Abstract text

A system is provided that facilitates information processing of a user. The system includes an analyzer to automatically determine one or more states of a user's availability based on patterns of the user's interruptability. A deferral component generates or forwards messages or alerts to the user in accordance with a cost-minimization analysis and determined availability. For example, the deferral component can process interrupts to the user and determine at least one of optimal and approximately optimal deferral times in which to direct an information item to the user, the information item is one of an email message, an incoming phone call, a push-to-talk message, an instant message, an alert, and requests, offers of assistance, status or error reports, or a task from another application or autonomous system.