Performing actions associated with task items that represent tasks to perform

• US 10,706,373 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2011
• Issued: 07/07/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gruber, Thomas R., Sabatelli, Alessandro F., Aybes, Alexandre A., Pitschel, Donald W., Voas, Edward D., Anzures, Freddy A., Marcos, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rines, Robert D
• Application Number:
  US13/251,118
• Publication Number:
  US 20120311584A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,203 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06316 Sequencing of tasks or work
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/16 Communication-related supplementary services, e.g. call-transfer or call-hold

Abstract

Techniques for processing task items are provided. A task item is electronic data that represents a task to be performed, whether manually or automatically. A task item includes one or more details about its corresponding task, such as a description of the task and a location of the task. Specifically, techniques for generating task items, organizing task items, triggering notifications of task items, and consuming task items are described. In one approach, a task item is generated based on input from a user and context of the input. In another approach, different attributes of task items are used to organize the task items intelligently into multiple lists. In another approach, one or more criteria, such as location, are used to determine when to notify a user of a task. In another approach, actions other than generating notifications are enabled or automatically performed, actions such as emailing, calling, and searching.

Claims

1. A method performed by an electronic device with one or more processors and memory, the method comprising:

receiving a natural language input specifying a task to be performed;

generating, based on the natural language input, a first task item for the task including a first action to be performed when a respective user is using a first mode of transportation, wherein the first action is a first programmed function of the electronic device;

obtaining, by the one or more processors, context data associated with the natural language input, wherein the context data includes data displayed or processed by the electronic device within a threshold duration of receiving the natural language input;

determining, by the one or more processors, based on the natural language input and the context data, an attribute associated with the first action, the attribute not explicitly specified in the natural language input;

after generating the first task item;

storing, in the memory, a plurality of task items including the first task item and a second task item, wherein;

the second task item is generated based on input from a user of the electronic device; and

the second task item includes a second action that is of a different type than the first action, and is to be performed when the respective user is using a second mode of transportation different from the first mode of transportation, wherein the second action is a second programmed function of the electronic device; and

after storing the plurality of task items;

establishing a wireless communication connection;

determining, based on the established wireless communication connection, a respective mode of transportation currently being used by the respective user;

in accordance with a determination that the respective user is using the first mode of transportation, causing the first action included in the first task item to be performed by the electronic device based on the determined attribute associated with the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective user is using the second mode of transportation, causing the second action included in the second task item to be performed by the electronic device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is causing an email or a text message to be sent over a network to a recipient that is associated with the first task item.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is initiating a phone call to a device associated with a phone number that is associated with the first task item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is initiating a search based on a search query or URL that is associated with the first task item.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing the first action to be performed comprises a first process causing a second process to perform the first action.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein the first process causing the second process to perform the first action comprises the first process invoking an API call of the second process, wherein the API call comprises the determined attribute associated with the first action.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the natural language input comprises voice input that was received at the electronic device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein determining the respective mode of transportation comprises determining the respective mode of transportation currently being used by the respective user based on movement of a device associated with the respective user or a change in location over a predefined period of time of the device associated with the respective user.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the first action is causing a map application to display a map of an area that includes a location associated with the first task item.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the plurality of task items are stored on a device associated with the respective user; and

a task manager being executed on the device associated with the respective user causes a first application separate from the task manager to perform the first action included in the first task item and a second application separate from the task manager to perform the second action included in the second task item.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the task manager causes the first application separate from the task manager to perform the first action by invoking an API call of the first application.

12. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs, which, when executed by one or more processors of an electronic device, cause the electronic device to:

receive a natural language input specifying a task to be performed;

generate, based on the natural language input, a first task item for the task including a first action to be performed when a respective user is using a first mode of transportation, wherein the first action is a first programmed function of the electronic device;

obtain, by the one or more processors, context data associated with the natural language input, wherein the context data includes data displayed or processed by the electronic device within a threshold duration of receiving the natural language input;

determine, by the one or more processors, based on the natural language input and the context data, an attribute associated with the first action, the attribute not explicitly specified in the natural language input;

after generating the first task item;

store, in the memory, a plurality of task items including the first task item and a second task item, wherein;

the second task item is generated based on input from a user of the electronic device; and

the second task item includes a second action that is of a different type than the first action, and is to be performed when the respective user is using a second mode of transportation different from the first mode of transportation, wherein the second action is a second programmed function of the electronic device; and

after storing the plurality of task items;

establish a wireless communication connection;

determine, based on the established wireless communication connection, a respective mode of transportation currently being used by the respective user;

in accordance with a determination that the respective user is using the first mode of transportation, cause the first action included in the first task item to be performed by the electronic device based on the determined attribute associated with the first action; and

in accordance with a determination that the respective user is using the second mode of transportation, cause the second action included in the second task item to be performed by the electronic device.

13. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first action is causing an email or a text message to be sent over a network to a recipient that is associated with the first task item.

14. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first action is initiating a phone call to a device associated with a phone number that is associated with the first task item.

15. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first action is initiating a search based on a search query or URL that is associated with the first task item.

16. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein causing the first action to be performed comprises a first process causing a second process to perform the first action.

17. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 16, wherein the first process causing the second process to perform the first action comprises the first process invoking an API call of the second process, wherein the API call comprises the determined attribute associated with the first action.

18. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the natural language input comprises voice input that was received at the electronic device.

19. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein determining the respective mode of transportation comprises determining the respective mode of transportation currently being used by the respective user based at least on movement of a device associated with the respective user or a change in location over a predefined period of time of the device associated with the respective user.

20. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the first action is causing a map application to display a map of an area that includes a location associated with the first task item.

21. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein:

the plurality of task items are stored on a device associated with the respective user; and

a task manager being executed on the device associated with the respective user causes a first application separate from the task manager to perform the first action included in the first task item and a second application separate from the task manager to perform the second action included in the second task item.

22. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the task manager causes the first application separate from the task manager to perform the first action by invoking an API call of the first application.