Email client with ERP task integration

• US 9,911,089 B2
• Filed: 09/16/2011
• Issued: 03/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 09/16/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oracle International Corporation (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Saiu, Joanne, Pallath, Radhakrishnan, Fieldhouse, Dan, Abernathy, Shawn
• Primary Examiner(s): Mejia, Anthony
• Assistant Examiner(s): GOODWIN, SCHQUITA D
• Application Number:
  US13/234,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20130073634A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,363 Days
• Field of Search: 709203, 709206, 709204, 709223, 707 1, 718100, 37926511, 705 8, 705 9, 705 724, 705 715, 705 727, 715751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/0631 Resource planning, allocation, distributing or scheduling for enterprises or organisations
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Various arrangements for handling enterprise resource planning (ERP) tasks external from ERP software are presented. An email client, executed on a user computer system, may retrieve ERP tasks that are assigned to a user from an ERP computer system. The email client executed on the user computer system may integrate the ERP tasks retrieved from the ERP computer system into an email client task list such that the email client task list displays the ERP tasks assigned to the user. The email client executed on the user computer system may display the email client task list that comprises the ERP tasks retrieved from the ERP computer system.

Claims

1. A system for integrating tasks, the system comprising:

a task management computer system comprising one or more first processors and a first memory, the first memory having stored thereon first instructions that, when executed by the one or more first processors, cause the one or more first processors to perform first actions including;

receiving one or more first communications that indicate that a work order is created;

identifying a plurality of work-order tasks, each task of the plurality of work-order tasks corresponding to the work order;

determining one or more first work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a first user;

storing, in a queuing table, each first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks in association with an indication that the first work-order task is assigned to the first user of a plurality of users;

receiving, from a first user computer system, a request to pull task data and that includes an identifier of the first user;

performing a first search of the queuing table using the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the first user computer system, a second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks, each of the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in a first result of the first search;

receiving, from the first user computer system, a third communication that includes a modification to a first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks;

in response to the third communication;

determining one or more second work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a second user;

storing, in the queuing table, each second work-order task of the one or more second work-order tasks in association with an indication that the second work-order task is assigned to the second user of the plurality of users, and wherein the modified first work-order task and each of the one or more second work-order tasks are distinct tasks to be completed; and

transmitting, to a second user computer system, a fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

the first user computer system comprising one or more second processors and a second memory, the second memory having stored thereon second instructions that, when executed by the one or more second processors, cause the one or more second processors to perform second actions including;

generating, via execution of a first email client application at the first user computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the task management computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

receiving, from the task management computer system, the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in the first result of the first search of the queuing table performed at the task management computer system;

accessing one or more first email client tasks, each of the one or more first email client tasks having been created locally at the first user computer system and stored using the first email client application, wherein each of the one or more first email client tasks is accessible via the first email client application but is not accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of the first email client application, the one or more first work-order tasks with the one or more first email client tasks to generate a first integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more first work-order tasks within the one or more first email client tasks;

causing the first integrated task list to be displayed such that the one or more first email client tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more first work-order tasks, the causing of the first integrated task list to be displayed occurring via the first email client application being executed by the first user computer system;

detecting an input corresponding to the modification to the first work-order task; and

transmitting, to the task management computer system, the third communication that includes the modification to the first work-order task; and

the second user computer system comprising one or more third processors and a third memory, the third memory having stored thereon third instructions that, when executed by the one or more third processors, cause the one or more third processors to perform third actions including;

receiving, from the task management computer system, the fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

accessing one or more second email client tasks, each of the one or more second email client tasks having been created locally at the second user computer system using a second email client application, and each of the one or more second email client tasks being accessible via the second email client application but not being accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of a second email client application at the second user computer system, the one or more second work-order tasks with the one or more second email client tasks to generate a second integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more second work-order tasks within the one or more second email client tasks; and

causing the second integrated task list to be displayed such that the one or more second work-order tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more second email client tasks.

2. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein the:

first work-order task includes a change of a status of the first work-order task.

3. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein the first actions further include:

changing a status of the first work-order task in the queuing table in response to the third communication that includes the modification to the first work-order task.

4. The system for integrating tasks of claim 3, wherein modifying the status of the first work-order task comprises designating the first work-order task as completed.

5. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein:

the first instructions are further configured to require login credentials from each user of the plurality of users to permit access to the task management computer system; and

the second actions further include causing login credentials of the first user to be transmitted to the task management computer system prior to receiving the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks from the task management computer system.

6. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein each of the one or more first work-order tasks and each of the one or more second work-order tasks is a user-performed activity required to be completed by a point in time.

7. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein the first user and the second user are different users, and wherein the first user computer system and the second user computer system are different computer systems.

8. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein the one or more first work-order tasks are interspersed within the one or more first email client tasks based on a characteristic, such that tasks within the first integrated task list are identified in an order corresponding to the characteristic.

9. The system for integrating tasks of claim 1, wherein the one or more first work-order tasks are interspersed within the one or more first email client tasks such that tasks within the first integrated task list are ordered according to deadlines of the tasks, the deadlines corresponding to deadlines for completion, creation dates, name, or importance.

10. A method for integrating tasks, the method comprising:

receiving, at a task management computer system, one or more first communications that indicate that a work order is created;

identifying, at the task management computer system, a plurality of work-order tasks, each task of the plurality of work-order tasks corresponding to the work order;

determining, at the task management computer system, one or more first work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a first user of a plurality of users;

storing, in a queuing table, each first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks in association with an indication that the first work-order task is assigned to the first user;

receiving, from a first user computer system, a request to pull task data and that includes an identifier of the first user;

performing, at the task management computer system, a first search of the queuing table using the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the first user computer system, a second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks, each of the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in a first result of the first search;

receiving, from the first user computer system, a third communication that includes a modification to a first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks;

in response to the third communication;

determining one or more second work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a second user;

storing, in the queuing table, each second work-order task of the one or more second work-order tasks in association with an indication that the second work-order task is assigned to the second user of the plurality of users, and wherein the modified first work-order task and each of the one or more second work-order tasks are distinct tasks to be completed;

transmitting, to a second user computer system, a fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

generating, via execution of a first email client application at the first user computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the task management computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

receiving, from the task management computer system and at the first user computer system, the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in the first result of the first search of the queuing table performed at the task management computer system;

accessing, at the first user computer system, each of one or more first email client tasks having been created locally at the first user computer system and stored using the first email client application, wherein each of the one or more first email client tasks is accessible via the first email client application but is not accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of the first email client application at the first user computer system, the one or more first work-order tasks with the one or more first email client tasks to generate a first integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more first work-order tasks within the one or more first email client tasks;

causing, the first integrated task list to be displayed at the first user computer system such that the one or more first email client tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more first work-order tasks, the causing of the first integrated task list to be displayed occurring via the first email client application being executed by the first user computer system;

detecting, at the first user computer system, an input corresponding to the modification to the first work-order task;

transmitting, from the first user computer system and to the task management computer system, the third communication that includes the modification to the first work-order task;

receiving, at a second user computer system and from the task management computer system, the fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

accessing, at the second user computer system, one or more second email client tasks, each of the one or more second email client tasks having been created locally at the second user computer system using a second email client application, and each of the one or more second email client tasks being accessible via the second email client application but not being accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of a second client email application at the second user computer system, the one or more second work-order tasks with the one or more second email client tasks to generate a second integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more second work-order tasks within the one or more second email client tasks; and

causing the second integrated task list to be displayed at the second user computer system such that the one or more second work-order tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more second email client tasks.

11. The method for integrating tasks of claim 10, further comprising:

changing a status of the first work-order task in the queuing table in response to the third communication that includes the modification to a first work-order task, wherein modifying the status of the first work-order task comprises designating the first work-order task as completed.

12. The method for integrating tasks of claim 10, the method further comprising:

causing, at the first user computer system, login credentials of the first user to be transmitted to the task management computer system prior to receiving the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks from the task management computer system.

13. The method for integrating tasks claim 10, wherein first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks identifies a user-performed activity to be completed by a point in time.

14. A computer program product residing on a non-transitory processor-readable medium and comprising processor-readable instructions configured to cause one or more processors to perform first actions including:

receiving, at a task management computer system, one or more first communications that indicate that a work order is created;

identifying, at the task management computer system, a plurality of work-order tasks, each task of the plurality of work-order tasks corresponding to the work order;

determining, at the task management computer system, one or more first work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a first user of a plurality of users;

storing, in a queuing table, each first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks in association with an indication that the first work-order task is assigned to the first user;

receiving, from a first user computer system, a request to pull task data and that includes an identifier of the first user;

performing, at the task management computer system, a first search of the queuing table using the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the first user computer system, a second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks, each of the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in a first result of the first search;

receiving, from the first user computer system, a third communication that includes a modification to a first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks;

in response to the third communication;

determining one or more second work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a second user;

storing, in the queuing table, each second work-order task of the one or more second work-order tasks in association with an indication that the second work-order task is assigned to the second user of the plurality of users, and wherein the modified first work-order task and each of the one or more second work-order tasks are distinct tasks to be completed;

transmitting, to a second user computer system, a fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

wherein the first user computer system is configured to transmit, to the task management computer system, the third communication that includes the modification to the first work-order task in response to performing second actions at the first user computer system including;

