Actionable reminder entries

• US 10,241,644 B2
• Filed: 05/14/2013
• Issued: 03/26/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/03/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Gruber, Thomas R., Sabatelli, Alessandro F., Aybes, Alexandre A., Pitschel, Donald W., Voas, Edward D., Anzures, Freddy A., Marcos, Paul D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Rines, Robert D
• Application Number:
  US13/894,354
• Publication Number:
  US 20140033071A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,142 Days
• Field of Search: 705 711- 742
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/44 Arrangements for executing specific programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06311 Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]

Abstract

Techniques for processing task items are provided. A task item is electronic data that represents a task to be performed, whether manually or automatically. A task item includes one or more details about its corresponding task, such as a description of the task and a location of the task. Specifically, techniques for generating task items, organizing task items, triggering notifications of task items, and consuming task items are described. In one approach, a task item is generated based on input from a user and context of the input. In another approach, different attributes of task items are used to organize the task items intelligently into multiple lists. In another approach, actions other than the generation of notification are enabled or automatically performed, actions such as emailing, calling, texting, and searching.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for initiating actions associated with task items, comprising:

at an electronic device with a processor and memory storing instructions for execution by the processor;

receiving, from a user, input including one or more of voice input and text input;

extracting, by the processor, one or more attributes for a task based on the input;

generating a task item for the task based on the input and the one or more attributes;

determining, based on the input and the one or more attributes, a plurality of candidate actions to be associated with the task item;

determining context data, wherein the context data includes data displayed or processed by the device within a threshold time period relative to a time the input from the user was received by the device;

selecting a subset of actions from the plurality of candidate actions based on the context data;

modifying at least one action of the subset of actions based on one or more of the context data, the input, and the one or more attributes;

generating an activation region for performing, by the device, the subset of actions;

displaying, in a task list, the task item including the activation region;

receiving a user selection of the activation region; and

performing, by the device, the subset of actions in response to receiving the user selection of the activation region, wherein performing the subset of actions at least partially completes the task.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the activation region overlaps a title of the task item.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the activation region overlaps a description of the task item.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the activation region overlaps a graphical object.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a title of the task item.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 4, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a description of the task item.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to performing the subset of actions, marking the task item as complete.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising, after receiving the user selection of the activation region and prior to performing the subset of actions:

displaying a prompt requesting permission to perform the subset of actions; and

receiving a permission input from the user.

9. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the task item is not associated with a triggering criterion that determines when to trigger a notification to complete the task.

10. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the task item is not associated with a triggering criterion that indicates when the subset of actions is to be performed.

11. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the subset of actions includes causing an email or a text message to be sent over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the subset of actions includes displaying a text composition area, and wherein text input by a user into the text composition area is sent as an email or a text message over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a phone call to an external device associated with a phone number that is associated with the task item.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein performing the subset of actions comprises a first process causing a second process to perform the subset of actions.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first process causing the second process to perform the subset of actions comprises the first process invoking an API call of the second process, wherein the API call comprises one or more attributes associated with the task item.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the input includes voice input that was received at a handheld device.

17. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising;

detecting one or more events associated with the performing of the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has been completed.

18. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the subset of actions includes sending an email, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon determining that the email has been sent by the electronic device.

19. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a telephone call initiation request.

20. The computer-implemented method of claim 19, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input that is characteristic of the telephone call.

21. The computer-implemented method of claim 17, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a telephone call connection event.

22. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

detecting one or more events associated with a failure to perform the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has not been completed.

23. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a user selection of a control element on the electronic device.

24. The computer-implemented method of claim 23, wherein the control element is selected from the group consisting of:

an activation region of a touch screen;

a power button;

a control button; and

a switch.

25. The computer-implemented method of claim 22, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input within a predetermined time after selection of the activation region.

26. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

parsing the input from the user to identify one or more first attributes for the task;

determining, based on the context data, one or more second attributes for the task; and

storing the task item in association with the one or more first attributes for the task and the one or more second attributes for the task.

27. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the context data comprises automatically retrieving the context data without user intervention.

28. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item and the associated activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on the context data.

29. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item including the activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on parsing the input from the user.

30. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein determining the plurality of candidate actions to be associated with the task item is based on a verb in the input from the user.

31. An electronic device, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

receiving, from a user, input including one or more of voice input and text input;

extracting, by the processor, one or more attributes for a task based on the input;

generating a task item for the task based on the input and the one or more attributes;

determining, based on the input and the one or more attributes, a plurality of candidate actions to be associated with the task item;

determining context data, wherein the context data includes data displayed or processed by the device within a threshold time period relative to a time the input from the user was received by the device;

selecting a subset of actions from the plurality of candidate actions based on the context data;

modifying at least one action of the subset of actions based on one or more of the context data, the input, and the one or more attributes;

generating an activation region for performing, by the device, the subset of actions;

displaying, in a task list, the task item including the activation region;

receiving a user selection of the activation region; and

performing, by the device, the subset of actions in response to receiving the user selection of the activation region, wherein performing the subset of actions at least partially completes the task.

