System and method for programmatically generating to-do list and creating notification between calendar and other applications

• US 8,146,104 B2
• Filed: 10/09/2007
• Issued: 03/27/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 10/09/2007
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chakra, Al, Wu, Yuping Connie, Li, Yongcheng
• Primary Examiner(s): Anya, Charles E
• Application Number:
  US11/869,278
• Publication Number:
  US 20090094623A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,631 Days
• Field of Search: 714/48, 718/101, 719/318, 719/328
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and program product are provided for integrating a calendar todo list with information from other applications. The method comprises the steps of: dynamically extracting data for open application processes, and creating task listings using the data for the open application processes. The apparatus comprises a processor adapted to dynamically extract data for open processes and create task listings using the data for the open application processes, and a memory having stored thereon a calendar application with a list of tasks. The program product comprises a machine readable media having encoded thereon, machine executable instructions for dynamically extracting data for open application processes, and creating task listings using the data for the open application processes.

Claims

1. A method of integrating a calendar todo list with information from other applications by an interface application executing on a processor in a dynamic task listing system, the method comprising the steps of:

searching for open application processes in a memory by the interface application, the open application processes corresponding to different types of applications including at least word processing, communication, and presentation applications;

responsive to determining there is at least one open application process, dynamically extracting data for the open application process;

querying a calendar application by the interface application to determine whether a todo task listing already exists for the data extracted from the at least one open application process;

responsive to determining that no todo task listing exists, creating the todo task listings using the extracted data for the open application process;

pushing the todo task listing to the calendar application; and

in response to the interface application determining that the at least one open process has been closed, initiating an inquiry to a user indicating that the at least one open process has been closed and querying a user whether or not to delete the todo task listing.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of managing the calendar todo list.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of labeling the tasks created with dynamically extracted data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein managing the todo list comprises periodically updating the todo list based on status of open application processes.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the extracted data comprises whether or not the task has been completed and the step of updating the todo list comprises cycling through labeled tasks in priority order and changing the status of completed tasks.

6. The method of claim 3, wherein the extracted data comprises a time value and the step of managing the todo list comprises cycling through labeled tasks in priority order and sending a reminder if the time value meets a set value.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the extracted data further comprises an indication of a person to be satisfied by the task, and the set value is modified in response to the person to be satisfied.

8. The method of claim 3, wherein the extracted data comprises an indication of when the task was last worked on and the step of managing the todo list comprises cycling through labeled tasks in priority order and sending a reminder if the elapsed time from the indicated time exceeds a set value.

9. The method of claim 3, wherein the extracted data comprises an indication of when the task is due and the step of managing the todo list comprises cycling through labeled tasks in priority order and sending a reminder if the due time is within less than a set value.

10. An apparatus for managing tasks in a dynamic task listing system, the apparatus comprising:

a processor adapted to;

search for open application processes in a memory by the interface application, wherein the open application processes correspond to different types of applications including at least word processing, communication, and presentation applications,

responsive to determining there is at least one open application process, dynamically extract data for the open application process,

query a calendar application by the interface application to determine whether a todo task listing already exists for the data extracted from the at least one open application process, and

responsive to determining that no todo task listing exists, create the todo task listings using the extracted data for the open application processes, and

in response to the interface application determining that the at least one open process has been closed, initiating an inquiry to a user indicating that the at least one open process has been closed and querying a user whether or not to delete the todo task listing; and

a memory operatively associated with the processor and having stored thereon the todo task listing in the calendar application.

11. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising a user interface operatively associated with the processor and displaying notification when defined conditions are met for the todo task listing.

12. The apparatus of claim 10, further comprising:

second memory operatively associated with the processor and encoded with a program of instruction for dynamically extracting data for open application processes and

creating todo task listings using the data for open application processes;

wherein the processor is adapted to execute the program of instruction.

13. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer-usable medium having encoded thereon computer executable program code for integrating a calendar todo list with information from other applications in a dynamic task listing system, said computer product having:

computer executable program code for searching for open application processes in a memory by the interface application, the open application processes corresponding to different types of applications including at least word processing, communication, and presentation applications;

computer executable program code for, responsive to determining there is at least one open application process, dynamically extracting data for the open application process;

computer executable program code for querying a calendar application by the interface application to determine whether a todo task listing already exists for the data extracted from the at least one open application process;

computer executable program code for, responsive to determining that no todo task listing exists, creating the todo task listings using the extracted data for the open application process;

computer executable program code for pushing the todo task listing to the calendar application; and

computer executable program code for, in response to the interface application determining that the at least one open process has been closed, initiating an inquiry to a user indicating that the at least one open process has been closed and querying a user whether or not to delete the todo task listing.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, further comprising computer executable program code for managing the calendar todo list.