Notification Forwarding System for Reducing Cross-Device Redundancy
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Solution Overview
Problem
Users face issues with receiving redundant notifications across multiple devices, leading to annoyance and potential disabling of notification services, as existing systems either send notifications to all devices or only one, failing to accommodate user preferences for content consumption on different devices or applications.
Innovation Solution
An online system that delivers notifications to a single client device and allows users to forward them to other registered devices or applications, determining the most suitable device and application based on user behavior and capabilities, and providing options for forwarding notifications to ensure content is accessible on preferred devices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If notifications are sent to all registered client devices, then users are ensured to receive content notifications, but users experience notification redundancy and annoyance across multiple devices
Solution Approach 1:
The notification delivery function is segmented into two distinct operations: (1) sending the notification to a single primary device, and (2) providing a forwarding mechanism to other devices. This segmentation eliminates redundant notifications while preserving delivery assurance through the forwarding capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The primary client device acts as an intermediary between the notification system and other devices. Instead of sending notifications directly to all devices, the system sends to one device which then has the capability to forward to others, reducing redundancy while maintaining connectivity.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If notifications are sent to only a single client device, then notification redundancy is minimized, but users cannot consume content on their preferred devices
Solution Approach 1:
The notification delivery system becomes dynamic by allowing users to change the destination device based on their current needs. The forwarding feature enables the notification to be redirected to different devices (tablet, TV, mobile) depending on where the user prefers to consume content at that moment.
Solution Approach 2:
The notification system gains multi-functionality by combining direct delivery to a primary device with a forwarding capability to multiple other devices. This universal approach ensures users can receive and consume content on any of their registered devices while maintaining a single-source notification origin.
3Adaptability or versatility
If users can forward notifications to multiple devices, then content consumption flexibility is improved, but system complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The forwarding mechanism is implemented as a self-service feature within the notification interface itself. Users can directly initiate forwarding from the notification without requiring separate system configurations or complex setup procedures, simplifying the user experience despite the added functionality.
Data Source
AI summary
An online system determines a client device associated with a user that is to receive a new notification. The client device presents the notification and receives an input to forward the notification to a different client device and/or a different application. The client device sends a request to the online system to forward the notification. The online system determines a list of available client devices and/or available applications that are able to receive a forwarded version of the notification and provides the list to the client device for selection. Upon receiving a selection, the client device sends the selection to the online system which generates the forward notification that is appropriate for the selected client device and/or selected application. Thus, the online system avoids over-notifying a user, while also enabling the user to consume the content of the notification according to his/her preferences.