Method and system for controlling presentation of information to a user based on the user's condition

• US 7,512,889 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2005
• Issued: 03/31/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 12/18/1998
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Abbott, Kenneth H. III, Newell, Dan
• Primary Examiner(s): HAILU, TADESSE
• Application Number:
  US11/069,907
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053377A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,492 Days
• Field of Search: 715795-708, 715734-748, 709/217, 709/228, 709/201, 709/202, 709/223, 709/224, 706/45, 706/50, 706/60, 706/61
• US Class Current: 715/741
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 1/163 Wearable computers, e.g. on a belt
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/606 by securing the transmission between two devices or processes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 21/6245 Protecting personal data, e.g. for financial or medical purposes
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/032 Protect output to user by software means
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/011 Arrangements for interaction with the human body, e.g. for user immersion in virtual reality blind teaching G09B21/00
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/016 Input arrangements with force or tactile feedback as computer generated output to the user

Abstract

A system for controlling presentation of information to a user based on the user'"'"'s current condition. In particular, the system monitors the user and the user'"'"'s environment, and creates and maintains an updated model of the current condition of the user. The user condition can include a variety of condition variables, including abstract concepts such as the user'"'"'s current cognitive load, desired level of privacy for output information, and desired scope of audience for output information. Upon receiving output information to be presented to the user (e.g., from an application program), the system determines an appropriate output device and an appropriate format with which to present the information to the user, and then presents the output information. The system can also receive description information about the output information that describes relevant factors for determining when and how to present the output information (e.g., the importance and urgency of the output information, the consequences of the user not receiving or ignoring the output information, etc.). Some versions of the system execute on a wearable computer having a variety of available output display devices.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for presenting output information to a user, the method comprising:

generating a model of the user'"'"'s current condition based upon received information about the user, the model representing a contemporaneous condition of the user and an environmental state, wherein the contemporaneous condition of the user includes at least a determined cognitive load of the user indicating a level of the user'"'"'s ability to devote attention to the output information;

generating a device model for each of a set of output devices that maps a respective output device to a set of ratings for user condition variables and output information description factors, the user condition variables including at least a cognitive load variable that indicates a level of the user'"'"'s cognitive load at which presentation of output information on the respective output device is allowable;

selecting an output device capable of presenting the output information in accordance with the model of the user'"'"'s current condition and the device model; and

presenting the output information on the selected output device in accordance with the model of the user'"'"'s current condition and the device model.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes information related to a current condition of the user.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising monitoring the user to collect the received information.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the received information includes information related to a surrounding environment.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising monitoring the surrounding environment to collect the received information.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving the output information before presenting the output information.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein an information provider transmits information to various computers within a transmission range of the information provider, wherein the method is performed by a transportable computer transported by the user, wherein the user transports the transportable computer within the transmission range, and wherein the received output information is the transmitted information.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the level of the user'"'"'s ability to devote attention to the output information is represented by the generated model of the user'"'"'s current condition.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the ability of the user to devote attention is influenced by information being received by the user via one user sense, and wherein the presenting of the output information is selected to be via a distinct user sense.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising deferring the presenting of the output information when the ability of the user to devote attention is low.

11. The method of claim 8, wherein the indication of the ability of the user to devote attention is based on an estimate of an amount of attention devoted by the user to other current activities.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the modeled user condition includes a preference of the user regarding a number of people allowed to perceive presented information.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected output device includes a range of information presentation capabilities, wherein information presented via some of the information presentation capabilities is perceivable by other people near the user, and including selecting those information presentation capabilities to be used to present the output information when the modeled user condition indicates that the number of other people in the vicinity of the user is within the number of people allowed to perceive the output information.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the selected output device includes a range of information presentation capabilities, wherein information presented via some of the information presentation capabilities is not perceivable by other people near the user, and including selecting those information presentation capabilities to be used to present the output information when the modeled user property indicates that the number of other people in the vicinity of the user exceeds the number of people allowed to perceive the output information.

15. The method of claim 1, wherein the modeled user condition includes a preference of the user regarding how to receive sensitive information.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected output device includes a range of information presentation capabilities, wherein information presented via some of the information presentation capabilities is perceivable by other people near the user, and including selecting those information presentation capabilities to be used to present the output information when the modeled user condition indicates that sensitivity of the output information allows the other people to perceive the output information.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the selected output device includes a range of information presentation capabilities, wherein information presented via some of the information presentation capabilities is not perceivable by other people near the user, and including selecting those information presentation capabilities to be used to present the output information when the output information is sufficiently sensitive that the modeled user condition indicates that the other people are not allowed to perceive the output information.

18. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of output devices are available to present information via distinct senses of the user, and wherein the selecting of the output device includes determining a user sense that is capable of presenting the output information in accordance with the modeled user condition.

19. A computer-readable medium containing instructions for presenting output information to a user by:

monitoring the user to obtain information related to a current condition of the user, monitoring the user comprises utilizing one or more sensors to gather at least one of physiological, geographical or spatial information related to the user;

monitoring a surrounding environment to collect information related to a state of the environment;

generating a model of a user condition based at least in part on the obtained information, the model characterizes a current condition of the user and a user observable environmental state, the model includes condition variables that represent at least one of a cognitive load of the user, a desired level of privacy, a desired scope of audience, physical characteristics of the user, or physically observable environmental characteristics;

generating a device model for each of a set of output devices that maps a respective output device to a set of ratings for user condition variables and output information description factors, the user condition variables including at least a cognitive load variable that indicates a level of the user'"'"'s cognitive load at which presentation of output information via the respective output device is allowable;

receiving output information to present to the user;

employing the model of the user condition to determine the cognitive load of the user indicating a level of the user'"'"'s ability to devote attention to the output information;

selecting an output device capable of presenting the output information in accordance with the model of the user condition and the device model; and

presenting the output information on the selected output device in accordance with the model of the user condition and the device model.

20. A computer system for presenting output to a user, comprising:

an output device selector module that maps each of a set of output devices to a set of ratings for user condition variables and output information description factors, that receives information about a modeled property of the user that determines a level of the user'"'"'s ability to devote attention to the output information, that selects an output device capable of presenting the output information based at least on a comparison of the modeled property with the set of ratings, and that presents the output on the selected output device in accordance with the modeled property wherein the user condition variables include at least a cognitive load variable that indicates a level of the user'"'"'s cognitive load at which presentation of output information on the respective output device is allowed.