to determine the most appropriate actuator. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual configuration or complex user intervention, allowing the system to leverage multiple actuators while keeping the selection process simple and automated

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system uses feedback from usage statistics and user preferences to continuously improve actuator selection. By monitoring how users interact with different actuators and adjusting selections based on this feedback, the system manages the complexity of multiple actuators through data-driven decision-making, maintaining both versatility and simplicity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

3Ease of operation

If actuator selection is made without considering context and preferences, then the system remains simple, but the user experience becomes suboptimal

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvesystem simplicityVSAvoiduser experience quality
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary actions by pre-evaluating user preferences and usage statistics before selecting an actuator. This advance preparation allows the system to make informed decisions quickly and reliably, improving user experience quality while maintaining system simplicity through pre-computed selection criteria that guide automated actuator choice

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Data Source

PatentEP2854383B1Method And Devices For Attention Alert Actuation
Publication Date: 2016.11.30 ALCATEL LUCENT SA
  • EP2854383B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2854383B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2854383B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Method for selecting and activating an actuator of an end-user device (D) upon receipt of an alert signal (A) by this end-user device (D), said method comprising the steps of - determining an activity parameter (ua) related to the use of said end-user device - determining the actual status of the usage of actuators (Ac) of a plurality of actuators (AA1,...,AAi) of said end-user device (D) - determining for the actuators of said plurality a stochastic parameter (P(Ac|Hist)) based on said activity parameter and on the actual status of usage of said actuator - selecting and activating the actuator from said plurality for which said stochastic parameter is maximal.