feat: replace FeedItem.priority with signals

Remove priority field from FeedItem and engine-level sorting. Add FeedItemSignals with urgency and timeRelevance fields. Update all source packages to emit signals instead of priority. Ranking is now the post-processing layer's responsibility. Urgency values are unchanged from the old priority values. Co-authored-by: Ona <no-reply@ona.com>
2026-03-20 09:01:19 +00:00 · 2026-02-28 11:41:07 +00:00
parent 78b0ed94bd
commit bbefd01fe0
16 changed files with 272 additions and 140 deletions
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/data-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/data-source.ts
@@ -18,9 +18,9 @@ import type { FeedItem } from "./feed"
 *     return [{
 *       id: `weather-${Date.now()}`,
 *       type: this.type,
- *       priority: 0.5,
 *       timestamp: context.time,
 *       data: { temp: data.temperature },
+ *       signals: { urgency: 0.5, timeRelevance: "ambient" },
 *     }]
 *   }
 * }
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/feed-engine.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/feed-engine.test.ts
@@ -3,7 +3,7 @@ import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"
 import type { ActionDefinition, Context, ContextKey, FeedItem, FeedSource } from "./index"

 import { FeedEngine } from "./feed-engine"
-import { UnknownActionError, contextKey, contextValue } from "./index"
+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError, contextKey, contextValue } from "./index"

 // No-op action methods for test sources
 const noActions = {
@@ -100,12 +100,12 @@ function createWeatherSource(
 				{
 					id: `weather-${Date.now()}`,
 					type: "weather",
-					priority: 0.5,
 					timestamp: new Date(),
 					data: {
 						temperature: weather.temperature,
 						condition: weather.condition,
 					},
+					signals: { urgency: 0.5, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient },
 				},
 			]
 		},
@@ -131,9 +131,9 @@ function createAlertSource(): FeedSource<AlertFeedItem> {
 					{
 						id: "alert-storm",
 						type: "alert",
-						priority: 1.0,
 						timestamp: new Date(),
 						data: { message: "Storm warning!" },
+						signals: { urgency: 1.0, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Imminent },
 					},
 				]
 			}
@@ -322,7 +322,7 @@ describe("FeedEngine", () => {
 			expect(items[0]!.type).toBe("weather")
 		})

-		test("sorts items by priority descending", async () => {
+		test("returns items in source graph order (no engine-level sorting)", async () => {
 			const location = createLocationSource()
 			location.simulateUpdate({ lat: 51.5, lng: -0.1 })

@@ -338,8 +338,12 @@ describe("FeedEngine", () => {
 			const { items } = await engine.refresh()

 			expect(items).toHaveLength(2)
-			expect(items[0]!.type).toBe("alert") // priority 1.0
-			expect(items[1]!.type).toBe("weather") // priority 0.5
+			// Items returned in topological order (weather before alert)
+			expect(items[0]!.type).toBe("weather")
+			expect(items[1]!.type).toBe("alert")
+			// Signals are preserved for post-processors to consume
+			expect(items[0]!.signals?.urgency).toBe(0.5)
+			expect(items[1]!.signals?.urgency).toBe(1.0)
 		})

 		test("handles missing upstream context gracefully", async () => {
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/feed-engine.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/feed-engine.ts
@@ -150,9 +150,6 @@ export class FeedEngine<TItems extends FeedItem = FeedItem> {
 			}
 		}

-		// Sort by priority descending
-		items.sort((a, b) => b.priority - a.priority)
-
 		this.context = context

 		const result: FeedResult<TItems> = { context, items: items as TItems[], errors }
@@ -314,8 +311,6 @@ export class FeedEngine<TItems extends FeedItem = FeedItem> {
 			}
 		}

-		items.sort((a, b) => b.priority - a.priority)
-
 		const result: FeedResult<TItems> = {
 			context: this.context,
 			items: items as TItems[],
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/feed-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/feed-source.test.ts
@@ -2,7 +2,7 @@ import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"

 import type { ActionDefinition, Context, ContextKey, FeedItem, FeedSource } from "./index"

-import { UnknownActionError, contextKey, contextValue } from "./index"
+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError, contextKey, contextValue } from "./index"

 // No-op action methods for test sources
 const noActions = {
@@ -99,12 +99,12 @@ function createWeatherSource(
 				{
 					id: `weather-${Date.now()}`,
 					type: "weather",
-					priority: 0.5,
 					timestamp: new Date(),
 					data: {
 						temperature: weather.temperature,
 						condition: weather.condition,
 					},
+					signals: { urgency: 0.5, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient },
 				},
 			]
 		},
@@ -130,9 +130,9 @@ function createAlertSource(): FeedSource<AlertFeedItem> {
 					{
 						id: "alert-storm",
 						type: "alert",
-						priority: 1.0,
 						timestamp: new Date(),
 						data: { message: "Storm warning!" },
+						signals: { urgency: 1.0, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Imminent },
 					},
 				]
 			}
@@ -226,9 +226,6 @@ async function refreshGraph(graph: SourceGraph): Promise<{ context: Context; ite
 		}
 	}

