US Patent 10051107 Opportunistic timing of device notifications

Many devices are configured to present notifications to a user in an environment, such as mobile phones that ring or buzz to notify the user of an incoming call, and navigation devices that present verbal instructions to a driver of a vehicle. Many such devices present such audio notifications when information with potential relevance to the user is initially identified, but such techniques may interrupt an activity of the user, such as a conversation. Instead, a device may monitor an activity of the user within an environment to detect a notification opportunity when notifications may be presented to the user without interrupting the activity (e.g., a break in the conversation, or a gap of idle time between a first scheduled appointment and a second scheduled appointment). The device may present notifications of pertinent information to the user during the notification opportunities rather than interrupting the activity of the user.