Media-Aware Message Alerting in Do-Not-Disturb Mode

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users in do-not-disturb mode on their personal devices may miss messages related to media content they are currently viewing or have previously discussed, as existing automatic responses do not account for media content or previous conversations.

Innovation Solution

A system and method that automatically outputs a reply or alerts the user if a message relates to media content being viewed or previously discussed, by comparing keywords from the message with a transcription of previous conversations and media metadata, and determining if the user is viewing the media asset.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If the device is set to do-not-disturb mode to avoid interruptions, then the user experiences peace and quiet, but the user may miss important messages related to media content they are viewing

Engineering Contradiction:

ImproveinterruptionsVSAvoidmessage notification

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSLoss of information

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary layer between the do-not-disturb mode and message delivery. This intermediary analyzes incoming messages against currently playing media content and conversation history, selectively allowing relevant messages to bypass the do-not-disturb restriction while blocking unrelated interruptions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system implements feedback by continuously monitoring both the media content being consumed and incoming messages, comparing them to determine relevance. This feedback loop enables dynamic decision-making about which messages should interrupt do-not-disturb mode based on contextual relevance to current media consumption.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #23Feedback

2Loss of time

If generic automatic responses are used to reply to messages, then response time is reduced, but the responses do not account for media content the user is viewing

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveresponse delayVSAvoidmedia-awareness

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of timeVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs preliminary analysis of incoming messages against the user's media consumption context and conversation history before generating automatic responses. This preliminary action ensures that responses are tailored to the specific media content being viewed, making them more relevant and engaging while still enabling quick automated replies.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The system applies local quality by customizing automatic responses based on the specific media content and context rather than using uniform generic responses. Each automatic response is adapted to the local context of what the user is currently viewing or discussing, making the response more meaningful and contextually appropriate.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Loss of information

If all messages are allowed to notify the user regardless of do-not-disturb mode, then no important messages are missed, but the user experiences constant interruptions during media consumption

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemessage notificationVSAvoidinterruptions

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The system applies partial action by selectively notifying the user about only those messages that are relevant to currently playing media content or previous discussions, rather than notifying about all messages. This partial notification approach prevents unnecessary interruptions while ensuring important media-related communications are not missed.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

4Measurement precision

If keyword comparison is performed between messages and conversation transcriptions to determine relevance, then message filtering accuracy is improved, but processing time and computational resources increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improverelevance detectionVSAvoidprocessing time

Core Design Contradiction:

Measurement precisionVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system performs keyword comparison selectively rather than analyzing every message in full detail. By focusing on key keywords and phrases that indicate media relevance, the system achieves adequate filtering accuracy with reduced processing overhead compared to comprehensive natural language analysis.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #16Partial or excessive action

Data Source

PatentUS11259093B2Systems and methods for automatically outputting a reply to a message relating to a media asset a user is currently watching when the user's device is on a do-not-disturb mode

Publication Date: 2022.02.22 ADEIA GUIDES INC

AI summary

Systems and methods are provided herein for receiving, at a first device of a first user, a message from a second device of a second user, and determining that the first user device is programmed to refrain from alerting the first user to the message. In response to determining that the first user device is programmed to refrain from alerting the first user to the message, the systems and methods determine whether the message is related to a media asset that the first user is presently viewing. In response to determining that the message is related to a media asset that the first user is presently viewing, the systems and methods alert the first user to the message, notwithstanding that the first user device is programmed to refrain from alerting the first user to the message.