Activity Interruption Management

Abstract

In response to determining that an activity has been postponed (e.g., interrupted or deferred), a computer system stores a record indicating that the activity is postponed. In response to determining that another activity has become active, the computer system stores a record indicating that the other activity is active. The computer system reminds a user to return to the postponed activity in response to determining that a reminder condition associated with the postponed activity has been satisfied. For example, the computer system may remind the user to return to the postponed activity in response to determining that the other activity has been completed.

1 . A method performed by at least one computer processor of a computing device executing computer program instructions stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising:
 (A) receiving, from an activity sensor, activity output representing an activity being performed by a user on the computing device;   (B) determining that the activity has been interrupted;   (C) in response to determining that the activity has been interrupted, storing data representing an action, in the activity, currently being performed by the user;   (D) providing, to the user, output indicating the action;   (C) receiving input from the user; and   (D) in response to the input from the user, making the activity a current activity of the user.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises writing a document. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) receiving, from a time sensor, time output representing a current time; and   wherein (C) further comprises, in response to determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted, storing data representing the current time.   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the activity comprises writing the document using a software application, and wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) receiving, from an application sensor, application output representing a state of the software application; and   wherein (C) further comprises, in response to determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted, storing data representing the state of the software application.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted comprises receiving manual interruption input from the user. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein (D) comprises:
 determining that a reminder condition has been satisfied; and   providing, to the user, the output indicating the action in response to determining that the reminder condition has been satisfied.   
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6 , wherein determining that the reminder condition has been satisfied comprises determining that a particular event has occurred. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing, to the user, the output indicating the action comprises displaying a message to the user, the message indicating the action. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the message further indicates a description of the activity of writing the document. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing, to the user, the output indicating the action, comprises prompting the user to select whether to switch to the interrupted activity. 
     
     
         11 . A system comprising at least one computer processor of a computing device and at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium containing computer program instructions, wherein the computer program instructions are executable by the at least one computer processor to perform a method, the method comprising:
 (A) receiving, from an activity sensor, activity output representing an activity being performed by a user on the computing device;   (B) determining that the activity has been interrupted;   (C) in response to determining that the activity has been interrupted, storing data representing an action, in the activity, currently being performed by the user;   (D) providing, to the user, output indicating the action;   (C) receiving input from the user; and   (D) in response to the input from the user, making the activity a current activity of the user.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the activity comprises writing a document. 
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) receiving, from a time sensor, time output representing a current time; and   wherein (C) further comprises, in response to determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted, storing data representing the current time.   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein the activity comprises writing the document using a software application, and wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) receiving, from an application sensor, application output representing a state of the software application; and   wherein (C) further comprises, in response to determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted, storing data representing the state of the software application.   
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein determining that the activity of writing the document has been interrupted comprises receiving manual interruption input from the user. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein (D) comprises:
 determining that a reminder condition has been satisfied; and   providing, to the user, the output indicating the action in response to determining that the reminder condition has been satisfied.   
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 16 , wherein determining that the reminder condition has been satisfied comprises determining that a particular event has occurred. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein providing, to the user, the output indicating the action comprises displaying a message to the user, the message indicating the action. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the message further indicates a description of the activity of writing the document. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing, to the user, the output indicating the action, comprises prompting the user to select whether to switch to the interrupted activity.