Method and apparatus for improved contact and activity management and planning

• US 6,442,567 B1
• Filed: 05/14/1999
• Issued: 08/27/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 05/14/1999
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Appintec Corp.
• Original Assignee: Appintec Corp.
• Inventors: Sanchez, Susana, Retallick, Robin
• Primary Examiner(s): Black, Thomas G.
• Assistant Examiner(s): MIZRAHI, DIANE D
• Application Number:
  US09/311,934
• Time in Patent Office: 1,201 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7, 705/8, 705/10, 705/26, 705/412, 707/3, 707/4, 707/5, 707/6, 707/7, 707/104, 701/201, 345/349, 379/93.23, 368/10, 368/29
• US Class Current: N/A
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0633 Workflow analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0639 Performance analysis of employees; Performance analysis of enterprise or organisation operations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99933 Query processing, i.e. searching
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99936 Pattern matching access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99937 Sorting
• 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 the negotiation of responsibility for the completion of human-assisted activities and the recordation of such negotiations.

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;

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

a database of activity records each of which is linked to a said subject record, wherein each said activity record has a plurality of data fields for recording dynamic data relating to a plurality of human-related activities including a Request data field for recording and storing an entry signifying a request to accept responsibility for completing a human-assisted activity, and an Agreed data field for recording an entry signifying that responsibility for completion of a human-assisted activity has been accepted;

said computer program having an interface for creating a list of activities for which responsibility for completion has been accepted by selecting activity records from said database of activity records, wherein an activity record with an entry in its Request data field cannot be so selected without an entry in said Agreed data field.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein an entry in said Request data field is a date.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 2 wherein an entry in said Request data field is a date and an entry in said Agreed data field is a date.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said activity record data fields further include a Status data field having limited allowable entries including Request, indicating that a request for a commitment for a completion date is being offered;

Response, indicating that an alternative completion date has been suggested;

Pending, indicating the a completion date has been agreed on and the activity action is yet to be completed; and

Completed, indicating that the activity action has been completed; and

the Pending and Completed entries cannot be stored in said Status data field unless the Agreed date data field stores a date.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said activity data fields are both Structured and Unstructured.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said dynamic data relates to telephone calls, fax communications, mail communications, personal visits and comments.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1 wherein said Activity data fields include a Sender data field identifying the creator of the activity record, and a Recipient data field identifying the recipient to whom the activity record is directed.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 7 wherein said computer program is further described as having a processing module for selecting all said activity records directed to a particular Recipient.

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 directed to a particular Recipient and not indicated as completed.

10. 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.

11. The computer-readable medium of claim 10 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.

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

a computer-readable storage medium;

a computer program stored on said storage 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 containing dynamic activity information about a plurality of activities wherein each said activity record is linked to a said subject record and selectively displaying said activity records on the screen;

said activity records having a plurality of data fields including a Request date data field for recording and storing a date representing a desired completion date for a human-assisted activity, an Agreed date data field for recording and storing a date agreed on for completion of the human-assisted activity, and a Status data field storing one of a plurality of possible entries, one or more of which cannot be stored unless the Agreed date data field stores a date;

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 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 said activity record from said displayed identifying list of said activity records linked to a topic record.

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

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 said subject record identified on said activity record; and

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

14. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 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.

15. The computer-readable medium of claim 13 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.

16. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 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.

17. The computer-readable medium of claim 16 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.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 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.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18 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.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 14 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.

21. 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 accessing said subject records;

database of activity records containing dynamic data about a plurality of human-assisted activities wherein each said activity record is linked to a said subject record, wherein said activity records have a plurality of data fields including a Request date data field for recording and storing a date representing a desired completion date for a human-assisted activity, an Agreed date data field for recording and storing a date agreed on for completion of the human-assisted activity, and a Status data field storing one of a plurality of possible entries, one or more of which cannot be stored unless the Agreed date data field stores a date; and

said computer program having an interface for creating and editing activity records by recording and storing dynamic data describing human-assisted activities and for accessing said database of activity records wherein each said activity record is linked to a said subject record.