METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR AUTOMATED ASSISTANCE WITH TASK MANAGEMENT
First Claim
1. An apparatus for assisting a user in an execution of one or more tasks, where each of the one or more tasks comprises one or more workflows required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, the apparatus comprising:
- a workflow tracker for identifying and tracking a progress of at least one current workflow executing on a machine used by the user, where the at least one current workflow is one of the one or more workflows;
a task assistance processor coupled to the workflow tracker, for generating a suggestion based on the progress of the at least one current workflow, where the suggestion assists the user in progressing toward a completion of at least one of the one or more tasks; and
a task executor coupled to the task assistance processor, for manipulating an application on the machine used by the user to carry out the suggestion.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The present invention relates to a method and apparatus for assisting with automated task management. In one embodiment, an apparatus for assisting a user in the execution of a task, where the task includes one or more workflows required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, includes a task learner for creating new workflows from user demonstrations, a workflow tracker for identifying and tracking the progress of a current workflow executing on a machine used by the user, a task assistance processor coupled to the workflow tracker, for generating a suggestion based on the progress of the current workflow, and a task executor coupled to the task assistance processor, for manipulating an application on the machine used by the user to carry out the suggestion.
387 Citations
34 Claims
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1. An apparatus for assisting a user in an execution of one or more tasks, where each of the one or more tasks comprises one or more workflows required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, the apparatus comprising:
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a workflow tracker for identifying and tracking a progress of at least one current workflow executing on a machine used by the user, where the at least one current workflow is one of the one or more workflows; a task assistance processor coupled to the workflow tracker, for generating a suggestion based on the progress of the at least one current workflow, where the suggestion assists the user in progressing toward a completion of at least one of the one or more tasks; and a task executor coupled to the task assistance processor, for manipulating an application on the machine used by the user to carry out the suggestion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5)
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6. A method for assisting a user in an execution of a task, where the task comprises one or more workflows required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, the method comprising:
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identifying, using a workflow tracker, a current workflow executing on a machine used by the user, where the current workflow is one of the one or more workflows; tracking, using the workflow tracker, a progress of the current workflow; generating, using a task assistance processor, a suggestion based on the progress of the current workflow, where the suggestion assists the user in progressing toward a completion of the task; and manipulating, using task executor, an application on the machine used by the user to carry out the suggestion. - View Dependent Claims (7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27)
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28. A computer readable storage medium containing an executable program for assisting a user in an execution of a task, where the task comprises one or more workflows required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, where the program performs the steps of:
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identifying, using a workflow tracker, a current workflow executing on a machine used by the user, where the current workflow is one of the one or more workflows; tracking, using the workflow tracker, a progress of the current workflow; generating, using a task assistance processor, a suggestion based on the progress of the current workflow, where the suggestion assists the user in completing the current workflow; and manipulating, using a task executor, an application on the machine used by the user to carry out the suggestion.
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29. A method for learning a workflow from a demonstration by a user, wherein the workflow comprises a set of steps required to accomplish a goal defined by the user, the method comprising:
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recording, by a task learner, an action sequence that embodies a dataflow, in accordance with the demonstration, wherein the action sequence comprises one or more observed actions executed on a machine used by the user; and inserting, by the task learner, at least one inferred action into the dataflow, wherein the at least one inferred action is inserted in a gap between a first one of the one or more observed actions and a second one of the one or more observed actions, wherein the at least one inferred action is not one of the one or more observed actions. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34)
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Specification