Patent ID: 8370765

Claim:
A computer comprising: at least one processor; a memory coupled to the at least one processor; first and second software applications residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the first software application including a first do not disturb specification that comprises first user input type and a corresponding first time period and second user input type and a corresponding second time period, the second software application including a second do not disturb specification that comprises the first user input type and a corresponding third time period and the second user input type and a corresponding fourth time period; and an operating system residing in the memory and executed by the at least one processor, the operating system including a do not disturb mechanism comprising: a user input monitor that monitors input from a user and determines that the user is actively using the computer if any of the following are true; the user is using the first software application and the input from the user satisfies the first user input type and occurs within the first time period of a potentially interrupting event; the user is using the first software application and the input from the user satisfies the second user input type and occurs within the second time period of the potentially interrupting event; the user is using the second software application and the input from the user satisfies the first user input type and occurs within the third time period of a potentially interrupting event; the user is using the second software application and the input from the user satisfies the second user input type and occurs within the fourth time period of the potentially interrupting event; wherein the do not disturb mechanism inhibits the potentially interrupting event from interrupting the user when the user is actively using the computer.