Patent ID: 7469272

Claim:
A computer-implemented method for utilizing test notifications, the method comprising: receiving a test notification, the test notification comprising elements that correspond an actual notification for potential output outputting to a user on a computer, the test notification for determining how the actual notification would be output by the user's computer given a current context of the computer and pre-determined user-defined rules without outputting the actual notification, wherein the actual notification is a form of a signal from a program that indicates to the user that a specified event has occurred and wherein the elements comprise at least one of text, audio, and graphics; based on a comparison of the elements of the test notification to the current context of the computer and pre-determined rules, determining how the test notification would be handled if the test notification were an actual notification; and returning an indication of how the test notification would be handled if the test notification were an actual notification, wherein the indication specifies: (1) whether the test notification would be delivered, denied, or deferred; and (2) whether modifications should be made to the elements; one or more of polling additional test notifications, such that the additional test notifications are utilized to determine when specified changes to the context of the computer have occurred, and subscribing to changes to the context, such that indications are provided when changes to the context have occurred.