generating, via execution of a first email client application at the first user computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the task management computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

receiving, from the task management computer system, the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in the first result of the first search of the queuing table performed at the task management computer system;

accessing each of one or more first email client tasks having been created locally at the first user computer system and stored using the first email client application, wherein each of the one or more first email client tasks is accessible via the first email client application but is not accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of the first email client application, the one or more first work-order tasks with the one or more first email client tasks to generate a first integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more first work-order tasks within the one or more first email client tasks;

causing the first integrated task list to be displayed at the first user computer system such that the one or more first email client tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more first work-order tasks, the causing of the first integrated task list to be displayed occurring via the first email client application being executed by the first user computer system; and

detecting an input corresponding to the modification to the first work-order task;

wherein the second user computer system is configured to respond to receipt of the fourth communication by performing third actions at the second user computer system including;

accessing one or more second email client tasks, each of the one or more second email client tasks having been created locally at the second user computer system using a second email client application, and each of the one or more second email client tasks being accessible via the second email client application but not being accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of a second client email application at the second user computer system, the one or more second work-order tasks with the one or more second email client tasks to generate a second integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more second work-order tasks within the one or more second email client tasks; and

causing the second integrated task list to be displayed at the second user computer system such that the one or more second work-order tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more second email client tasks.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first actions further include changing a status of the first work-order task in the queuing table in response to the third communication that includes the modification to a first work-order task, and wherein modifying the status of the first work-order task further comprises designating the first work-order task as completed.

16. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein the first actions further include

causing login credentials of the first user to be transmitted to the task management computer system prior to receiving the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks from the task management computer system.

17. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks identifies a user-performed activity to be completed by a point in time.

18. A system for integrating tasks, the system comprising:

one or more processors; and

a memory communicatively coupled with and readable by the one or more processors and having stored therein processor-readable instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform first actions including;

receiving, at a task management computer system, one or more first communications that indicate that a work order is created;

identifying, at the task management computer system, a plurality of work-order tasks, each task of the plurality of work-order tasks corresponding to the work order;

determining, at the task management computer system, one or more first work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a first user;

storing, in a queuing table, each first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks in association with an indication that the first work-order task is assigned to the first user;

receiving, from a first user computer system, a request to pull task data and that includes an identifier of the first user;

performing, at the task management computer system, a first search of the queuing table using the identifier of the first user of a plurality of users;

transmitting, to the first user computer system, a second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks, each of the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in a first result of the first search;

receiving, from the first user computer system, a third communication that includes a modification to a first work-order task of the one or more first work-order tasks;

in response to the third communication;

determining one or more second work-order tasks of the plurality of work-order tasks that correspond to the work order is to be assigned to a second user;

storing, in the queuing table, each second work-order task of the one or more second work-order tasks in association with an indication that the second work-order task is assigned to the second user of the plurality of users, and wherein the modified first work-order task and each of the one or more second work-order tasks are distinct tasks to be completed;

transmitting, to a second user computer system, a fourth communication that includes the one or more second work-order tasks having been stored at the queuing table;

wherein the first user computer system is configured to transmit, to the task management computer system, the third communication that includes the modification to the first work-order task in response to performing second actions at the first user computer system including;

generating, via execution of a first email client application at the first user computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

transmitting, to the task management computer system, the request to pull task data and that includes the identifier of the first user;

receiving, from the task management computer system, the second communication that includes the one or more first work-order tasks having been identified in the first result of the first search of the queuing table performed at the task management computer system;

accessing each of one or more first email client tasks having been created locally at the first user computer system and stored using the first email client application, wherein each of the one or more first email client tasks is accessible via the first email client application but is not accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of the first email client application, the one or more first work-order tasks with the one or more first email client tasks to generate a first integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more first work-order tasks within the one or more first email client tasks;

causing the first integrated task list to be displayed at the first user computer system such that the one or more first email client tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more first work-order tasks, the causing of the first integrated task list to be displayed occurring via the first email client application being executed by the first user computer system; and

detecting an input corresponding to the modification to the first work-order task;

wherein the second user computer system is configured to respond to receipt of the fourth communication by performing third actions at the second user computer system including;

accessing one or more second email client tasks, each of the one or more second email client tasks having been created locally at the second user computer system using a second email client application, and each of the one or more second email client tasks being accessible via the second email client application but not being accessible to the task management computer system;

integrating, via execution of a second client email application at the second user computer system, the one or more second work-order tasks with the one or more second email client tasks to generate a second integrated task list, the integrating including interspersing the one or more second work-order tasks within the one or more second email client tasks; and

causing the second integrated task list to be displayed at the second user computer system such that the one or more second work-order tasks are presented concurrently with the one or more second email client tasks.