SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR APPLYING GAME MECHANICS TO THE COMPLETION OF TASKS BY USERS

• US 20130006403A1
• Filed: 07/01/2011
• Published: 01/03/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Baydin, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Baydin, Inc.
• Inventors: Moore, Alexander, Moah, Aye, Chin, Michael
• Granted Patent: US 9,314,699 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 700/92
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/35 Details of game servers
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/44 involving timing of operations, e.g. performing an action within a time slot
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 13/87 Communicating with other players during game play, e.g. by e-mail or chat
• CPC Class Codes: A63F 9/0096 Reaction time games testing reaction time A61B5/162; reaction time training A63B69/0053; time registering, indicating or recording in connection with sports or games G07C1/22
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services

Abstract

The methods and systems described herein provide for effective and efficient completion of tasks by users of a computing device. Specifically, the present invention provides users with a proprietary workflow for timing the completion of a task by a user and scoring a user'"'"'s ability to complete a task within a predetermined length of time. One exemplary embodiment provides for managing electronic messages by scoring their ability to apply actions to messages. Incentives are provided to users to encourage users to apply actions to messages through positive and negative feedback. Scores determined for any particular user may be determined based on the elapsed time between being provided with a message and applying an action to it, or may be determined based on the contents of a message.

Claims

1. A method for managing electronic messages, the method comprising:

providing a message from an inbox to a user;

providing the user with a plurality of actions which may be applied to the message;

determining that a user has selected one of said actions; and

determining a score for the user based, at least in part, on the time elapsed between displaying the contents of the message and a period of time after selection of the action.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising removing the message from the inbox upon completion of the selected action.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the action is selected from the group consisting of “

Reply”

, “

Reply All”

, “

Forward”

, “

Label”

, “

Defer”

, “

Archive”

, “

Delete”

, or “

Skip”

.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein determining a score for the user is further based at least in part on the contents of the message.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein determining a score for the user is further based at least in part on a measurement of the complexity of the message.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a new message from the inbox to the user.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a representation of a timer to a user which changes in response to the selection of the selected action.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the timer is set, at least in part, according to the contents of the message.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein the timer is set, at least in part, according to a measure of the complexity of the message.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing the user with positive feedback at a time after the selection of an action by a user.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a representation of how many messages remain in either a predetermined subset of the inbox or the entire inbox.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the selected action is one to defer the message, further comprising:

requesting that a user select a time at which to return the message to the inbox;

receiving the user'"'"'s selection of a time at which to return the message to the inbox;

removing the message from the inbox;

returning the message to the inbox at the time selected by the user.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising providing the user with a suggested time for returning the message to the inbox.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein the suggested time is determined at least in part by the contents of the message.

15. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing negative feedback in response to the total elapsed time from providing a message to the user and a period of time before a user selects an action.

16. An apparatus for managing electronic messages, the apparatus comprising:

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit;

provides a message from an inbox to a user;

provides the user with a plurality of actions which may be applied to the message;

determines that a user has selected one of said actions; and

determines a score for the user based, at least in part, on the time elapsed between displaying the contents of the message and a period of time after selection of the action.

17. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-readable instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computing device, control the computing device to perform a method for managing electronic messages, the method comprising:

providing a message from an inbox to a user;

providing the user with a plurality of actions which may be applied to the message;

determining that a user has selected one of said actions; and

determining a score for the user based, at least in part, on the time elapsed between displaying the contents of the message and a period of time after selection of the action.

18. A method for timing the completion of tasks by a user, the method comprising:

determining an appropriate length of time for a user to complete a task;

providing the determined length of time to the user;

updating the determined length of time according to the passage of time;

determining that a user has completed the task; and

determining a score for a user based, at least, on the passage of time.

19. An apparatus for timing the completion of tasks by a user, the apparatus comprising:

a memory to store processor-executable instructions; and

at least one processing unit communicatively coupled to the memory, wherein upon execution of the processor-executable instructions, the at least one processing unit;

determines an appropriate length of time for a user to complete a task;

provides the determined length of time to the user;

updates the determined length of time according to the passage of time;

determines that a user has completed the task; and

determines a score for a user based, at least, on the passage of time.

20. A computer-readable storage medium encoded with computer-readable instructions that, as a result of being executed by a computing device, control the computing device to perform a method for timing the completion of tasks by a user, the method comprising:

determining an appropriate length of time for a user to complete a task;

providing the determined length of time to the user;

updating the determined length of time according to the passage of time;

determining that a user has completed the task; and

determining a score for a user based, at least, on the passage of time.