Method and system for improved electronic task flagging and management

• US 20060074844A1
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Frankel, Glenn L., Jensen, Stephen D., Leukart, Richard H., Williams, Cheryl L., Savastano, Hernan
• Granted Patent: US 7,788,589 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An improved method and system are provided for creating tasks and for inputting information associated with created tasks according to an electronic task management application or system. Electronic correspondence items may be flagged as tasks. Upon flagging an individual electronic correspondence item, a corresponding task is created for the flagged item, and the created task is then populated into and exposed by one or more applications used for displaying tasks such as a tasks application, calendar application, or electronic to-do list application. Properties such as task start dates and task categories may be applied to the created task, as desired.

Claims

1. A method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, comprising:

associating a task flagging control with a data item;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control; and

in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task item.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a start date property to the data item.

5. The method of claim 4, whereby applying a start date property to the task item includes applying the start date property from a context menu containing one or more start date properties.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the task item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically applying a default start date property to the data item.

8. The method of claim 1, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a task category property to the data item.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby applying a task category property to the data item includes applying the task category property from a context menu containing one or more task category properties.

10. The method of claim 8, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item.

11. The method of claim 10, whereby populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item includes populating the task flagging control with a unique color associated with the task category property applied to the task item.

12. The method of claim 1, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a default task category property to the data item.

13. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, comprising:

associating a task flagging control with a data item;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control; and

in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task item.

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a start date property to the data item.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, whereby applying a start date property to the data item includes applying the start date property from a context menu containing one or more start date properties.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 16, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the created task item.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a task category property to the data item.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, whereby applying a task category property to the data item includes applying the task category property from a context menu containing one or more task category properties.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, whereby populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the created task item includes populating the task flagging control with a unique color associated with the task category property applied to the data item.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 13, whereby automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task includes applying a default task category property to the data item.

24. A method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, comprising:

associating a task flagging control with a data item displayed in a user interface;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control;

in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task item;

in response to receiving a second selection of the task flagging control, receiving a selection of one or more task properties for application to the data item; and

applying a visual identifier to the task flagging control for indicating an application of the one or more task properties to the data item.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

26. The method of claim 25, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

27. The method of claim 24, whereby receiving a selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a start date property for application to the data item.

28. The method of claim 27, whereby receiving a start date property for application to the data item includes receiving the start date property from a context menu containing one or more start date properties.

29. The method of claim 27, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the data item.

30. The method of claim 24, whereby receiving a selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a task category property for application to the data item.

31. The method of claim 30, whereby receiving a task category property for application to the data item includes receiving the task category property from a context menu containing one or more task category properties.

32. A computer-readable medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, comprising:

associating a task flagging control with a data item displayed in a user interface;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control;

in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item may be recognized as a task item;

in response to receiving a second selection of the task flagging control, receiving a selection of one or more task properties for application to the data item; and

applying a visual identifier to the task flagging control for indicating an application of the one or more task properties to the data item.

33. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

34. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

35. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, whereby receiving a selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a start date property for application to the data item.

36. The computer-readable medium of claim 35, whereby receiving a start date property for application to the data item includes receiving the start date property from a context menu containing one or more start date properties.

37. The computer-readable medium of claim 36, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the data item.

38. The computer-readable medium of claim 32, whereby receiving a selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a task category property for application to the data item.

39. The computer-readable medium of claim 38, whereby receiving a task category property for application to the data item includes receiving the task category property from a context menu containing one or more task category properties.