Integrated out-of-office assistant reminder tool

• US 8,205,163 B2
• Filed: 11/28/2006
• Issued: 06/19/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 11/28/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Shaffer, Shmuel, Jain, Mukul, Kumar, Sanjeev, Patel, Labhesh
• Primary Examiner(s): Roswell, Michael
• Application Number:
  US11/606,274
• Publication Number:
  US 20080127231A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,030 Days
• Field of Search: 715/764, 715/963, 715/733, 719/328
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes scanning, by an automated tool, a set of application programs and/or systems associated with a user, the set including one or more action items calendared in a relevant time period that includes one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office. The one or more action items are then presented to the user via a user interface. Responsive to input received, each of one or more delegates correspondingly assigned to the one or more action items is automatically notified of the assignment. It is emphasized that this abstract is provided to comply with the rules requiring an abstract that will allow a searcher or other reader to quickly ascertain the subject matter of the technical disclosure.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

scanning, by an automated tool, one or more application programs associated with a user, the one or more application programs including data indicative of one or more first action items calendared in a relevant time period that includes one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office and one or more second action items calendared in a time period extending beyond the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the one or more first action items including at least one task due to be completed during the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the one or more second action items including at least one task due to be completed within a predetermined period of time after the last of the one or more days that the user intends to be out of the office, the predetermined period of time specified by the user, the one or more application programs including an email client;

presenting the one or more first action items and the one or more second action items to the user via a user interface;

responsive to input received, electronically notifying each of one or more delegates correspondingly assigned to complete the one or more first action items and the one or more second action items; and

setting, by the automated tool, an auto-reply message to be sent in reply to an incoming email message received during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting, by the automated tool, an auto-reply message to be played in response to an incoming call directed to a telephone number of the user received during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising precluding invoking of a trip planner utility until after the input has been received.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the input comprises a list of the one or more delegates.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising setting, by the automated tool, one or more calendar reminders for the user corresponding to the one or more first action items.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more first action items comprise a scheduled meeting that the user has been invited to attend.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more application programs further include data indicative of one or more authorization items associated with the user, and further comprising:

presenting the one or more authorization items to the user via the user interface; and

responsive to additional input received, electronically notifying each of one or more proxies correspondingly assigned authority over the one or more authorization item.

8. A non-transitory computer-readable memory encoded with a computer program for managing reminders and delegating action items for a user operable to:

scan one or more application programs associated with the user, the one or more application programs including data indicative of one or more first action;

items calendared in a relevant time period that includes one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office and one or more second action items calendared in a time period extending beyond the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the one or more first action items including at least one task due to be completed during the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the one or more second action items including at least one task due to be completed within a predetermined period of time after the last of the one or more days that the user intends to be out of the office, the predetermined period of time specified by the user;

present via a user interface a listing that includes the one or more first action items and, the one or more second action items, and one or more disposition commands associated with each of the one or more first and second action items;

responsive to input received from the user interface, execute a selected disposition command for each of the one or more first and second action items; and

set an auto-reply message responsive to further input from the user, the auto-reply message to be sent in reply to an incoming email message received during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

9. The computer-readable memory of claim 8 wherein the computer-readable memory is further operable to set an auto-reply message to be played in response to an incoming call directed to a telephone number of the user received during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

10. The computer-readable memory of claim 8 wherein the computer-readable memory is further operable to invoke a trip planner utility that assists in making travel arrangements for the user during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

11. The computer-readable memory of claim 8 wherein the one or more disposition commands comprises one of more messages sent to one or more delegates correspondingly nominated to perform the one or more first action items.

12. The computer-readable memory of claim 8 wherein the selected disposition command comprises setting an automated calendar reminder for the user.

13. The computer-readable memory of claim 8 wherein the one or more first action items comprise a scheduled meeting that the user has been invited to attend.

14. A system comprising:

one or more network nodes running one or more application programs that provide electronic calendaring or reminder functions for a user, one of the nodes including;

one or more processors; and

a non-transitory memory comprising one or more instructions executable at the processors, the processors operable when executing the instructions to;

scan the one or more application programs for at least one first action item due in a relevant time period that includes one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office at least one second action item calendared in a time period extending beyond the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the at least one first action item including at least one task due to be completed during the one or more days when the user intends to be out of the office, the at least one second action item including at least one task due to be completed within a predetermined period of time after the last of the one or more days that the user intends to be out of the office, the predetermined period of time specified by the user;

responsive to a first input received, delegate the at least one first action item and the at least one second action item to one or more proxies;

scan the one or more application programs for at least one authorization item associated with the user;

responsive to a second input received, delegate authority over the at least one authorization item to one or more persons during the one or more days when the user is out of the office; and

wherein the one or more application programs include an email client, and wherein the one or more processors, when executing the instructions, are further operable to set an auto-reply message to be sent in reply to an incoming email message received during the one or more days when the user is out of the office.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the relevant time period is predetermined with respect to the at least one first action item.