Method and system for improved electronic task flagging and management

• US 7,788,589 B2
• Filed: 09/30/2004
• Issued: 08/31/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Frankel, Glenn L., Jensen, Stephen D., MacBeth, Melissa R., Leukart, Richard H., Williams, Cheryl L., Savastano, Hernan
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo; Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tran; Tuyetlien T
• Application Number:
  US10/955,232
• Publication Number:
  US 20060074844A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,161 Days
• Field of Search: 715/810, 715751-753, 707/1, 709204-207
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling

Abstract

An improved method and system are provided for creating tasks and for inputting information associated with created tasks according to an electronic task management application or system. Electronic correspondence items may be flagged as tasks. Upon flagging an individual electronic correspondence item, a corresponding task is created for the flagged item, and the created task is then populated into and exposed by one or more applications used for displaying tasks such as a tasks application, calendar application, or electronic to-do list application. Properties such as task start dates and task categories may be applied to the created task, as desired.

Claims

1. A method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, the method comprising:

associating a task flagging control with the data item, wherein the task flagging control comprises a context menu displaying selection options comprising assigning a task timing property to the data item;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control comprises receiving the selection from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the data item;

in response to receiving the selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as a task item corresponding to a task to be completed by a user;

automatically applying a default start date property, a default task category, and a default due date to the data item; and

automatically updating the timing property at a predetermined time, wherein automatically updating the timing property comprises at least one of the following;

indicating, by displaying a first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property precedes a current date,

indicating, by displaying the first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches the current date,

indicating, by displaying a second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a next date,

indicating, by displaying the second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a date in a current week other than the current date, and

indicating, by displaying a third icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property proceeds the current week.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically applying the at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as the task item includes applying a start date property to the data item.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein applying the start date property to the task item includes applying the start date property from the context menu containing at least one start date property.

6. The method of claim 4, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the task item.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein automatically applying the at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as the task item includes applying a task category property to the data item.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein applying the task category property to the data item includes applying the task category property from the context menu containing at least one task category property.

9. The method of claim 7, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein populating the task flagging control with the visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item includes populating the task flagging control with a unique color associated with the task category property applied to the task item.

11. A computer storage medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, the method executed by the computer-executable instructions comprising:

associating a task flagging control with the data item, wherein the task flagging control comprises a context menu displaying selection options comprising assigning a task timing property to the data item, wherein assigning the task timing property comprises automatically marking the data item and completing a task entry form;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control comprises receiving the selection from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the data item;

in response to receiving the selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as a task item corresponding to a task to be completed by a user;

automatically applying a default start date property, a default task category, and a default due date to the data item; and

automatically updating the timing property at a predetermined time, wherein automatically updating the timing property comprises at least one of the following;

indicating, by displaying a first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property precedes a current date,

indicating, by displaying the first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches the current date,

indicating, by displaying a second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a next date,

indicating, by displaying the second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a date in a current week other than the current date, and

indicating, by displaying a third icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property proceeds the current week.

12. The computer storage medium of claim 11, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

13. The computer storage medium of claim 12, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

14. The computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein automatically applying the at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as the task item includes applying a start date property to the data item.

15. The computer storage medium of claim 14, wherein applying the start date property to the data item includes applying the start date property from the context menu containing at least one start date property.

16. The computer storage medium of claim 14, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the task item.

17. The computer storage medium of claim 11, wherein automatically applying the at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as the task item includes applying a task category property to the data item.

18. The computer storage medium of claim 17, wherein applying the task category property to the data item includes applying the task category property from the context menu containing at least one task category property.

19. The computer storage medium of claim 18, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the data item.

20. The computer storage medium of claim 18, wherein applying the task category property from the context menu containing the at least one task category property includes populating the task flagging control with a unique color associated with the task category property applied to the data item.

21. A method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, the method comprising:

associating a task flagging control with the data item displayed in a user interface, wherein the task flagging control comprises a context menu displaying selection options comprising assigning a task timing property to the data item;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control comprises receiving the selection from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the data item;

in response to receiving the selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as a task item corresponding to a task to be completed by a user;

automatically applying a default start date property, a default task category, and a default due date to the data item;

in response to receiving a second selection of the task flagging control, receiving a selection of at least one task property for application to the data item;

applying a visual identifier to the task flagging control for indicating an application of the at least one task property to the data item; and

automatically updating the timing property at a predetermined time, wherein automatically updating the timing property comprises at least one of the following;

indicating, by displaying a first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property precedes a current date,

indicating, by displaying the first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches the current date,

indicating, by displaying a second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a next date,

indicating, by displaying the second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a date in a current week other than the current date, and

indicating, by displaying a third icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property proceeds the current week.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface.

24. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a start date property for application to the data item.

25. The method of claim 24, wherein receiving the start date property for application to the data item includes receiving the start date property from the context menu containing at least one start date property.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the data item.

27. The method of claim 21, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a task category property for application to the data item.

28. The method of claim 27, wherein receiving the task category property for application to the data item includes receiving the task category property from the context menu containing at least one task category property.

29. A computer storage medium containing computer-executable instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for marking a data item for recognition as a task item, the method executed by the computer-executable instructions comprising:

associating a task flagging control with the data item displayed in a user interface, wherein the task flagging control comprises a context menu displaying selection options comprising assigning a task timing property to the data item;

receiving a selection of the task flagging control, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control comprises receiving the selection from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the data item;

in response to receiving a first selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the data item such that the data item is recognized as a task item corresponding to a task to be completed by a user;

automatically applying a default start date property, a default task category, and a default due date to the data item;

in response to receiving a second selection of the task flagging control, receiving a selection of at least one task property for application to the data item;

applying a visual identifier to the task flagging control for indicating an application of the at least one task property to the data item; and

automatically updating the timing property at a predetermined time, wherein automatically updating the timing property comprises at least one of the following;

indicating, by displaying a first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property precedes a current date,

indicating, by displaying the first icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches the current date,

indicating, by displaying a second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a next date,

indicating, by displaying the second icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property matches a date in a current week other than the current date, and

indicating, by displaying a third icon adjacent to the task item, whether the timing property proceeds the current week.

30. The computer storage medium of claim 29, further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items.

31. The computer storage medium of claim 29, further comprising displaying a list of task items in a task list user interface.

32. The computer storage medium of claim 29, wherein receiving the first selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a start date property for application to the data item.

33. The computer storage medium of claim 32, wherein receiving the start date property for application to the data item includes receiving the start date property from the context menu containing at least one start date property.

34. The computer storage medium of claim 33, further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the data item.

35. The computer storage medium of claim 29, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control includes receiving a task category property for application to the data item.

36. The computer storage medium of claim 35, wherein receiving the task category property for application to the data item includes receiving the task category property from the context menu containing at least one task category property.