US6601012B1
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Contextual models and methods for inferring attention and location
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
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Filing: 2000-06-17
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Granted: 2003-07-29
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Expires: 2020-06-17
Abstract
Abstract Determination of the current context of the user, such as the user's current location and attentional state, is disclosed. The determined context can be used to assist determination as to whether, when and how notifications intended for the user should be conveyed to him or her. In varying embodiments of the invention, the context is determined via one or more of: direct specification by the user; direct measurement using one or more sensors; a user-modifiable profile indicating context; one or more potentially user-modifiable rules that indicate context; and, and inferential analysis utilizing a model, such as a Bayesian network or other statistical model.
Inventors
- 👤 Eric J. Horvitz
- 👤 David O. Hovel
- 👤 Andrew W. Jacobs
- 👤 Carl M. Kadie
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 02:01
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/107; H; H04; H04L; H04L51/00; H04L51/21; H04L51/214; H04L51/224; H04L67/00; H04L67/2866; H04L67/30; H04L67/306; H04L67/50; H04L67/51; H04L67/52; H04L67/54; H04L67/55; H04L67/60; H04L67/61; H04L67/62; H04L67/63; H04L67/75; H04L12/00; H04L12/02; H04L12/16; H04L12/18; H04L12/1895; H04L69/00; H04L69/30; H04L69/32; H04L69/322; H04L69/329
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 37
Claim 1
Independent Claim
49 words
A computer-implemented method for utilizing in conjunction with a platform for conveying notifications from one or more notification sources to one or more notification sinks for a user, comprising at least one of: inferring a current attentional focus of the user; and, inferring a current location of the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
49 words
A computer-implemented method for utilizing in conjunction with a platform for conveying notifications from one or more notification sources to one or more notification sinks for a user, comprising at least one of: inferring a current attentional focus of the user; and, inferring a current location of the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising outputting a current context of the user including the current attentional focus of the user and the current location of the user.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the current attentional focus of the user by measuring the focus via one or more sensors.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the current location of the user by measuring the location via one or more sensors.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
The method of claim 4 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a GPS device.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
25 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the current attentional focus of the user by receiving specification of the focus by the user.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1 , further comprising determining the current location of the user by receiving specification of the location by the user.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the current attentional focus of the user comprises utilizing at least one of a user profile and rules specifying the focus.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 8 , wherein the user profile comprises a default profile modifiable by the user.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the current location of the user comprises utilizing at least one of a user profile and rules specifying the focus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
18 words
The method of claim 10 , wherein the user profile comprises a default profile modifiable by the user.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the focus comprises utilizing at least one of a Bayesian model and a statistical model.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
23 words
The method of claim 1 , wherein inferring the location comprises utilizing at least one of a Bayesian model and a statistical model.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
149 words
A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising: determining a current context of a user, the context of the user comprising an attentional focus of the user and a location of the user, determining the current context of the user comprising: determining the current attentional focus of the user, via at least one of: directly measuring the focus via one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the focus by the user; utilizing at least one of a first user profile and first rules specifying the focus; inferring the focus; determining the current location of the user, via at least one of: directly measuring the location via the one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the location by the user; utilizing at least one of a second user profile and second rules specifying the location; and, inferring the location.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
149 words
A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to perform a method comprising: determining a current context of a user, the context of the user comprising an attentional focus of the user and a location of the user, determining the current context of the user comprising: determining the current attentional focus of the user, via at least one of: directly measuring the focus via one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the focus by the user; utilizing at least one of a first user profile and first rules specifying the focus; inferring the focus; determining the current location of the user, via at least one of: directly measuring the location via the one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the location by the user; utilizing at least one of a second user profile and second rules specifying the location; and, inferring the location.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medium of claim 14 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a GPS device.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
28 words
The medium of claim 14 , wherein at least one of the first user profile and the second user profile comprises a default profile modifiable by the user.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medium of claim 14 , wherein inferring the focus comprising utilizing at least one of a Bayesian model and a statistical model.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
22 words
The medium of claim 14 , wherein inferring the location comprises utilizing at least one of Bayesian model and a statistical model.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
70 words
A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to performed a method comprising: determining a current context of a user in connection with conveying a notification, via at least one of: directly measuring the context via one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the context by the user; utilizing at least one of a user profile and rules specifying the context; and, inferring the context.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
70 words
A machine-readable medium having instructions stored thereon for execution by a processor to performed a method comprising: determining a current context of a user in connection with conveying a notification, via at least one of: directly measuring the context via one or more sensors; receiving direct specification of the context by the user; utilizing at least one of a user profile and rules specifying the context; and, inferring the context.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein the context comprises an attentional focus of the user.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
15 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein the context comprises a location of the user.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
15 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein the method further comprises outputting the current context.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
16 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein the one or more sensors comprises a GPS device.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
18 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein the user profile comprises a default profile modifiable by the user.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
23 words
The medium of claim 19 , wherein inferring the context comprises utilizing at least one of a Bayesian model and a statistical model.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
50 words
A method that facilitates conveying notifications, comprising: inferring a current attentional focus of a user; inferring a location of a user; and making a notification decision regarding the user based at least in part upon the inferred current attentional focus of the user and the inferred location of the user.
Claim 30
Independent Claim
50 words
A method that facilitates conveying notifications, comprising: inferring a current attentional focus of a user; inferring a location of a user; and making a notification decision regarding the user based at least in part upon the inferred current attentional focus of the user and the inferred location of the user.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
46 words
The method of claim 26 , further comprising selecting at least one of a plurality of notifications to convey to the user, the selecting being based at least in part upon the inferred current attentional focus of the user and the inferred location of the user.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
20 words
The method of claim 27 , further comprising performing a decision-theoretic analysis relating to the inferred location of the user.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
81 words
A notification system, comprising: a plurality of notification sources; a plurality of notification sinks; a user mechanism that stores information regarding variables and parameters of a user that influence notification decision-making, the stored information comprising an inferred attentional focus of a user and an inferred location of a user; and a notification manager that conveys notifications from a subset of the sources to a subset of the sinks based at least in part upon the information stored in the user mechanism.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
81 words
A notification system, comprising: a plurality of notification sources; a plurality of notification sinks; a user mechanism that stores information regarding variables and parameters of a user that influence notification decision-making, the stored information comprising an inferred attentional focus of a user and an inferred location of a user; and a notification manager that conveys notifications from a subset of the sources to a subset of the sinks based at least in part upon the information stored in the user mechanism.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
21 words
The system of claim 29 , the notification manager performing a decision-theoretic analysis relating to inferring the location of the user.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
16 words
The system of claim 29 , the notification manager determining how a notification should be conveyed.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
14 words
The system of claim 31 , the notification being conveyed in a summarized form.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2006-07-28 | 2007-01-27 | 2007-07-29 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2010-07-28 | 2011-01-27 | 2011-07-29 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2014-07-28 | 2015-01-27 | 2015-07-29 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |