SYSTEM AND METHODS FOR DISRUPTION DETECTION, MANAGEMENT, AND RECOVERY

• US 20090006574A1
• Filed: 06/29/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Iqbal, Shamsi Tamara, Horvitz, Eric J., Subramani, Murugesan S.
• Granted Patent: US 8,631,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/207
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/485 Task life-cycle, e.g. stopping, restarting, resuming execution G06F9/4881 takes precedence

Abstract

A task disruption and recovery system and methods are described that detects shifts away from ongoing tasks, whether by self-interruption or by disruptive events from within or outside a computing system, based on signals detected. Among other functions, the system works to enhance the efficient recovery of suspended tasks or problem-solving sessions via storing and presenting representations of the suspended sessions in a manner that facilitates recovery and continuation.

Claims

1. A machine implemented system that facilitates and effectuates detection of disruptive events, comprising:

an analysis component that receives a signal from a reception component, the analysis component utilizes the signal to detect an event, based at least in part on the event the analysis component determines whether the event requires a user to be notified, and based at least in part on the determination places currently executing tasks associated with the user in stasis.

2. The system of claim 1, the signal obtained from sources that include auditory sensors, visual sensors, and a monitor component.

3. The system of claim 1, the analysis component further generates a ranked list of tasks placed in stasis, the ranked list employed to provide visual notification of suspended tasks to the user.

4. The system of claim 1, the analysis component further detects activity associated with resumption of a session by the user.

5. The system of claim 4, based at least in part on activity associated with resumption of the session by the user, analysis component instigates a replay component to provide an audio and visual reprise of the session for a user definable threshold period preceding the event.

6. The system of claim 5, the replay component utilizes data persisted on a data store, the data persisted on the data store received by the reception component.

7. The system of claim 1, the analysis component further includes a pattern matching component that utilizes the signal received from the reception component and data persisted on a data store to identify patterns corresponding to the event.

8. The system of claim 1, the analysis component further includes a privacy component that ensures that sensitive information acquired by the reception component is selectively vetted before being persisted to a data store.

9. The system of claim 8, sensitive information acquired by the reception component includes window titles and keyboard sequences entered by the user.

10. The system of claim 1, the analysis component further includes a discrimination component that based on the signal and previous signals persisted to a data store differentiates between a noteworthy event and a non-noteworthy event.

11. The system of claim 1, the analysis component employs an intelligence component to ascertain whether the event requires the user to be notified.

12. A method implemented on a machine that effectuates detection of interrupting events, comprising:

receiving one or more signals associated with a user session effectuated on the machine;

monitoring the one or more signals to detect arrival of a notification event;

determining based at least in part on the one or more signals associated with the user session and the notification event whether the notification event comprises an interrupting event; and

based on the determining, suspending processes associated with the user session.

13. The method of claim 12, the suspending includes persisting unsaved data files and placing applications in a stable state,

14. The method of claim 12, the notification event arrives from at least one of an email client or a messaging application.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising detecting resumption in activity related to the suspended processes.

16. The method of claim 15, on detecting resumption in activity, providing visual and audio cues to a user reprising actions undertaken by the user immediately preceding the suspension of processes associated with the user session.

17. The method of claim 12, the one or more signals include signals received from auditory and visual devices located throughout a user'"'"'s work area.

18. The method of claim 17, the auditory and visual devices include microphones, telephones, cell phones, web cameras, and motion sensors.

19. The method of claim 17, the one or more signals include biometric information utilized to identify at least one individual.

20. A system that effectuates detection of events, comprising:

means for intercepting an audio signal or a visual signal;

means for monitoring the audio signal or the visual signal to detect a notification event;

means for re-establishing one or more suspended tasks associated with a user computer session; and

means for displaying one or more re-established suspended tasks to provide a user a visual or audio reminder when one or more suspended tasks are resumed.