-	// Sort by priority descending
-	items.sort((a, b) => b.priority - a.priority)
-
 	return { context, items }
 }

@@ -441,8 +438,12 @@ describe("FeedSource", () => {
 			const { items } = await refreshGraph(graph)

 			expect(items).toHaveLength(2)
-			expect(items[0]!.type).toBe("alert") // priority 1.0
-			expect(items[1]!.type).toBe("weather") // priority 0.5
+			// Items returned in topological order (weather before alert)
+			expect(items[0]!.type).toBe("weather")
+			expect(items[1]!.type).toBe("alert")
+			// Signals preserved for post-processors
+			expect(items[0]!.signals?.urgency).toBe(0.5)
+			expect(items[1]!.signals?.urgency).toBe(1.0)
 		})

 		test("source without location context returns empty items", async () => {
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/feed.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/feed.ts
@@ -1,3 +1,28 @@
+/**
+ * Source-provided hints for post-processors.
+ *
+ * Sources express domain-specific relevance without determining final ranking.
+ * Post-processors consume these signals alongside other inputs (user affinity,
+ * time of day, interaction history) to produce the final feed order.
+ */
+export const TimeRelevance = {
+	/** Needs attention now (e.g., event starting in minutes, severe alert) */
+	Imminent: "imminent",
+	/** Relevant soon (e.g., event in the next hour, approaching deadline) */
+	Upcoming: "upcoming",
+	/** Background information (e.g., daily forecast, low-priority status) */
+	Ambient: "ambient",
+} as const
+
+export type TimeRelevance = (typeof TimeRelevance)[keyof typeof TimeRelevance]
+
+export interface FeedItemSignals {
+	/** Source-assessed urgency (0-1). Post-processors use this as one ranking input. */
+	urgency?: number
+	/** How time-sensitive this item is relative to now. */
+	timeRelevance?: TimeRelevance
+}
+
 /**
 * A single item in the feed.
 *
@@ -8,9 +33,9 @@
 * const item: WeatherItem = {
 *   id: "weather-123",
 *   type: "weather",
- *   priority: 0.5,
 *   timestamp: new Date(),
 *   data: { temp: 18, condition: "cloudy" },
+ *   signals: { urgency: 0.5, timeRelevance: "ambient" },
 * }
 * ```
 */
@@ -22,10 +47,10 @@ export interface FeedItem<
 	id: string
 	/** Item type, matches the data source type */
 	type: TType
-	/** Sort priority (higher = more important, shown first) */
-	priority: number
 	/** When this item was generated */
 	timestamp: Date
 	/** Type-specific payload */
 	data: TData
+	/** Source-provided hints for post-processors. Optional — omit if no signals apply. */
+	signals?: FeedItemSignals
 }
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/index.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/index.ts
@@ -7,7 +7,8 @@ export type { ActionDefinition } from "./action"
 export { UnknownActionError } from "./action"

 // Feed
-export type { FeedItem } from "./feed"
+export type { FeedItem, FeedItemSignals } from "./feed"
+export { TimeRelevance } from "./feed"

 // Feed Source
 export type { FeedSource } from "./feed-source"
--- a/packages/aris-core/src/reconciler.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-core/src/reconciler.ts
@@ -72,8 +72,6 @@ export class Reconciler<TItems extends FeedItem = never> {
 			}
 		})

-		items.sort((a, b) => b.priority - a.priority)
-
 		return { items, errors } as ReconcileResult<TItems>
 	}
 }
--- a/packages/aris-data-source-weatherkit/src/data-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-data-source-weatherkit/src/data-source.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,6 @@
-import type { Context, DataSource } from "@aris/core"
+import type { Context, DataSource, FeedItemSignals } from "@aris/core"
+
+import { TimeRelevance } from "@aris/core"

 import {
 	WeatherFeedItemType,
@@ -105,7 +107,7 @@ export class WeatherKitDataSource implements DataSource<WeatherFeedItem, Weather
 	}
 }

-const BASE_PRIORITY = {
+const BASE_URGENCY = {
 	current: 0.5,
 	hourly: 0.3,
 	daily: 0.2,
@@ -134,17 +136,17 @@ const MODERATE_CONDITIONS = new Set<ConditionCode>([
 	ConditionCode.BlowingSnow,
 ])

-function adjustPriorityForCondition(basePriority: number, conditionCode: ConditionCode): number {
+function adjustUrgencyForCondition(baseUrgency: number, conditionCode: ConditionCode): number {
 	if (SEVERE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
-		return Math.min(1, basePriority + 0.3)
+		return Math.min(1, baseUrgency + 0.3)
 	}
 	if (MODERATE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
-		return Math.min(1, basePriority + 0.15)
+		return Math.min(1, baseUrgency + 0.15)
 	}
-	return basePriority
+	return baseUrgency
 }

-function adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
+function adjustUrgencyForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
 	switch (severity) {
 		case Severity.Extreme:
 			return 1
@@ -153,7 +155,29 @@ function adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
 		case Severity.Moderate:
 			return 0.75
 		case Severity.Minor:
-			return BASE_PRIORITY.alert
+			return BASE_URGENCY.alert
+	}
+}
+
+function timeRelevanceForCondition(conditionCode: ConditionCode): TimeRelevance {
+	if (SEVERE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
+		return TimeRelevance.Imminent
+	}
+	if (MODERATE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
+		return TimeRelevance.Upcoming
+	}
+	return TimeRelevance.Ambient
+}
+
+function timeRelevanceForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): TimeRelevance {
+	switch (severity) {
+		case Severity.Extreme:
+		case Severity.Severe:
+			return TimeRelevance.Imminent
+		case Severity.Moderate:
+			return TimeRelevance.Upcoming
+		case Severity.Minor:
+			return TimeRelevance.Ambient
 	}
 }

@@ -197,12 +221,14 @@ function createCurrentWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): CurrentWeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.current, current.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.current, current.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(current.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-current-${timestamp.getTime()}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.current,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			conditionCode: current.conditionCode,
@@ -219,6 +245,7 @@ function createCurrentWeatherFeedItem(
 			windGust: convertSpeed(current.windGust, units),
 			windSpeed: convertSpeed(current.windSpeed, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

@@ -228,12 +255,14 @@ function createHourlyWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): HourlyWeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.hourly, hourly.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.hourly, hourly.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(hourly.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-hourly-${timestamp.getTime()}-${index}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.hourly,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			forecastTime: new Date(hourly.forecastStart),
@@ -250,6 +279,7 @@ function createHourlyWeatherFeedItem(
 			windGust: convertSpeed(hourly.windGust, units),
 			windSpeed: convertSpeed(hourly.windSpeed, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

@@ -259,12 +289,14 @@ function createDailyWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): DailyWeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.daily, daily.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.daily, daily.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(daily.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-daily-${timestamp.getTime()}-${index}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.daily,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			forecastDate: new Date(daily.forecastStart),
@@ -279,16 +311,19 @@ function createDailyWeatherFeedItem(
 			temperatureMax: convertTemperature(daily.temperatureMax, units),
 			temperatureMin: convertTemperature(daily.temperatureMin, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

 function createWeatherAlertFeedItem(alert: WeatherAlert, timestamp: Date): WeatherAlertFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(alert.severity)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForAlertSeverity(alert.severity),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForAlertSeverity(alert.severity),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-alert-${alert.id}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.alert,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			alertId: alert.id,
@@ -302,5 +337,6 @@ function createWeatherAlertFeedItem(alert: WeatherAlert, timestamp: Date): Weath
 			source: alert.source,
 			urgency: alert.urgency,
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }
--- a/packages/aris-source-apple-calendar/src/calendar-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-apple-calendar/src/calendar-source.test.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
 import type { Context } from "@aris/core"

-import { contextValue } from "@aris/core"
+import { TimeRelevance, contextValue } from "@aris/core"
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"
 import { readFileSync } from "node:fs"
 import { join } from "node:path"
@@ -15,7 +15,7 @@ import type {
 } from "./types.ts"

 import { CalendarKey } from "./calendar-context.ts"
-import { CalendarSource, computePriority } from "./calendar-source.ts"
+import { CalendarSource, computeSignals } from "./calendar-source.ts"

 function loadFixture(name: string): string {
 	return readFileSync(join(import.meta.dir, "..", "fixtures", name), "utf-8")
@@ -185,7 +185,7 @@ describe("CalendarSource", () => {
 		expect(items[0]!.timestamp).toEqual(now)
 	})

-	test("assigns priority based on event proximity", async () => {
+	test("assigns signals based on event proximity", async () => {
 		const objects: Record<string, CalendarDAVObject[]> = {
 			"/cal/work": [
 				{ url: "/cal/work/event1.ics", data: loadFixture("single-event.ics") },
@@ -203,8 +203,10 @@ describe("CalendarSource", () => {
 		const standup = items.find((i) => i.data.title === "Team Standup")
