Alerting users to personalized information

• US 20120124477A1
• Filed: 11/11/2010
• Published: 05/17/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/11/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Edgar, Timothy, Avramovic, Igor
• Application Number:
  US12/943,952
• Publication Number:
  US 20120124477A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/738
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The claimed subject matter provides a system and/or method for alerting users to personalized information. An exemplary method comprises storing information relating to a subscription to an alert type from a content provider. An alert of the alert type may be received from the content provider and added to a queue. Alerts may be prioritized relative to other alerts within the queue and then rendered from the queue in order of priority to a user.

Claims

1. A method for alerting users to personalized information, the method comprising:

storing information relating to a subscription to an alert type from a content provider;

receiving an alert of the alert type from the content provider;

adding the alert to a queue;

prioritizing the alert relative to other alerts within the queue; and

rendering alerts from the queue in order of priority to a user.

2. The method recited in claim 1, comprising:

saving missed alerts; and

rendering the missed alerts to the user after a user request.

3. The method recited in claim 1, wherein the alerts are rendered in a visually translucent state.

4. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the alert gradually disappears without any interaction from the user.

5. The method recited in claim 3, wherein the alert immediately becomes opaque in response to interaction from the user.

6. The method recited in claim 1, wherein prioritizing the alert is performed based on a default setting.

7. The method recited in claim 1, wherein prioritizing the alert is performed based on a user-defined setting.

8. The method recited in claim 1, comprising rendering a history of alerts previously rendered responsive to user interaction with the alert.

9. The method recited in claim 1, comprising rendering an indicator to signify a number of missed alerts.

10. The method recited in claim 1, comprising receiving a request from a user to suppress alerts of a particular type.

11. The method recited in claim 1, comprising providing the user with more information about the alert in response to user interaction with the alert.

12. A system for issuing behavioral and contextual notifications, the system comprising:

a processing unit; and

a system memory, wherein the system memory comprises code configured to direct the processing unit to;

store information relating to a subscription to an alert type from a content provider;

receive an alert of the alert type from the content provider;

add the alert to a queue;

prioritize the alert relative to other alerts within the queue; and

render alerts from the queue in order of priority to a user.

13. The system recited in claim 12, comprising:

saving missed alerts; and

rendering the missed alerts to the user after a user request.

14. The system recited in claim 12, wherein prioritizing the alert is performed based on a default setting or a user-defined setting.

15. The system recited in claim 12, comprising rendering a history of alerts previously rendered responsive to user interaction with the alert or rendering an indicator to signify a number of missed alerts.

16. The system recited in claim 12, comprising receiving a request from a user to suppress alerts of a particular type or providing the user with more information about the alert in response to user interaction with the alert.

17. One or more computer-readable storage media, comprising code configured to direct a processing unit to:

store information relating to a subscription to an alert type from a content provider;

receive an alert of the alert type from the content provider;

add the alert to a queue;

prioritize the alert relative to other alerts within the queue; and

render alerts from the queue in order of priority to a user.

18. The one or more computer-readable storage media recited in claim 17, comprising:

saving missed alerts; and

rendering the missed alerts to the user after a user request.

19. The one or more computer-readable storage media recited in claim 17, wherein prioritizing the alert is performed based on a default setting or a user-defined setting.

20. The one or more computer-readable storage media recited in claim 17, comprising receiving a request from a user to suppress alerts of a particular type or providing the user with more information about the alert in response to user interaction with the alert.