User interruptibility aware notifications

A notification distribution system, comprising:

• a reception component that receives a notification transmitted from a notification sender, wherein the notification is for a user;
• a delay component that determines whether the notification is delay tolerant, wherein the delay component delays delivery of the notification if the notification is determined to be delay tolerant;
• a coarse interruptible time detection component that detects an upcoming opportune time period for a user device to deliver the notification, wherein the upcoming opportune time period is during one of a breakpoint or an influential context, wherein the breakpoint is when the user has switched between tasks and lacks engagement with the tasks, and wherein the influential context is a particular context in which the user is available to attend to the notification;
• and
• a distribution component that sends the notification to the user device as the upcoming opportune time period approaches.

A computer-readable storage medium including computer-executable instructions that, when executed by a processor, cause the processor to perform acts including:

• receiving, at a mobile device, a notification transmitted from a notification sender;
• responsive to receipt of the notification at the mobile device, initializing analysis of an attention state of a user;
• based on the analysis of the attention state of the user, at least one of:
• detecting a breakpoint, wherein the breakpoint is when the user has switched between tasks and lacks engagement with the tasks;
• or
• detecting an influential context, wherein the influential context is a particular context in which the user is available to attend to the notification;
• detecting the opportune time period to deliver the notification, wherein the opportune time period is during one of the breakpoint or the influential context;
• and
• delivering the notification via the mobile device during the opportune time period.