 		const holiday = items.find((i) => i.data.title === "Company Holiday")

-		expect(standup!.priority).toBe(0.7) // within 2 hours
-		expect(holiday!.priority).toBe(0.3) // all-day
+		expect(standup!.signals!.urgency).toBe(0.7) // within 2 hours
+		expect(standup!.signals!.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Upcoming)
+		expect(holiday!.signals!.urgency).toBe(0.3) // all-day
+		expect(holiday!.signals!.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Ambient)
 	})

 	test("handles calendar with non-string displayName", async () => {
@@ -378,7 +380,7 @@ describe("CalendarSource.fetchContext", () => {
 	})
 })

-describe("computePriority", () => {
+describe("computeSignals", () => {
 	const now = new Date("2026-01-15T12:00:00Z")

 	function makeEvent(overrides: Partial<CalendarEventData>): CalendarEventData {
@@ -401,73 +403,83 @@ describe("computePriority", () => {
 		}
 	}

-	test("all-day events get priority 0.3", () => {
+	test("all-day events get urgency 0.3 and ambient relevance", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({ isAllDay: true })
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.3)
+		const signals = computeSignals(event, now)
+		expect(signals.urgency).toBe(0.3)
+		expect(signals.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Ambient)
 	})

-	test("events starting within 30 minutes get priority 0.9", () => {
+	test("events starting within 30 minutes get urgency 0.9 and imminent relevance", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T12:20:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.9)
+		const signals = computeSignals(event, now)
+		expect(signals.urgency).toBe(0.9)
+		expect(signals.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Imminent)
 	})

-	test("events starting exactly at 30 minutes get priority 0.9", () => {
+	test("events starting exactly at 30 minutes get urgency 0.9", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T12:30:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.9)
+		expect(computeSignals(event, now).urgency).toBe(0.9)
 	})

-	test("events starting within 2 hours get priority 0.7", () => {
+	test("events starting within 2 hours get urgency 0.7 and upcoming relevance", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T13:00:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.7)
+		const signals = computeSignals(event, now)
+		expect(signals.urgency).toBe(0.7)
+		expect(signals.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Upcoming)
 	})

-	test("events later today get priority 0.5", () => {
+	test("events later today get urgency 0.5", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T20:00:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.5)
+		expect(computeSignals(event, now).urgency).toBe(0.5)
 	})

-	test("in-progress events get priority 0.8", () => {
+	test("in-progress events get urgency 0.8 and imminent relevance", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T11:00:00Z"),
 			endDate: new Date("2026-01-15T13:00:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.8)
+		const signals = computeSignals(event, now)
+		expect(signals.urgency).toBe(0.8)
+		expect(signals.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Imminent)
 	})

-	test("fully past events get priority 0.2", () => {
+	test("fully past events get urgency 0.2 and ambient relevance", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T09:00:00Z"),
 			endDate: new Date("2026-01-15T10:00:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.2)
+		const signals = computeSignals(event, now)
+		expect(signals.urgency).toBe(0.2)
+		expect(signals.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Ambient)
 	})

-	test("events on future days get priority 0.2", () => {
+	test("events on future days get urgency 0.2", () => {
 		const event = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-16T10:00:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event, now)).toBe(0.2)
+		expect(computeSignals(event, now).urgency).toBe(0.2)
 	})

-	test("priority boundaries are correct", () => {
+	test("urgency boundaries are correct", () => {
 		// 31 minutes from now should be 0.7 (within 2 hours, not within 30 min)
 		const event31min = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T12:31:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event31min, now)).toBe(0.7)
+		expect(computeSignals(event31min, now).urgency).toBe(0.7)

 		// 2 hours 1 minute from now should be 0.5 (later today, not within 2 hours)
 		const event2h1m = makeEvent({
 			startDate: new Date("2026-01-15T14:01:00Z"),
 		})
-		expect(computePriority(event2h1m, now)).toBe(0.5)
+		expect(computeSignals(event2h1m, now).urgency).toBe(0.5)
 	})
 })
--- a/packages/aris-source-apple-calendar/src/calendar-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-apple-calendar/src/calendar-source.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"
-import { UnknownActionError } from "@aris/core"
+import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedItemSignals, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"

+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError } from "@aris/core"
 import { DAVClient } from "tsdav"

 import type {
@@ -202,9 +202,9 @@ function computeTimeRange(now: Date, lookAheadDays: number): { start: Date; end:
 	return { start, end }
 }

-export function computePriority(event: CalendarEventData, now: Date): number {
+export function computeSignals(event: CalendarEventData, now: Date): FeedItemSignals {
 	if (event.isAllDay) {
-		return 0.3
+		return { urgency: 0.3, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient }
 	}

 	const msUntilStart = event.startDate.getTime() - now.getTime()
@@ -212,40 +212,41 @@ export function computePriority(event: CalendarEventData, now: Date): number {
 	// Event already started
 	if (msUntilStart < 0) {
 		const isInProgress = now.getTime() < event.endDate.getTime()
-		// Currently happening events are high priority; fully past events are low
-		return isInProgress ? 0.8 : 0.2
+		return isInProgress
+			? { urgency: 0.8, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Imminent }
+			: { urgency: 0.2, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient }
 	}

 	// Starting within 30 minutes
 	if (msUntilStart <= 30 * 60 * 1000) {
-		return 0.9
+		return { urgency: 0.9, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Imminent }
 	}

 	// Starting within 2 hours
 	if (msUntilStart <= 2 * 60 * 60 * 1000) {
-		return 0.7
+		return { urgency: 0.7, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Upcoming }
 	}

-	// Later today (within 24 hours from start of day)
+	// Later today
 	const startOfDay = new Date(now)
 	startOfDay.setUTCHours(0, 0, 0, 0)
 	const endOfDay = new Date(startOfDay)
 	endOfDay.setUTCDate(endOfDay.getUTCDate() + 1)

 	if (event.startDate.getTime() < endOfDay.getTime()) {
-		return 0.5
+		return { urgency: 0.5, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Upcoming }
 	}

 	// Future days
-	return 0.2
+	return { urgency: 0.2, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient }
 }

 function createFeedItem(event: CalendarEventData, now: Date): CalendarFeedItem {
 	return {
 		id: `calendar-event-${event.uid}${event.recurrenceId ? `-${event.recurrenceId}` : ""}`,
 		type: "calendar-event",
-		priority: computePriority(event, now),
 		timestamp: now,
 		data: event,
+		signals: computeSignals(event, now),
 	}
 }
--- a/packages/aris-source-google-calendar/src/google-calendar-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-google-calendar/src/google-calendar-source.test.ts
@@ -1,4 +1,4 @@
-import { contextValue, type Context } from "@aris/core"
+import { TimeRelevance, contextValue, type Context } from "@aris/core"
 import { describe, expect, test } from "bun:test"

 import type { ApiCalendarEvent, GoogleCalendarClient, ListEventsOptions } from "./types"
@@ -81,16 +81,17 @@ describe("GoogleCalendarSource", () => {
 			expect(allDayItems.length).toBe(1)
 		})

-		test("ongoing events get highest priority (1.0)", async () => {
+		test("ongoing events get highest urgency (1.0)", async () => {
 			const source = new GoogleCalendarSource({ client: defaultMockClient() })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())

 			const ongoing = items.find((i) => i.data.eventId === "evt-ongoing")
 			expect(ongoing).toBeDefined()
-			expect(ongoing!.priority).toBe(1.0)
+			expect(ongoing!.signals!.urgency).toBe(1.0)
+			expect(ongoing!.signals!.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Imminent)
 		})

-		test("upcoming events get higher priority when sooner", async () => {
+		test("upcoming events get higher urgency when sooner", async () => {
 			const source = new GoogleCalendarSource({ client: defaultMockClient() })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())

@@ -99,16 +100,17 @@ describe("GoogleCalendarSource", () => {

 			expect(soon).toBeDefined()
 			expect(later).toBeDefined()
-			expect(soon!.priority).toBeGreaterThan(later!.priority)
+			expect(soon!.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThan(later!.signals!.urgency!)
 		})

-		test("all-day events get flat priority (0.4)", async () => {
+		test("all-day events get flat urgency (0.4)", async () => {
 			const source = new GoogleCalendarSource({ client: defaultMockClient() })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())

 			const allDay = items.find((i) => i.data.eventId === "evt-allday")
 			expect(allDay).toBeDefined()
-			expect(allDay!.priority).toBe(0.4)
+			expect(allDay!.signals!.urgency).toBe(0.4)
+			expect(allDay!.signals!.timeRelevance).toBe(TimeRelevance.Ambient)
 		})

 		test("generates unique IDs for each item", async () => {
@@ -280,7 +282,7 @@ describe("GoogleCalendarSource", () => {
 		})
 	})

-	describe("priority ordering", () => {
+	describe("urgency ordering", () => {
 		test("ongoing > upcoming > all-day", async () => {
 			const source = new GoogleCalendarSource({ client: defaultMockClient() })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())
@@ -289,8 +291,8 @@ describe("GoogleCalendarSource", () => {
