6,026,410
`[11] Patent Number:
`[19]
`United States Patent
`
`Allen et al.
`[45] Date of Patent:
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`U5006026410A
`
`[54]
`
`INFORMATION ORGANIZATION AND
`COLLABORATION TOOL FOR PROCESSING
`
`5,864,848
`5,864,865
`
`.............................. 707/6
`1/1999 Howitz et a1.
`1/1999 Lakis ....................................... 707/103
`
`[75]
`
`Egg/[IT’SUITEB 1355;311:1/IsREQUESTS IN
`.
`.
`..
`,
`,
`.
`Inventors. BaVld Alilelzll’) 0311;) Balm; SSmlga,
`Fanny éDezhlhlis lgilclciheii: P 1
`Arlagctlslciogf Calif‘ T011 Manh a 0
`Issaduah Wash [311101335 Hagan
`Boston, Mass; James Joaquin, San
`Franc1sco, Calif.
`[73] Assignee: Actioneer, Inc., San Francisco, Calif.
`
`OTHER PUBLICATIONS
`Nanduri et a1. “Requirements Validation via Automated
`Natural Language Parsing” Journal of Management Infor-
`mation Systems, vol. 12, No. 3, pp. 9—19, Dec. 1995.
`Adam et al. “A Form—Based Approuch to Natural Language
`Query” Journal of Management Information Systems, vol.
`11’ NO’ 2’ pp. 109—121, Sep. 1994’
`Primary Examiner—Paul V. Kulik
`Attorney, Agent, or FWm—Blakely, SOklOff’ Taylor &
`Zafman LLP
`
`[21] Appl. No.: 08/798,453
`
`[57]
`
`ABSTRACT
`
`Feb. 10: 1997
`
`Filed:
`[22]
`G06F 17/30
`Int (:17
`[51]
`........................................... ..........
`.
`.
`.
`........................... 707/104, 707/200, 704/270
`[52] US. Cl.
`[58] Fleld of Search ................................ 707/1, 100, 104,
`707/2’ 3’ 4’ 5’ 6’ 102’ 103’ 200’ 201’ 704/9’
`270’ 275
`
`[56]
`
`.
`References Clted
`U.S. PATENT DOCUMENTS
`
`A natural language-based information organization and col-
`laboration tool for a computer system is disclosed. The
`present invention includes an apparatus and method for
`processing text expressions in a computer system, the appa-
`ratus including: 1) an object database defining an informa-
`tion object with an associated keyword; 2) a user input
`device for receiving an input text expression; 3) a parsing
`device for
`identifying the keyword in the input
`text
`expression, the parsing device including functions for link-
`ing the input text expression to the information object based
`on the keyword identified in the input text expression; and
`4) a user output device for displaying t0 the user the identity
`3,115,504
`5/1993 BCIOVe et ail.
`.......................... 395/5333
`
`of the information object to which the input text expression
`5943329821
`31335 11:10“; a at.
`1'"""""""395/600
`
`was linked. The apparatus of the present invention further
`5’4189948
`""" 395/600
`5/1995 Tlilnfieam e a' "
`
`includes supplemental information in .the object database
`7554/4190};
`5:477:447 12/1995 Luciw etal
`6/1996 Meske, Jr. et a1.
`...... 395/600 Wthh is related to the information object, the user output
`5,530,852
`
`4/1997 Luciw et a1. ............. 395/326
`5,621,903
`device further including functions for displaying the supple-
`
`5/1997 Tracz et a1. .......... 395/602
`5,634,121
`mental information when a corresponding keyword is iden-
`
`...... 395/338
`596449735
`7/1997 Luciw et a1.
`tified in the input text expression. The apparatus of the
`
`3/1998 O’Nelll ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~ 395/705
`57732274
`present invention further includes a method and apparatus
`" 70361732
`37:47??ng
`3/133: gong 6t 31'
`for collaboration between users of a time and project man-
`......
`,
`,
`eerwes er
`
`...... 707/2
`5,778,365
`7/1998 Boyer et a1.
`agemem SyStem‘
`
`9/1998 Gustman .............. 707/103
`5,813,014
`.......................... 707/103
`5,819,282 10/1998 Hooper et a1.
`
`37 Claims, 26 Drawing Sheets
`
`NATURAL
`LANGUAGE
`TEXT
`
`EXPRESSIONS
`
`
`
`
`USER
`PARSER
`ALITIfeél-S
`
`
`
`INTERFACE
`TOOL
`
`
`
`
`USER 'NPUT
`(KEYNOTE
`REGION)
`
`
`
`USER OUTPUT
`HAD W
`(S
`0
`REGION)
`
`OUTPUT
`
`
`
`STRUCTURED
`NAMES OF LlSTS,
`
`
`PROJECTS, CONTRACTS,
`ENCLOSURES, INTENDED
`RECIPIENT(S), AND
`CALENDAR EVENTS
`
`
`
`
`
`1/50
`
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`
`SAMSUNG EX. 1005
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 1 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`MASS STORAGE
`MEDIUM
`
`108
`
`MA
`
`SSESVT,32AGE
`
`MAIN
`MEMORY
`
`104
`
`READ ONLY
`MEMORY
`
`106
`
`Q
`
`fl
`
`CURSOR
`CONTROL
`DEVICE
`12.3.
