Method and system for creating and tracking appointments and tasks from email messages

• US 20040243677A1
• Filed: 05/27/2003
• Published: 12/02/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Curbow, David W., Carosso, Kevin, Srivastava, Anil K.
• Granted Patent: US 7,584,253 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/206
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Embodiments of the present invention relate to a method and system for scheduling an event based on a user-selected electronic message. The method comprises accessing a user-selected electronic message precipitating the event from an electronic message in-box, scanning the electronic message for information associated with the event, determining the parameters of the event based on information associated with the event, and automatically scheduling the event in an electronic calendar, using the determined parameters.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling an event based on an electronic message, comprising:

accessing a selected electronic message precipitating said event from an electronic message in-box;

scanning said electronic message for information associated with said event;

determining parameters of said event based on said information associated with said event; and

automatically scheduling said event in an electronic calendar, using said parameters.

2. The method described in claim 1, wherein said accessing is performed on a user-selected electronic message.

3. The method described in claim 1, wherein said accessing comprises scanning said electronic message for user-selectable key words of said electronic message.

4. The method described in claim 3, wherein said key words are user-selectable.

5. The method described in claim 4, wherein user selection of said key words initiates a scheduling dialog.

6. The method described in claim 1, wherein said electronic message is an email message.

7. The method described in claim 1, wherein said event comprises a meeting.

8. The method described in claim 7, wherein said information associated with said event comprises a date related to said meeting.

9. The method described in claim 7, wherein said information associated with said event comprises said electronic message.

10. The method described in claim 7, wherein said information associated with said event comprises a designation of an attendee of said meeting.

11. The method described in claim 7, wherein said information associated with said event comprises an agenda for said meeting.

12. The method described in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises automatically calculating a date of said event from said information associated with said event.

13. The method described in claim 1, wherein said determining comprises automatically calculating a time of day of said event from said information associated with said event.

14. The method described in claim 1, wherein said selecting said electronic message comprises highlighting said electronic message with a graphically visible attribute.

15. A method as described in claim 1 wherein said automatically scheduling further comprises coordinating said electronic calendar with an electronic calendar of another user.

16. The method described in claim 1, further comprising linking said electronic message to said event.

17. The method described in claim 1, further comprising linking said event to said electronic calendar.

18. A system for automatically scheduling a calendar event by reference to electronic communication, comprising:

a computer network comprising a plurality of work centers;

electronic communication between said work centers in said computer network;

an electronic calendar application and database associated with a user in said network;

an electronic mail application comprising electronic messages;

a means for automatically scanning an electronic message selected by said user; and

a means for automatically entering an event in said electronic calendar based on said electronic message, wherein the date and time of said event are based on information in said electronic message.

19. The system described in claim 18, wherein said electronic communication is an email message.

20. The system described in claim 18, wherein said electronic calendar application is resident in a computer system of said user.

21. The system described in claim 18, wherein said means for automatically scanning said electronic message is resident in a work center computer.

22. The system described in claim 18, wherein said means for automatically entering an event in said electronic calendar is resident in a work center computer.

23. The system described in claim 18, further comprising a means for coordinating a scheduled event in the electronic calendars of a plurality of users.

24. A computer-usable medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method for scheduling an event based on an electronic message, comprising:

accessing a selected electronic message precipitating said event from an electronic message in-box;

scanning said electronic message for information associated with said event; and

automatically scheduling said event in an electronic calendar, based on said information associated with said event, wherein said scheduling comprises linking said event to said electronic message.

25. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said electronic message is selected using a graphical user interface.

26. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said electronic message is selected using a dialog window.

27. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said scanning said electronic message comprises seeking user-selectable key words in said electronic message.

28. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said electronic message is an email message.

29. The computer-usable medium of claim 28, wherein said event comprises a meeting.

30. The computer-usable medium of claim 28, wherein said information associated with said event comprises a date related to said meeting.

31. The computer-usable medium of claim 28, wherein said information associated with said event comprises a purpose for said meeting.

32. The computer-usable medium of claim 28, wherein said information associated with said event comprises a designation of an attendee of said meeting.

33. The computer-usable medium of claim 28, wherein said information associated with said event comprises an agenda for said meeting.

34. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, further comprising determining a date of said event based on said information associated with said event.

35. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, further comprising determining a time of said event based on said information associated with said event.

36. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said selecting comprises highlighting said electronic message with a special visual attribute.

37. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said scheduling further comprises coordinating said electronic calendar with an electronic calendar of another user.

38. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said linking comprises forming a link in said electronic message.

39. The computer-usable medium of claim 24, wherein said linking comprises forming a link in said electronic calendar.