Automatic generation of dynamically assigned conditional follow-up tasks

• US 10,164,928 B2
• Filed: 09/11/2017
• Issued: 12/25/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Kedao, Gretarsson, Jon Tomas, Evans, Adam, Li, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilles, Jude Jean
• Application Number:
  US15/701,236
• Publication Number:
  US 20170374000A1
• Time in Patent Office: 470 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automatic generation of dynamically assigned conditional follow-up tasks. A composition interface in which a user can compose an electronic mail message is provided. A mechanism within the composition interface to select a response window is provided. A follow-up task corresponding to the electronic mail message for the user is generated only if a response to the electronic mail message is not received within the response window.

Claims

1. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, are configurable to cause the one or more processors to:

provide a graphical user communication interface in which an electronic message designating at least one sender and one or more recipients can be composed;

generate a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform communicatively coupled with the graphical user communication interface, the application to provide at least scheduling of a follow-up task corresponding to transmitting the electronic message to the one or more recipients, wherein the follow-up task has an associated date that is subsequent to the transmitting of the electronic message;

store data describing the follow-up task in a database; and

clear the follow-up task if a response to the electronic message is received by the associated date.

2. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

3. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

4. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least a composition interface having at least an interface element to allow a user to customize the follow-up task.

5. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least an interface element to allow a user to select a duration for a response window.

6. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within an electronic mail application.

7. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

8. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.

9. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises deleting the follow-up task.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 1 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises notifying the sender that the follow-up task is not needed.

11. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a graphical user communication interface in which an electronic message designating at least one sender and one or more recipients can be composed;

generating a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform communicatively coupled with the graphical user communication interface, the application to provide at least scheduling of a follow-up task corresponding to transmitting the electronic message to the one or more recipients, wherein the follow-up task has an associated date that is subsequent to the transmitting of the electronic message;

storing data describing the follow-up task in a database; and

clearing the follow-up task if a response to the electronic message is received by the associated date.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least a composition interface having at least an interface element to allow a user to customize the follow-up task.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least an interface element to allow a user to select a duration for a response window.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the follow-up task is created within an electronic mail application.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises deleting the follow-up task.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 11 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises notifying the sender that the follow-up task is not needed.

21. A hardware electronic computing device to provide access to an electronic communications functionality, the computing device to:

provide a graphical user communication interface in which an electronic message designating at least one sender and one or more recipients can be composed;

generate a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform communicatively coupled with the graphical user communication interface, the application to provide at least scheduling of a follow-up task corresponding to transmitting the electronic message to the one or more recipients, wherein the follow-up task has an associated date that is subsequent to the transmitting of the electronic message;

store data describing the follow-up task in a database; and

clear the follow-up task if a response to the electronic message is received by the associated date.

22. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

23. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

24. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least a composition interface having at least an interface element to allow a user to customize the follow-up task.

25. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the graphical user communication interface comprises at least an interface element to allow a user to select a duration for a response window.

26. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the follow-up task is created within an electronic mail application.

27. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

28. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.

29. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises deleting the follow-up task.

30. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 21 wherein clearing the follow-up task comprises notifying the sender that the follow-up task is not needed.