 			const upcoming = items.find((i) => i.data.eventId === "evt-soon")!
 			const allDay = items.find((i) => i.data.eventId === "evt-allday")!

-			expect(ongoing.priority).toBeGreaterThan(upcoming.priority)
-			expect(upcoming.priority).toBeGreaterThan(allDay.priority)
+			expect(ongoing.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThan(upcoming.signals!.urgency!)
+			expect(upcoming.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThan(allDay.signals!.urgency!)
 		})
 	})
 })
--- a/packages/aris-source-google-calendar/src/google-calendar-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-google-calendar/src/google-calendar-source.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"
+import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedItemSignals, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"

-import { UnknownActionError } from "@aris/core"
+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError } from "@aris/core"

 import type {
 	ApiCalendarEvent,
@@ -35,10 +35,10 @@ import { DefaultGoogleCalendarClient } from "./google-calendar-api"

 const DEFAULT_LOOKAHEAD_HOURS = 24

-const PRIORITY_ONGOING = 1.0
-const PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MAX = 0.9
-const PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MIN = 0.3
-const PRIORITY_ALL_DAY = 0.4
+const URGENCY_ONGOING = 1.0
+const URGENCY_UPCOMING_MAX = 0.9
+const URGENCY_UPCOMING_MIN = 0.3
+const URGENCY_ALL_DAY = 0.4

 /**
 * A FeedSource that provides Google Calendar events and next-event context.
@@ -171,9 +171,13 @@ function parseEvent(event: ApiCalendarEvent, calendarId: string): CalendarEventD
 	}
 }

-function computePriority(event: CalendarEventData, nowMs: number, lookaheadMs: number): number {
+function computeSignals(
+	event: CalendarEventData,
+	nowMs: number,
+	lookaheadMs: number,
+): FeedItemSignals {
 	if (event.isAllDay) {
-		return PRIORITY_ALL_DAY
+		return { urgency: URGENCY_ALL_DAY, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient }
 	}

 	const startMs = event.startTime.getTime()
@@ -181,17 +185,23 @@ function computePriority(event: CalendarEventData, nowMs: number, lookaheadMs: n

 	// Ongoing: start <= now < end
 	if (startMs <= nowMs && nowMs < endMs) {
-		return PRIORITY_ONGOING
+		return { urgency: URGENCY_ONGOING, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Imminent }
 	}

-	// Upcoming: linear decay from PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MAX to PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MIN
+	// Upcoming: linear decay from URGENCY_UPCOMING_MAX to URGENCY_UPCOMING_MIN
 	const msUntilStart = startMs - nowMs
 	if (msUntilStart <= 0) {
-		return PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MIN
+		return { urgency: URGENCY_UPCOMING_MIN, timeRelevance: TimeRelevance.Ambient }
 	}

 	const ratio = Math.min(msUntilStart / lookaheadMs, 1)
-	return PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MAX - ratio * (PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MAX - PRIORITY_UPCOMING_MIN)
+	const urgency = URGENCY_UPCOMING_MAX - ratio * (URGENCY_UPCOMING_MAX - URGENCY_UPCOMING_MIN)
+
+	// Within 30 minutes = imminent, otherwise upcoming
+	const timeRelevance =
+		msUntilStart <= 30 * 60 * 1000 ? TimeRelevance.Imminent : TimeRelevance.Upcoming
+
+	return { urgency, timeRelevance }
 }

 function createFeedItem(
@@ -199,14 +209,13 @@ function createFeedItem(
 	nowMs: number,
 	lookaheadMs: number,
 ): CalendarFeedItem {
-	const priority = computePriority(event, nowMs, lookaheadMs)
 	const itemType = event.isAllDay ? CalendarFeedItemType.allDay : CalendarFeedItemType.event

 	return {
 		id: `calendar-${event.calendarId}-${event.eventId}`,
 		type: itemType,
-		priority,
 		timestamp: new Date(nowMs),
 		data: event,
+		signals: computeSignals(event, nowMs, lookaheadMs),
 	}
 }
--- a/packages/aris-source-tfl/src/tfl-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-tfl/src/tfl-source.test.ts
@@ -184,7 +184,8 @@ describe("TflSource", () => {
 				expect(typeof item.id).toBe("string")
 				expect(item.id).toMatch(/^tfl-alert-/)
 				expect(item.type).toBe("tfl-alert")
-				expect(typeof item.priority).toBe("number")
+				expect(item.signals).toBeDefined()
+				expect(typeof item.signals!.urgency).toBe("number")
 				expect(item.timestamp).toBeInstanceOf(Date)
 			}
 		})
@@ -220,29 +221,29 @@ describe("TflSource", () => {
 			expect(uniqueIds.size).toBe(ids.length)
 		})

-		test("feed items are sorted by priority descending", async () => {
+		test("feed items are sorted by urgency descending", async () => {
 			const source = new TflSource({ client: api })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())

 			for (let i = 1; i < items.length; i++) {
 				const prev = items[i - 1]!
 				const curr = items[i]!
-				expect(prev.priority).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(curr.priority)
+				expect(prev.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(curr.signals!.urgency!)
 			}
 		})

