Motivation of Task Completion and Personalization of Tasks and Lists

• US 20130091453A1
• Filed: 10/11/2011
• Published: 04/11/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 10/11/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Kotler, Matthew J., Rey-Babarro, Marta, Friend, Ned B., Kikin-Gil, Erez, Parker, Charles W., Zaika, Igor
• Granted Patent: US 10,192,176 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0209 Incentive being awarded or redeemed in connection with the playing of a video game

Abstract

Personalized task management is provided. A “doodling” zone or pane is provided in association with an electronic task interface that allows for entry of sketches, notes, the playing of games, and the like in association with entry, editing and use of task or list items in the task interface. In addition, task items entered into the task interface may be associated with other information, including previously entered or accomplished tasks, third party task content, enterprise task content, or other content. As tasks are completed, a completing user may be rewarded with a variety of on-display animations, gifts, reward items and/or other positive feedback.

Claims

1. A method of personalizing electronically-enabled task items, comprising:

receiving a first task item in a task user interface;

passing the received first task item to one or more information repositories;

obtaining one or more information content items associated with the received first task; and

adding the one or more information content items to the task user interface in association with the first task item.

2. The method of claim 1, prior to adding the one or more information content items to the task user interface in association with the first task item, further comprising providing a notification in the task user interface about the availability of the obtained one or more information content items for associating with the first task item.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein providing a notification in the task user interface about the availability of the obtained one or more information content items for associating with the first task item includes displaying a user interface component in the task user interface offering inclusion of the obtained one or more information content items in the task user interface in association with the first task item.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adding the one or more information content items to the task user interface in association with the first task item includes adding one or more additional task items to the first task item for enhancing the first task item via association with the one or more additional task items.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein passing the received first task item to one or more information repositories includes;

passing the first task item to a third-party content source for obtaining one or more additional task items related to accomplishment of the first task item; and

adding the one or more additional task items to the task user interface in association with the first task item.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein passing the received first task item to one or more information repositories includes passing the first task item to an enterprise-based content source for obtaining one or more additional task items related to accomplishment of the first task item.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving an indication of an accomplishment of the first task item, and providing accomplishment feedback in association with the first task item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein providing accomplishment feedback in association with the first task item includes providing a feedback content item in association with the first task item.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a feedback content item in association with the first task item includes displaying a task item accomplishment congratulatory message.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein providing a feedback content item in association with the first task item includes displaying a task item accomplishment congratulatory image animation.

11. The method of claim 9, wherein providing a feedback content item in association with the first task item includes providing a task accomplishment reward.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a task accomplishment reward includes providing recognition of the accomplishment of the first task item to one or more third parties.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein providing recognition of the accomplishment of the first task item to one or more third parties includes providing recognition of the accomplishment of the first task item to one or more third parties via a social network.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a task accomplishment reward includes providing a task accomplishment coupon for receiving a task accomplishment gift item.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein providing a task accomplishment reward includes providing one or more additional task application functionalities for use in association with electronically-enabled task items.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing one or more themes that may be applied to the task user interface.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving in the task user interface one or more games, notes or doodles for allowing a user to play the one or more games, for allowing the user to review or edit the one or more notes, or for allowing the user to create or edit the one or more doodles for relaxation or memory jogging during processing of one or more task items contained in the task user interface; and

enabling a sharing of the one or more games, notes or doodles received in the task user interface with one or more other users at computing devices operated by the one or more other users.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising receiving a user-entered input in proximity to the first task item including;

receiving in the task user interface one or more notes relevant to the first task item; and

associating the one or more notes with the first task item.

19. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

tracking an age of the first task item relative to a time the first task item is received into the task user interface; and

presenting the first task item in the task user interface relative to other task items based on an age of the first task item compared to ages of the other task items.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising providing a reminder for the first task item if the age of the first task item exceeds a prescribed age.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising deleting the first task item from the task user interface if the age of the first task exceeds a prescribed age.

22. A method of utilizing electronically-enabled task items, comprising:

receiving a first task item in a task user interface;

providing a visual image in proximity to the first task item received in the task user interface;

automatically personalizing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item based on information associated with the first task item; and

if a state of the first task item changes, changing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein changing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item includes changing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item to indicate the first task item has been accomplished.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein changing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item includes changing the visual image provided in proximity to the first task item to indicate accomplishment of the first task item is past due.

25. A computer-readable medium having computer executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method of utilizing electronically-enabled task items, comprising:

receiving a first task item in a computer-enabled task user interface;

receiving a user-entered input in proximity to the first task item, the user-entered input in being received in an input pane operative to receive non-task item input;

operatively associating the user-entered input with the first task item for providing associative context to the first task item; and

displaying in the task user interface the user-entered input.