32. The electronic device of claim 31, the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

detecting one or more events associated with the performing of the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has been completed.

33. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the subset of actions includes sending an email, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon determining that the email has been sent by the electronic device.

34. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a telephone call initiation request.

35. The electronic device of claim 34, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input that is characteristic of the telephone call.

36. The electronic device of claim 32, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a telephone call connection event.

37. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the activation region overlaps a title of the task item.

38. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the activation region overlaps a description of the task item.

39. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the activation region overlaps a graphical object.

40. The electronic device of claim 39, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a title of the task item.

41. The electronic device of claim 39, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a description of the task item.

42. The electronic device of claim 31, the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to performing the subset of actions, marking the task item as complete.

43. The electronic device of claim 31, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

after receiving the user selection of the activation region and prior to performing the subset of actions;

displaying a prompt requesting permission to perform the subset of actions; and

receiving a permission input from the user.

44. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the subset of actions includes causing an email or a text message to be sent over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

45. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the subset of actions includes displaying a text composition area, and wherein text input by a user into the text composition area is sent as an email or a text message over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

46. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a phone call to an external device associated with a phone number that is associated with the task item.

47. The electronic device of claim 31, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting one or more events associated with a failure to perform the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has not been completed.

48. The electronic device of claim 47, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a user selection of a control element on the electronic device.

49. The electronic device of claim 48, wherein the control element is selected from the group consisting of:

an activation region of a touch screen;

a power button;

a control button; and

a switch.

50. The electronic device of claim 47, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input within a predetermined time after selection of the activation region.

51. The electronic device of claim 31, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

parsing the input from the user to identify one or more first attributes for the task;

determining, based on the context data, one or more second attributes for the task; and

storing the task item in association with the one or more first attributes for the task and the one or more second attributes for the task.

52. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item and the associated activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on the context data.

53. The electronic device of claim 31, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item including the activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on parsing the input from the user.

54. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs for execution by one or more processors of an electronic device, the one or more programs including instructions for:

receiving, from a user, input including one or more of voice input and text input;

extracting, by the processor, one or more attributes for a task based on the input;

generating a task item for the task based on the input and the one or more attributes;

determining, based on the input and the one or more attributes, a plurality of candidate actions to be associated with the task item;

determining context data, wherein the context data includes data displayed or processed by the device within a threshold time period relative to a time the input from the user was received by the device;

selecting a subset of actions from the plurality of candidate actions based on the context data;

modifying at least one action of the subset of actions based on one or more of the context data, the input, and the one or more attributes;

generating an activation region for performing, by the device, the subset of actions;

displaying, in a task list, the task item including the activation region;

receiving a user selection of the activation region; and

performing, by the device, the subset of actions in response to receiving the user selection of the activation region, wherein performing the subset of actions at least partially completes the task.

55. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 54, the one or more programs further comprising instructions for:

detecting one or more events associated with the performing of the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has been completed.

56. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the subset of actions includes sending an email, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon determining that the email has been sent by the electronic device.

57. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a telephone call initiation request.

58. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 57, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input that is characteristic of the telephone call.

59. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 55, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a telephone call connection event.

60. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the activation region overlaps a title of the task item.

61. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the activation region overlaps a description of the task item.

62. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the activation region overlaps a graphical object.

63. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 62, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a title of the task item.

64. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 62, wherein the graphical object is displayed next to a description of the task item.

65. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the one or more programs further including instructions for, in response to performing the subset of actions, marking the task item as complete.

66. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

after receiving the user selection of the activation region and prior to performing the subset of actions;

displaying a prompt requesting permission to perform the subset of actions; and

receiving a permission input from the user.

67. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the subset of actions includes causing an email or a text message to be sent over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

68. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the subset of actions includes displaying a text composition area, and wherein text input by a user into the text composition area is sent as an email or a text message over a network to a recipient that is associated with the task item.

69. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a phone call to an external device associated with a phone number that is associated with the task item.

70. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

detecting one or more events associated with a failure to perform the subset of actions; and

determining whether the one or more events satisfy one or more conditions indicating that the subset of actions has not been completed.

71. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 70, wherein the one or more conditions are satisfied upon receiving a user selection of a control element on the electronic device.

72. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 71, wherein the control element is selected from the group consisting of:

an activation region of a touch screen;

a power button;

a control button; and

a switch.

73. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 70, wherein the subset of actions includes initiating a telephone call, and the one or more conditions are satisfied upon detecting a voice input within a predetermined time after selection of the activation region.

74. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, the one or more programs further including instructions for:

parsing the input from the user to identify one or more first attributes for the task;

determining, based on the context data, one or more second attributes for the task; and

storing the task item in association with the one or more first attributes for the task and the one or more second attributes for the task.

75. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item and the associated activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on the context data.

76. The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 54, wherein the task list is associated with a list category and wherein displaying the task item including the activation region in the task list comprises determining the list category based at least in part on parsing the input from the user.