Method and apparatus for improved contact and activity management and planning

• US 6,311,191 B1
• Filed: 12/21/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/17/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appintec Corp.
• Original Assignee: Appintec Corp.
• Inventors: Retallick, Robin M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Alam, Hosain T.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US09/465,430
• Time in Patent Office: 679 Days
• Field of Search: 707/2, 707/4, 707/10, 707/101, 707/102, 707/103, 707/104
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/04 Forecasting or optimisation specially adapted for administrative or management purposes, e.g. linear programming or "cutting stock problem" market predictions or forecasting for commercial activities G06Q30/0202
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99948 Application of database or data structure, e.g. distributed, multimedia, or image

Abstract

Methods and apparatus for improved contact and activity management and planning where subject data, activity data and topic data are created and functionally linked through interfaces and processing modules to organize information in a useful way that permits system users to have access to the information they need to conduct business in an efficient and productive manner.

Claims

1. A computer-readable medium for causing a computer to function as a contact and activity manager, comprising;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium;

said computer program having an interface for accessing a database of subject records containing subject information about a plurality of subjects;

said computer program having an interface for accessing a database of activity records, said activity records containing data describing human-assisted activities that have taken place or are scheduled to take place in the future wherein at least some of said activity records are linked to a said subject record;

said computer program having an interface for accessing a database of topic records wherein each said topic record contains information about a designated topic and is linked to and identifies a set of said activity records;

said computer program having a processing module for selecting all said activity records linked to a subject record; and

said computer program having a processing module for selecting all said activity records linked to a topic record.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said activity information is both structured and unstructured.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said subject information is both structured and unstructured, said activity information is both structured and unstructured, and said topic information is both structured and unstructured.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3 wherein said activity information may include material about telephone calls, fax communications, mail communications, personal visits and comments.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 4 wherein said activity information may include the following additional material:

identification of a sender authoring the activity record, identification of a recipient to whom the activity record is directed, a calendar date for completion of the activity, a description of the activity and whether the activity has been completed.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 5 wherein said computer program is further described as having a processing module for selecting all activity records directed to a particular recipient.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein said computer program is further described as having a processing module for selecting all said activity records directed to a particular recipient and not indicated as completed.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 6 wherein said computer program is further described as having a processing module for selecting all said activity records created by a particular sender.

9. The computer-readable medium of claim 8 wherein said computer program is further described as having a processing module for selecting all said activity records created by a particular sender and not indicated as completed.

10. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said activity information may include material about telephone calls, fax communications, mail communications, personal visits and comments.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 wherein said activity information may include the following additional material:

identification of a sender creating the activity record, identification of a recipient to whom the activity record is directed, a calendar date for completion of the activity, a description of the activity and whether the activity has been completed.

12. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein each said topic record contains information about a designated topic.

13. The computer-readable medium of claim 12 further comprising:

said computer program having a processing module for selecting all said activity records linked to a said subject record; and

said computer program having a processing module for selecting all said activity records linked to a said topic record.

14. A computer-readable medium for causing a computer having a display screen to function as a contact and activity manager, comprising;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium;

said computer program having an interface for creating and accessing a database of subject records containing subject information about a plurality of subjects and selectively displaying said subject records on the screen;

said computer program having an interface for creating and accessing a database of activity records, said activity records containing data describing human-assisted activities that have taken place or are scheduled to take place in the future wherein at least some of said activity records are linked to a said subject record and selectively displaying said activity records on the screen;

said computer program having an interface for creating and accessing a database of topic records wherein each said topic record contains information about a designated topic and is linked to and identifies a set of said activity records and selectively displaying said topic records on the screen;

said computer program having a processing module for selecting and displaying on the screen said activity records linked to a subject record; and

said computer program having a processing module for selecting and displaying on the screen said activity records linked to a topic record;

said computer program having an interface for creating and displaying on the screen an identifying list of said activity records linked to a specified said topic record;

said computer program having an interface for creating and displaying on the screen an identifying list of said activity records linked to a specific said subject record;

said computer program having a processing module for accessing a said activity record from said displayed identifying list of said activity records linked to a said subject record; and

said computer program having a processing module for accessing a said activity record from said displayed identifying list of said activity records linked to a topic record.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 further comprising:

a said activity record includes identification of any said subject record to which said activity record is linked and any said topic records to which it is linked; and

said computer program having a processing module for accessing a said subject record identified on a said activity record; and

said computer program having a processing module for accessing a said topic record identified on a said activity record.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

said activity records include the identification of at least one person and an indication if the activity has been completed or not;

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from said activity records and displaying on the screen a listing of said activity records identifying the same person.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from said activity records and displaying on the screen a listing of said activity records identifying the same person and indicated as not completed.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising:

said activity records include an indication of a date;

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from said activity records and displaying on the screen a listing of said activity records identifying the same person, having the same indicated date and indicated as not completed.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

said activity records include the identification of a person as the one who created said activity record and a person as the one to whom said activity record is directed.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19 further comprising:

said activity records include the identification of a person as the one who created said activity record and a person as the one to whom said activity record is directed; and

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from said activity records and displaying on the screen a listing of said activity records identifying the same person, having the same indicated date and indicated as not completed.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 further comprising:

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from the listing of said activity records identifying the same person one of said listed activity records and displaying said activity record on the screen.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 15 further comprising:

said computer program having a processing module for selecting from said activity records and displaying on the screen a listing of said activity records indicated as not completed.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 wherein each said topic record contains information about a designated topic.

24. A computer-readable medium for causing a computer to function as a contact and activity manager, comprising;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium;

a database of subject records containing subject information about a plurality of subjects;

said computer program having an interface for creating, editing, adding to and deleting a said subject record, and accessing said subject records;

a database of activity records containing dynamic data about a plurality of human-assisted activities wherein at least some of said activity records are linked to a said subject record;

said computer program having an interface for creating, recording and storing said activity records and accessing said database of activity records;

a database of topic records wherein each said topic record contains information about a designated topic and is linked to and identifies a set of said activity records; and

said computer program having an interface for creating, editing, deleting and storing a said topic record and for accessing said database of topic records.

25. A computer-readable medium for causing a computer to function as a contact and activity manager, comprising;

a computer program stored on the computer-readable medium;

said computer program having an interface for creating a database of subject records containing subject information about a plurality of subjects;

said computer program having an interface for creating a database of activity records, said activity records containing data describing human-assisted activities that have taken place or are scheduled to take place in the future wherein at least some of said activity records are linked to a said subject record; and

said computer program having an interface for creating a database of topic records wherein each said topic record is linked to and identifies a set of said activity records.