Keeping track of important tasks
AssigneeMicrosoft Technology Licensing, LLC
InventorsVincent Bellet, Paul Sim
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A data processing system including a processor and machine-readable media including instructions for the processor. When executed by the processor, the instructions cause the processor to monitor events in a plurality of communications channels associated with a user, identify monitored events that are determined to be pertinent to the user, sort the identified events by priority to create a prioritized list of events, monitor interactions with the data processing system by the user for a task initiation signal, and, in response to detecting the task initiation signal, cause display of the prioritized list of events to the user on a display device.
Claims20
A data processing system, comprising:
- a processor;
- and
- machine-readable media including instructions which, when executed by the processor, cause the processor to:
- monitor events in a plurality of communications channels associated with a user, each communications channel representing an avenue of communication between the user and one or more communication partners;
- identify monitored events that are determined to be pertinent to the user;
- sort the identified events by priority to create a prioritized list of events;
- monitor user interactions with the data processing system for a task initiation signal, wherein the task initiation signal is one of i) a request by the user, ii) the user beginning to use a computer after an absence, iii) a conclusion of a meeting including the user, iv) a beginning of a designated focused work time specified by the user, v), an end of a designated focused work time specified by the user, or vi) a closing of a file by the user;
- and
- in response to detecting the task initiation signal, cause display of the prioritized list of events to the user on a display device.
A method performed by a data processing system for selectively displaying events pertinent to a user, the method comprising:
- monitoring a plurality of communications channels associated with the user, each communications channel representing an avenue of communication between the user and one or more communication partners;
- identifying events that are determined to be pertinent to the user;
- sorting the identified events by priority to create a prioritized list of events;
- monitoring user interactions with the data processing system for a task initiation signal, wherein the task initiation signal is one of i) a request by the user, ii) the user beginning to use a computer after an absence, iii) a conclusion of a meeting including the user, iv) a beginning of a designated focused work time specified by the user, v), an end of a designated focused work time specified by the user, or vi) a closing of a file by the user;
- and
- in response to detecting the task initiation signal, cause display of the prioritized list of events to the user on a display device.
A data processing system comprising:
- a plurality of communications channels, each communications channel representing an avenue of communication between a user and one or more communication partners;
- a memory configured to collect and to store events from the communications channels;
- a prioritizer configured to receive a record of events from the memory and further configured to create a prioritized list of events that are expected to be most relevant to the user;
- a task monitor configured to determine that the user is ready to begin a new task by identifying a task initiation signal, wherein the task initiation signal is one of i) a request by the user, ii) the user beginning to use a computer after an absence, iii) a conclusion of a meeting including the user, iv) a beginning of a designated focused work time specified by the user, v), an end of a designated focused work time specified by the user, or vi) a closing of a file by the user;
- and
- a user interface configured to present the prioritized list of events in response to a determination by the task monitor that the user is ready to begin the new task.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.