TASK IDENTIFICATION AND TRACKING USING SHARED CONVERSATIONAL CONTEXT

• US 20180341928A1
• Filed: 05/25/2017
• Published: 11/29/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Khan, Omar Zia, Agarwal, Vipul, Zitouni, Imed
• Granted Patent: US 10,679,192 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1097 Task assignment
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0633 Lists, e.g. purchase orders, compilation or processing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/02 using automatic reactions or user delegation, e.g. automatic replies or chatbot-generated messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/216 Handling conversation history, e.g. grouping of messages in sessions or threads
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/224 providing notification on incoming messages, e.g. pushed notifications of received messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/234 for tracking messages
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/12 Messaging; Mailboxes; Announcements

Abstract

Systems and methods are disclosed for task identification and tracking using shared conversational context. In one implementation, a first communication from a first user is received within a communication session. The first communication is processed to identify a first content element within the first communication. A second communication is received within the communication session. The second communication is processed to identify a second content element within the second communication. The first content element is associated with the second content element. Based on an association between the first content element and the second content element, a task is identified. An action is initiated with respect to the task.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processing device; and

a memory coupled to the processing device and storing instructions that, when executed by the processing device, cause the system to perform operations comprising;

receiving, within a first communication session, a first communication from a first user;

processing the first communication to identify a first content element within the first communication;

receiving, within the first communication session, a second communication;

processing the second communication to identify a second content element within the second communication;

associating the first content element with the second content element;

based on an association between the first content element and the second content element, identifying a task; and

initiating an action with respect to the task.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving the second communication comprises receiving the second communication from a second user within the first communication session.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein receiving the second communication comprises receiving the second communication from the first user within the first communication session.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein associating the first content element with the second content element comprises associating the first content element with the second content element based on an ontology that defines one or more relationships between content elements.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the task comprises identifying a parameter associated with the task.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein identifying the task comprises identifying the task based on a weight associated with the first user.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein initiating the action comprises assigning the task to the first user.

8. The system of claim 7, wherein initiating the action further comprises reassigning the task from the first user to a second user.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein reassigning the task comprises reassigning the task based on a third communication.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein initiating the action comprises assigning the task to a second user.

11. The system of claim 1, wherein initiating the action comprises providing, with respect to the first communication session, a selectable item associated with the task.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein the memory further stores instructions for causing the system to perform operations comprising tracking performance of the task.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein tracking performance of the task comprises providing a notification to the first user with respect to the task.

14. The system of claim 12, wherein tracking performance of the task comprises providing a notification to the first user with respect performance of the task by a second user.

15. A method comprising:

receiving, within a communication session, a first communication from a first user;

processing the first communication to identify a first content element within the first communication;

associating the first content element with a second content element included within a second communication received during the communication session;

based on an association between the first content element and the second content element, identifying a task; and

assigning the task to the first user.

16. The method of claim 15, further comprising tracking performance of the task by the first user.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein tracking performance of the task comprises providing a notification to the first user with respect to the task.

18. The method of claim 16, further comprising reassigning the task from the first user to a second user based on a third communication.

19. A non-transitory computer readable medium having instructions stored thereon that, when executed by a processing device, cause the processing device to perform operations comprising:

receiving, within a first communication session, a first communication from a first user;

processing the first communication to identify a first content element within the first communication;

associating the first content element with a second content element included within a second communication received during the first communication session;

based on an association between the first content element and the second content element, identifying a task; and

tracking performance of the task by the first user.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 19, wherein the medium further stores instructions for causing the processing device to perform operations comprising reassigning the task from the first user to the second user based on a third communication received during the first communication session.