Auto-generated to-do list

• US 8,108,206 B2
• Filed: 07/01/2008
• Issued: 01/31/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/01/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Hufnagel, Mark R., Lacock, Tyler S., Shook, Aaron K.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vo, Huyen X.
• Application Number:
  US12/166,130
• Publication Number:
  US 20100004921A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,309 Days
• Field of Search: 704 1- 10, 704/251, 704/252, 704/254, 704/257, 704/270, 704/272, 704/270.1
• US Class Current: 704/9
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/56 Natural language generation

Abstract

Methods, systems, and computer readable media for providing an auto-generated to-do list are described. Text is received in an instant messenger conversation, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date, and an input is received selecting a selection of the text, wherein the selection comprises the task body. The text is analyzed to identify the task sender, the task body, and the task date. The task is then entered into the to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date, thereby providing an auto-generated to-do list.

Claims

1. A method for providing an auto-generated to-do list, comprising:

receiving, by a device, text in an instant messenger conversation, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date;

receiving, by the device, an input selecting a selection of the text, wherein the selection comprises the task body;

analyzing, by the device, the selection of the text to identify the task sender, the task body, and the task date; and

entering, by the device, a task into a to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving a request to add the task to the to-do list.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising prompting a user to verify the task sender, the task body, and the task date after analyzing the selection of the text.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the entering the task into the to-do list comprises generating a task entry into the to-do list, wherein the entry comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising appending a transcript of the instant messenger conversation to the task entry.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising appending a link to a file containing a transcript of the instant messenger conversation to the task entry.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an input defining a time period before the task date to begin causing reminder messages to be sent.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein the follow up list and the to-do list are mutually exclusive.

9. The method of claim 7 wherein a combined task list comprises the to-do list and the follow up list, wherein tasks from the follow up list are marked differently from tasks from the to-do list.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing an option to enter the task into a follow up list.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the analyzing the selection of the text comprises locating keywords identifying the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the to-do list is integrated with a calendar feature of an e-mail application.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing a message related to the task to be displayed when the task date arrives.

14. A system for auto-generating entries into a to-do list, comprising:

memory;

a processor coupled to the memory; and

an auto-generator executable on the processor, wherein the auto-generator is configured to;

receive text in an instant messenger conversation, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date;

receive an input selecting a selection of the text, wherein the selection comprises the task body;

analyze the selection of the text to identify the task sender, the task body, and the task date; and

enter a task into the to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to receive a request to add the task to the to-do list.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to prompt a user to verify the task sender, the task body, and the task date after analyzing the selection of the text.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the task is entered into the to-do list by generating a task entry into the to-do list, wherein the entry comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to append a transcript of the instant messenger conversation to the task entry.

19. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to append a link to a file containing a transcript of the instant messenger conversation to the task entry.

20. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to receive an input defining a time period before the task date to begin causing reminder messages to be sent.

21. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to provide an option to enter the task into a follow up list.

22. The system of claim 21 wherein the follow up list and the to-do list are mutually exclusive.

23. The system of claim 21 wherein a combined task list comprises the to-do list and the follow up list, wherein tasks from the follow up list are marked differently from tasks from the to-do list.

24. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is configured to scan the selection of the text by locating keywords identifying the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

25. The system of claim 14 wherein the to-do list is integrated with a calendar feature of an e-mail application.

26. The system of claim 14 wherein the auto-generator is further configured to cause a message related to the task to be displayed when the task date arrives.

27. An executable software product stored on a non-transitory computer-readable medium containing program instructions for providing an auto-generated to-do list, the program instructions for:

receiving text in an instant messenger conversation, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date;

receiving an input selecting a selection of the text, wherein the selection comprises the task body;

analyzing the selection of the text to identify the task sender, the task body, and the task date; and

entering a task into the to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

28. The executable software product of claim 27 further comprising program instructions for prompting a user to verify the task sender, the task body, and the task date after analyzing the selection of the text.

29. The executable software product of claim 27 wherein the program instructions for entering the task into the to-do list comprise program instructions for generating a task entry into the to-do list, wherein the entry comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

30. The executable software product of claim 29 further comprising program instructions for appending a transcript of the instant messenger conversation to the task entry.

31. The executable software product of claim 27 further comprising program instructions for receiving an input defining a time period before the task date to begin causing reminder messages to be sent.

32. The executable software product of claim 27 wherein the program instructions for analyzing the selection of the text comprise program instructions for locating keywords identifying the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

33. The executable software product of claim 27 further comprising program instructions for causing a message related to the task to be displayed when the task date arrives.

34. An apparatus comprising:

a processor; and

an auto-generator executable o the processor, the auto-generator is configured to;

receive text from a text-based communication medium, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date;

receive an input selecting a selection of the text, wherein the selection comprises the task body;

scan the text, thereby identifying the task sender, the task body, and the task date; and

enter a task into a to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.

35. A computer-implemented method for providing an auto-generated to-do list, comprising:

receiving, by a device, text in an instant messenger conversation, wherein the text comprises a task sender, a task body, and a task date;

analyzing, by the device, the text to identify the task sender, the task body, and the task date; and

entering, by the device, a task into a to-do list, wherein the task comprises the task sender, the task body, and the task date.