Message Notification Coordination to Suppress Duplicate Audio Alerts
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Solution Overview
Problem
Multiple proximally located computing and communication devices often generate simultaneous audio notification alerts for the same incoming message due to slight time differences in message arrival, causing annoyance during social events or meals.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an audio notification alert coordination (ANAC) technology that suppresses or bypasses audio alerts on devices other than the earliest recipient, using coordination logic to monitor message receipt and broadcast ultrasonic notifications to manage alert coordination among devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If multiple devices receive and process messages independently, then each device can provide timely notification to its user, but simultaneous audio alerts from multiple devices cause annoyance during social events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces an intermediary coordination service that mediates between multiple devices receiving the same message. This service detects when multiple devices are present, identifies the primary device (e.g., closest to the message sender), and coordinates alert suppression among secondary devices. The intermediary resolves the contradiction by maintaining notification reliability for the primary device while eliminating the harmful simultaneous alerts from secondary devices.
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback mechanisms where devices broadcast their presence and message receipt status to other proximal devices. Each device receives feedback about whether other devices have also received the message, allowing them to adjust their alert behavior accordingly. This feedback loop enables coordinated suppression of simultaneous alerts while ensuring at least one device provides the necessary notification.
2Ease of operation
If devices use standard audio notification alerts, then users can easily perceive incoming messages, but multiple simultaneous alerts create a noisy environment during meals or social gatherings
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by differentiating the notification behavior of individual devices based on their specific context. The primary device (determined by proximity to the message sender or user preference) maintains standard audible alerts for easy message perception, while secondary devices suppress or modify their alerts. This localized differentiation resolves the contradiction by preserving ease of message perception where needed while eliminating noise pollution where it would be harmful.
Solution Approach 2:
The system dynamically changes the notification parameter (alert suppression) based on the presence and state of other devices. When multiple devices are detected in proximity, the notification parameter is modified for secondary devices to suppress alerts, while the primary device maintains normal alert behavior. This parameter change approach allows the system to adapt to social contexts and eliminate simultaneous noisy alerts while preserving effective message notification.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Reduces the likelihood of simultaneous audio alerts, enhancing user experience by ensuring only the earliest device provides an audio notification, while allowing other devices to suppress alerts and potentially using ultrasonic signals for coordination.
Implementation Method 1
an apparatus for computing includes a receiver; a speaker; circuitry coupled to the receiver and speaker
Implementation Method 2
broadcast ultrasonic notifications to manage alert coordination among devices
Data Source
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Figure 2B
AI summary
In embodiments, an apparatus for computing may include a receiver; a speaker; circuitry coupled to the receiver and speaker; and a service to be operated by the circuitry to receive an instance of a message via the receiver, and to conditionally affect a provision, through the speaker, an audio notification alert of the receipt of the instance of the message. In embodiments, to conditionally affect the provision may include to bypass or cause to bypass of the provision of the audio notification alert, on determination that another audio notification alert has been or will be provided by another proximally located apparatus for receiving another instance of the same message. Other embodiments may be described and claimed.