Automatic generation of dynamically assigned conditional follow-up tasks

• US 9,762,520 B2
• Filed: 07/27/2015
• Issued: 09/12/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/31/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Salesforce.com, Inc.
• Inventors: Wang, Kedao, Grtarsson, Jn Tmas, Evans, Adam, Li, Jason
• Primary Examiner(s): Gilles, Jude Jean
• Application Number:
  US14/810,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20160294757A1
• Time in Patent Office: 778 Days
• Field of Search: 709206, 709207
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/18 Commands or executable codes

Abstract

Methods and apparatuses for automatic generation of dynamically assigned conditional follow-up tasks. A composition interface in which a user can compose an electronic mail message is provided. A mechanism within the composition interface to select a response window is provided. A follow-up task corresponding to the electronic mail message for the user is generated only if a response to the electronic mail message is not received within the response window.

Claims

1. A hardware electronic computing device to provide access to an electronic communications functionality, the computing device to:

provide a communication interface in which a user can compose an electronic message designating one or more recipients;

generate a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform that provides at least scheduling functionality corresponding to transmitting the electronic message if a response to the electronic message is not received within a preselected response window, wherein generating the follow-up task comprises at least storing data describing the follow-up task in a database.

2. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 1 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

3. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 1 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

4. The hardware electronic computing device of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having at least an interface element to allow the user to enable generation of the follow-up task.

5. The hardware computing device of claim 1 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having an interface element to allow the user to select a duration for the response window.

6. The hardware computing device of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within the electronic mail application.

7. The hardware computing device of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

8. The hardware computing device of claim 1 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.

9. A non-transitory computer readable medium having stored thereon instructions that, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to:

provide a communication interface in which a user can compose an electronic message designating one or more recipients;

generate a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform that provides at least scheduling functionality corresponding to transmitting the electronic message if a response to the electronic message is not received within a preselected response window, wherein generating the follow-up task comprises at least storing data describing the follow-up task in a database.

10. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

11. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

12. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having at least an interface element to allow the user to enable generation of the follow-up task.

13. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having an interface element to allow the user to select a duration for the response window.

14. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the follow-up task is created within the electronic mail application.

15. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

16. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 9 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.

17. A computer-implemented method comprising:

providing a communication interface in which a user can compose an electronic message designating one or more recipients;

generating a follow-up task within an application running on a computing platform that provides at least scheduling functionality corresponding to transmitting the electronic message if a response to the electronic message is not received within a preselected response window, wherein generating the follow-up task comprises at least storing data describing the follow-up task in a database.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the electronic communications functionality comprises electronic mail.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the composition interface is provided within a browser application.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having at least an interface element to allow the user to enable generation of the follow-up task.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the mechanism comprises at least a portion of the composition interface having an interface element to allow the user to select a duration for the response window.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the follow-up task is created within the electronic mail application.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the follow-up task is created within a customer relationship management (CRM) environment.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 17 wherein the follow-up task is created within an on-demand services environment.