-		test("priority values match severity levels", async () => {
+		test("urgency values match severity levels", async () => {
 			const source = new TflSource({ client: api })
 			const items = await source.fetchItems(createContext())

-			const severityPriority: Record<string, number> = {
+			const severityUrgency: Record<string, number> = {
 				closure: 1.0,
 				"major-delays": 0.8,
 				"minor-delays": 0.6,
 			}

 			for (const item of items) {
-				expect(item.priority).toBe(severityPriority[item.data.severity]!)
+				expect(item.signals!.urgency).toBe(severityUrgency[item.data.severity]!)
 			}
 		})

@@ -316,9 +317,7 @@ describe("TflSource", () => {
 		test("executeAction throws on invalid input", async () => {
 			const source = new TflSource({ client: api })

-			await expect(
-				source.executeAction("set-lines-of-interest", "not-an-array"),
-			).rejects.toThrow()
+			await expect(source.executeAction("set-lines-of-interest", "not-an-array")).rejects.toThrow()
 		})

 		test("executeAction throws for unknown action", async () => {
--- a/packages/aris-source-tfl/src/tfl-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-tfl/src/tfl-source.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"
+import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedItemSignals, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"

-import { UnknownActionError, contextValue } from "@aris/core"
+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError, contextValue } from "@aris/core"
 import { LocationKey } from "@aris/source-location"
 import { type } from "arktype"

@@ -18,12 +18,18 @@ import { TflApi, lineId } from "./tfl-api.ts"

 const setLinesInput = lineId.array()

-const SEVERITY_PRIORITY: Record<TflAlertSeverity, number> = {
+const SEVERITY_URGENCY: Record<TflAlertSeverity, number> = {
 	closure: 1.0,
 	"major-delays": 0.8,
 	"minor-delays": 0.6,
 }

+const SEVERITY_TIME_RELEVANCE: Record<TflAlertSeverity, TimeRelevance> = {
+	closure: TimeRelevance.Imminent,
+	"major-delays": TimeRelevance.Imminent,
+	"minor-delays": TimeRelevance.Upcoming,
+}
+
 /**
 * A FeedSource that provides TfL (Transport for London) service alerts.
 *
@@ -137,19 +143,26 @@ export class TflSource implements FeedSource<TflAlertFeedItem> {
 				closestStationDistance,
 			}

+			const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+				urgency: SEVERITY_URGENCY[status.severity],
+				timeRelevance: SEVERITY_TIME_RELEVANCE[status.severity],
+			}
+
 			return {
 				id: `tfl-alert-${status.lineId}-${status.severity}`,
 				type: "tfl-alert",
-				priority: SEVERITY_PRIORITY[status.severity],
 				timestamp: context.time,
 				data,
+				signals,
 			}
 		})

-		// Sort by severity (desc), then by proximity (asc) if location available
+		// Sort by urgency (desc), then by proximity (asc) if location available
 		items.sort((a, b) => {
-			if (b.priority !== a.priority) {
-				return b.priority - a.priority
+			const aUrgency = a.signals?.urgency ?? 0
+			const bUrgency = b.signals?.urgency ?? 0
+			if (bUrgency !== aUrgency) {
+				return bUrgency - aUrgency
 			}
 			if (a.data.closestStationDistance !== null && b.data.closestStationDistance !== null) {
 				return a.data.closestStationDistance - b.data.closestStationDistance
--- a/packages/aris-source-weatherkit/src/weather-source.test.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-weatherkit/src/weather-source.test.ts
@@ -145,20 +145,22 @@ describe("WeatherSource", () => {
 			}
 		})

-		test("assigns priority based on weather conditions", async () => {
+		test("assigns signals based on weather conditions", async () => {
 			const source = new WeatherSource({ client: mockClient })
 			const context = createMockContext({ lat: 37.7749, lng: -122.4194 })

 			const items = await source.fetchItems(context)

 			for (const item of items) {
-				expect(item.priority).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
-				expect(item.priority).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1)
+				expect(item.signals).toBeDefined()
+				expect(item.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0)
+				expect(item.signals!.urgency).toBeLessThanOrEqual(1)
+				expect(item.signals!.timeRelevance).toBeDefined()
 			}

 			const currentItem = items.find((i) => i.type === WeatherFeedItemType.current)
 			expect(currentItem).toBeDefined()
-			expect(currentItem!.priority).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0.5)
+			expect(currentItem!.signals!.urgency).toBeGreaterThanOrEqual(0.5)
 		})

 		test("generates unique IDs for each item", async () => {
--- a/packages/aris-source-weatherkit/src/weather-source.ts
+++ b/packages/aris-source-weatherkit/src/weather-source.ts
@@ -1,6 +1,6 @@
-import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"
+import type { ActionDefinition, Context, FeedItemSignals, FeedSource } from "@aris/core"

-import { UnknownActionError, contextValue } from "@aris/core"
+import { TimeRelevance, UnknownActionError, contextValue } from "@aris/core"
 import { LocationKey } from "@aris/source-location"

