Integration of a computer-based message priority system with mobile electronic devices

Abstract

Methods for integrating mobile electronic devices with computational methods for assigning priorities to documents are disclosed. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method first receives a new document such as an electronic mail message. The method assigns a priority to the document, based on a text classifier such as a Bayesian classifier or a support-vector machine classifier. The method then alerts a user on an electronic device, such as a pager or a cellular phone, based on an alert criteria that can be made sensitive to information about the location, inferred task, and focus of attention of the user. Such information can be inferred under uncertainty or can be accessed directly from online information sources. One embodiment makes use of information from an online calendar to control the criteria used to make decisions about relaying information to a mobile device.

We claim: 
     
         1 . A method in a first device, comprising:
 receiving a text directed to a user;   generating a priority of the text; and   contacting a second device over a network to alert the user based on an alert criteria.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting comprises:
 contacting the second device over the network to alert the user based on the alert criteria, the second device being a mobile device.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising:
 using information from an online calendar in a decision regarding relaying alert information to the mobile device.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 assessing a location of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inferring a current task of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 inferring a focus of attention of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein said contacting comprises:
 contacting the second device over the network to alert the user based on the alert criteria, the second device being a device that is worn by the user.   
     
     
         8 . An electronic device, comprising:
 a processing unit; and   system memory that stores at least one program configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 generate a priority of a received text that is directed to a user; 
 determine an expected cost of alerting the user regarding the received text based at least on a sensor associated with the user; and 
 alert the user. 
   
     
     
         9 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is at least one of an infrared sensor or a pressure sensor. 
     
     
         10 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the sensor is on the user. 
     
     
         11 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to alert the user when the determined expected cost of alerting the user is not greater than an expected cost of distracting the user. 
     
     
         12 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein to determine the expected cost of alerting the user, the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit at least to infer an activity of the user. 
     
     
         13 . The electronic device of  claim 8 , wherein to infer the activity of the user, the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to at least one of:
 perform automated scene analysis;   determine last mouse or keyboard activity;   perform acoustical analysis;   determine recent application history;   determine an application in focus;   determine a telephone status; or   analyze explicit user input about whereabouts.   
     
     
         14 . A server, comprising:
 a processing unit;   a network interface; and   system memory that stores at least one program configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 receive a text directed to a user; 
 generate a priority of the text; and 
 operate the network interface to communicate with an electronic device over a network to alert the user based on an alert criteria. 
   
     
     
         15 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic device is a mobile device. 
     
     
         16 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 use information from an online calendar in a decision regarding relaying alert information to the electronic device.   
     
     
         17 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 assess a location of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         18 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 infer a current task of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         19 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the at least one program is configured to be executed by the processing unit to:
 infer a focus of attention of the user as at least a portion of the alert criteria.   
     
     
         20 . The server of  claim 14 , wherein the electronic device is worn by the user.