Adaptive notification delivery in a multi-device environment

Abstract

A notification service node to deliver notification messages is disclosed. The notification service node includes a processor and a memory accessible to the processor. The memory includes instructions executable by the processor to receive a notification message via an instant messaging network, where the notification message is intended for a user. The memory also includes instructions executable by the processor to identify a plurality of network-enabled devices that are associated with the user, to assign one of the network-enabled devices as a current device, and to send the notification message to the current device. The current device includes an agent module capable of discovering a second network-enabled device by communicating from the agent module to a second agent module of the second network-enabled device. The current device is capable of negotiating with the second network-enabled device for the second network-enabled device to render the content of the notification message.

1 . A notification service node to deliver notification messages, the notification service node comprising:
 a processor and a memory accessible to the processor, the memory including instructions executable by the processor to:
 receive a notification message via an instant messaging network, wherein the notification message is intended for a user; 
 identify a plurality of network-enabled devices that are associated with the user; 
 assign one of the plurality of network-enabled devices as a current device, the current device including an agent module capable of discovering a second network-enabled device by communicating from the agent module of the current device to a second agent module of the second network-enabled device, wherein the second agent module of the second network-enabled device is capable of discovering at least one other agent module of one of the plurality of network-enabled devices, the current device capable of negotiating with the second network-enabled device for the second network-enabled device to render content of the notification message, wherein the current device is assigned independent of the capability of the current device to render the content of the notification message; and 
 send the notification message to the current device. 
   
   
   
       2 . The notification service node of  claim 1 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to receive information from each of the plurality of network-enabled devices relating to user activity at each of the plurality of network-enabled devices and wherein the current device is assigned based on the user activity information of each of the plurality of network-enabled devices. 
   
   
       3 . The notification service node of  claim 1 , wherein the user activity information indicates a network-enabled device of the plurality of network-enabled devices that has most recently detected user activity. 
   
   
       4 . The notification service node of  claim 1 , wherein the memory includes instructions executable by the processor to receive information from a user location related to a location of the user detector and wherein the current device is assigned based on the user location information. 
   
   
       5 . The notification service node of  claim 4 , wherein the user location information indicates a network-enabled device of the plurality of network-enabled devices that is closest in proximity to the location of the user. 
   
   
       6 . The notification service node of  claim 1 , wherein the memory includes a plurality of instructions executable by the processor to process the notification message based on message urgency, message sender information, a user profile, at least one user preference, past behavior of the user, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       7 . The notification service node of  claim 6 , wherein the current device is assigned based on the processing of the notification message. 
   
   
       8 . The notification service node of  claim 1 , wherein notification messages are received from a plurality of instant messaging networks. 
   
   
       9 . A method of delivering notification messages, the method comprising:
 determining that a first network-enabled device is incapable of rendering content of a notification message;   discovering a second network-enabled device by agent-to-agent communication between a first agent module of the first network-enabled device and a second agent module of the second network-enabled device;   receiving information at the first network-enabled device from the second network-enabled device, wherein the information indicates that the second network-enabled device is capable of rendering the content of the notification message; and   negotiating with the second network-enabled device for the second network-enabled device to render the content of the notification message.   
   
   
       10 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising negotiating with the second network-enabled device for the second network-enabled device to perform a service associated with the notification message. 
   
   
       11 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first network-enabled device includes one of a set-top box device, a personal computer, a tablet computer, and a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       12 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the second network-enabled device includes one of a set-top box device, a personal computer, a tablet computer, and a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       13 . The method of  claim 9 , further comprising:
 discovering a third network-enabled device by agent-to-agent communication between the first agent module of the first network-enabled device and a third agent module of the third network-enabled device; and   receiving information at the first network-enabled device from the third network-enabled device, wherein the information from the third network-enabled device indicates that the third network-enabled device is capable of rendering the content of the notification message;   wherein the first network-enabled device chooses to negotiate with the second network-enabled device to render the content of the notification message based on a location of the second network-enabled device and a location of the third network-enabled device with respect to a location of the first network-enabled device.   
   
   
       14 . The method of  claim 13 , wherein the third network-enabled device includes one of a set-top box device, a personal computer, a tablet computer, and a cellular telephone. 
   
   
       15 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein rendering the content of the notification message includes visually presenting the content, audibly presenting the content, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       16 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the notification message is associated with a particular format, a particular connection type, a particular type of transaction, or any combination thereof. 
   
   
       17 . A computer-readable medium comprising executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to:
 determine that a network-enabled device is incapable of rendering content of a notification message;   discover a second network-enabled device by communicating from an agent module of the network-enabled device to a second agent module of the second network-enabled device;   receive information from the second network-enabled device, wherein the information indicates that the second network-enabled device is capable of rendering the content of the notification message; and   requesting the selected network-enabled device to render the content of the notification message.   
   
   
       18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 17 , further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
 discover a third network-enabled device by communicating from the agent module of the network-enabled device to a third agent module of the third network-enabled device;   receive information from the third network-enabled device, wherein the information from the third network-enabled device indicates that the third network-enabled device is capable of rendering the content of the notification message; and   select one of the second network-enabled device and the third network-enabled device to render the content of the notification message based on a location of the second network-enabled device and a location of the third network-enabled device with respect to a location of the network-enabled device.   
   
   
       19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , further comprising executable instructions that, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to negotiate with the second network-enabled device for the second network-enabled device to perform a service associated with the notification message. 
   
   
       20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 18 , wherein the notification message is intended for a user, and wherein the user is associated with each of the network-enabled device, the second network-enabled device, and the third network-enabled device.