 import { WeatherFeedItemType, type WeatherFeedItem } from "./feed-items"
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ export interface WeatherSourceOptions {
 const DEFAULT_HOURLY_LIMIT = 12
 const DEFAULT_DAILY_LIMIT = 7

-const BASE_PRIORITY = {
+const BASE_URGENCY = {
 	current: 0.5,
 	hourly: 0.3,
 	daily: 0.2,
@@ -199,17 +199,17 @@ export class WeatherSource implements FeedSource<WeatherFeedItem> {
 	}
 }

-function adjustPriorityForCondition(basePriority: number, conditionCode: ConditionCode): number {
+function adjustUrgencyForCondition(baseUrgency: number, conditionCode: ConditionCode): number {
 	if (SEVERE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
-		return Math.min(1, basePriority + 0.3)
+		return Math.min(1, baseUrgency + 0.3)
 	}
 	if (MODERATE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
-		return Math.min(1, basePriority + 0.15)
+		return Math.min(1, baseUrgency + 0.15)
 	}
-	return basePriority
+	return baseUrgency
 }

-function adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
+function adjustUrgencyForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
 	switch (severity) {
 		case "extreme":
 			return 1
@@ -218,7 +218,29 @@ function adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): number {
 		case "moderate":
 			return 0.75
 		case "minor":
-			return BASE_PRIORITY.alert
+			return BASE_URGENCY.alert
+	}
+}
+
+function timeRelevanceForCondition(conditionCode: ConditionCode): TimeRelevance {
+	if (SEVERE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
+		return TimeRelevance.Imminent
+	}
+	if (MODERATE_CONDITIONS.has(conditionCode)) {
+		return TimeRelevance.Upcoming
+	}
+	return TimeRelevance.Ambient
+}
+
+function timeRelevanceForAlertSeverity(severity: Severity): TimeRelevance {
+	switch (severity) {
+		case "extreme":
+		case "severe":
+			return TimeRelevance.Imminent
+		case "moderate":
+			return TimeRelevance.Upcoming
+		case "minor":
+			return TimeRelevance.Ambient
 	}
 }

@@ -262,12 +284,14 @@ function createCurrentWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): WeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.current, current.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.current, current.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(current.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-current-${timestamp.getTime()}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.current,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			conditionCode: current.conditionCode,
@@ -284,6 +308,7 @@ function createCurrentWeatherFeedItem(
 			windGust: convertSpeed(current.windGust, units),
 			windSpeed: convertSpeed(current.windSpeed, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

@@ -293,12 +318,14 @@ function createHourlyWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): WeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.hourly, hourly.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.hourly, hourly.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(hourly.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-hourly-${timestamp.getTime()}-${index}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.hourly,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			forecastTime: new Date(hourly.forecastStart),
@@ -315,6 +342,7 @@ function createHourlyWeatherFeedItem(
 			windGust: convertSpeed(hourly.windGust, units),
 			windSpeed: convertSpeed(hourly.windSpeed, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

@@ -324,12 +352,14 @@ function createDailyWeatherFeedItem(
 	timestamp: Date,
 	units: Units,
 ): WeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForCondition(BASE_PRIORITY.daily, daily.conditionCode)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForCondition(BASE_URGENCY.daily, daily.conditionCode),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForCondition(daily.conditionCode),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-daily-${timestamp.getTime()}-${index}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.daily,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			forecastDate: new Date(daily.forecastStart),
@@ -344,16 +374,19 @@ function createDailyWeatherFeedItem(
 			temperatureMax: convertTemperature(daily.temperatureMax, units),
 			temperatureMin: convertTemperature(daily.temperatureMin, units),
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }

 function createWeatherAlertFeedItem(alert: WeatherAlert, timestamp: Date): WeatherFeedItem {
-	const priority = adjustPriorityForAlertSeverity(alert.severity)
+	const signals: FeedItemSignals = {
+		urgency: adjustUrgencyForAlertSeverity(alert.severity),
+		timeRelevance: timeRelevanceForAlertSeverity(alert.severity),
+	}

 	return {
 		id: `weather-alert-${alert.id}`,
 		type: WeatherFeedItemType.alert,
-		priority,
 		timestamp,
 		data: {
 			alertId: alert.id,
@@ -367,5 +400,6 @@ function createWeatherAlertFeedItem(alert: WeatherAlert, timestamp: Date): Weath
 			source: alert.source,
 			urgency: alert.urgency,
 		},
+		signals,
 	}
 }