Notification Delivery Timing Based on User Attention State
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Solution Overview
Problem
Notifications can be disruptive to users depending on their attention states, leading to decreased productivity as they may be delivered at inopportune times, such as during meetings or when users are engaged in tasks, and may not be accepted by users who are unavailable.
Innovation Solution
A system that analyzes a user's attention state to detect opportune times for notification delivery, defined as breakpoints when users switch between tasks and lack engagement, or influential contexts where they are available, using data from sensors, online services, and device usage to determine the best time for notification delivery.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If notifications are delivered immediately upon receipt, then notification senders can obtain benefits quickly, but users experience disruption and decreased productivity
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of user attention state before delivering notifications. It continuously monitors user context (calendar events, device usage, sensor data) to predict opportune moments for notification delivery, thereby avoiding disruption to user productivity while maintaining timely delivery
Solution Approach 2:
The notification delivery system dynamically adjusts delivery timing based on real-time user attention state analysis. Instead of static immediate delivery or fixed scheduling, the system adapts delivery moments to match user availability, balancing sender benefits with user productivity by delivering notifications during breakpoints or low-attention periods
2Reliability
If notifications are delivered during user tasks, then notification senders can reach users promptly, but users may ignore or reject notifications due to unavailability
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates feedback loops where user responses to notifications (acceptance, rejection, ignoring patterns) are analyzed to refine future delivery timing. User attention state data from sensors and device usage provides continuous feedback, allowing the system to learn optimal delivery moments that increase acceptance while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary assessment of user availability before notification delivery by analyzing calendar events, current device usage, and contextual data. This preliminary action ensures notifications are delivered when users are likely to accept them, improving both reliability and ease of operation
3Measurement precision
If continuous analysis of user attention state is performed, then opportune notification times can be detected accurately, but device resources such as battery and processor are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs attention state analysis periodically rather than continuously, triggering analysis at breakpoints (task transitions) or when specific conditions are met. This periodic approach maintains detection accuracy for opportune moments while significantly reducing processor usage and battery consumption compared to continuous monitoring
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary filtering of context data before full attention state analysis, using readily available information (calendar events, device state) to identify potential opportune moments. This preliminary action reduces the frequency and intensity of resource-intensive sensor data processing while maintaining detection accuracy
Data Source
AI summary
Various technologies described herein pertain to detection of an opportune time period to deliver a notification. Responsive to receipt of the notification (e.g., at a user device), analysis of an attention state of a user can be initialized. Further, the opportune time period to deliver the notification can be detected based on the analysis of the attention state of the user. The opportune time period can be during a breakpoint or an influential context. The breakpoint is when the user has switched between tasks and lacks engagement with the tasks. The influential context is a particular context in which the user is available to attend to the notification. Moreover, the notification can be delivered during the opportune time period.