`
`“Ag/ICE?"
`
`E
`
`COMMUNI-
`CATION
`DEVICE
`
`D'SPLAY
`
`12_1
`
`BUS
`103
`
`FIG. 1
`
`2/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 2 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
` mF2m>mm<osz<o
`
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`
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`
`3/50
`
`SAMSUNG EX. 1005
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 3 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`121
`
`
`
`FIG. 3
`
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`

`U S. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 4 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`210
`
`220
`
`
`
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`
`5/50
`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 5 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
`FIG. 5
`
`6/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 6 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
`
`
`222
`
`/
`
`___——_‘
`
`ICall Paul by next Thurs.\
`\re: Wilson deal
`I
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`_____ /
`
`
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`m—W
`
`240
`
`240
`
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`
`220
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`
`7/50
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 7 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`How30
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`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 8 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`LEXICAL ANALYSIS TOOL
`PROCESSING LOGIC
`
`INITIALIZE CHAR
`INITIALIZE TOKEN BUFFER.
`POINTER TO POINT TO THE FIRST CHARACTER OF
`THE INPUT TEXT EXPRESSION. GET AN INPUT
`
`TEXT EXPRESSION 912
`
`914
`
`
`
`MORE CHARACTERS
`O PROCESS?
`
`
`
`
`
`YES - 918
`
`NO-916
`
`920
` IS
`
` YES - 922
`CURRENT
`
`
`CHARACTER A
`I ELIMITER?
`
`
`NO - 924
`
`ADD CURRENT
`
`CHARACTER TO TOKEN
`
`BUFFER 928
`
`REMOVE WHITE SPACE (I.E.
`UNNECESSARY BLANKS OR
`
` 926
`
`SPECIAL CHARACTERS) FROM
`TOKEN BUFFER. STANDARDIZE
`CAPITALIZATION IN TOKEN
`BUFFER. DETERMINE TYPE AND
`NUMERIC VALUE OF TOKEN.
`ADD NEW TOKEN TO OUTPUT
`TOKEN LIST WITH TOKEN TYPE.
`INITILIZE TOKEN BUFFER.
`
`GET CHARACTER FROM THE
`INPUT TEXT EXPRESSION
`
`m
`
`FIG. 9
`
`9/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 9 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`KEYWORD PARSER PROCESSING LOGIC
`
`INITIALIZE KEYWORD BUFFER, CURRENT
`KEYWORD BUFFER, AND OUTPUT BUFFER
`m
`
`GET NEXT TOKEN
`
`m 1
`
`
`
`014
`
`IS
`TOKEN A
`N0-1015
`
`TRIGGER?
`
`
`
`
`APPEND TRIGGER TO KEYWORD
`fl
`BUFFER
`
`
`
`
`IS
`CONTENT OF
`
`
`EYWORD BUFFER A DICTIONARY
`
`KEYWORD?
`
`YES-1018
`
`
`
`
`STORE CONTENT OF KEYWORD BUFFER INTO
`CURRENT KEYWORD BUFFER
`
`r
`
`
`
`MORE TOKENS?
`ANY
`
`YES - 1030
`
`
`
`
`w
`
`1028
`
`NO
`
`0
`
`
`
`
`IS CURRENT
`
`
`KEYWORD BUFFER
`EMPTY?
`
`
`
`
`
`1032
`
`NO - 1034
`
`o
`
`FIG. 10
`
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 10 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`USE THE CONTENT OF THE CURRENT KEYWORD BUFFER
`TO PERFORM A LOOKUP IN THE KEYWORD DICTIONARY.
`
`111
`
`GET THE LIST, PROJECT, AND CONTACT INFORMATION
`CORRESPONDING TO THE MATCHED KEYWORD FROM THE
`KEYWORD DICTIONARY.
`
`111
`
`1116
`
`ALL THE LIST, PROJECT
`AND CONTACT OBJECTS BEEN
`MODIFIED IN THE OUTPUT
`BUFFER?
`
`YES-1118
`
`STORE THE LIST, PROJECT, AND CONTACT
`INFORMATION FROM THE KEYWORD DICTIONARY INTO
`THE PREVIOUSLY UNMODIFIED PORTIONS OF THE
`
`OUTPUT BUFFER.
`
`INITIALIZE THE KEYWORD AND CURRENT
`KEYWORD BUFFERS.
`
`FIG. 11
`
`11/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 11 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 12 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
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`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 13 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`SUGGEST CONTACT KEYWORDS
`PROCESSING LOGIC
`
`TOKENIZE INPUT TEXT EXPRESSION
`
`M
`
`CHECK EACH TOKEN FOR PRESENCE IN KEYWORD DICTIONARY OR
`PRESENCE IN A LIST OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE WORDS
`
`114
`
`IF THE TOKEN IS NOT PRESENT IN THE DICTIONARY OR IN THE LIST
`OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE WORDS, SUGGEST THE TOKEN
`
`1416
`
`
`
`IF THE TOKEN IS PRESENT IN THE DICTIONARY OR PRESENT IN
`THE LIST OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE WORDS, CONCATENATE THE FIRST
`CHARACTER OF THE NEXT SEQUENTIAL TOKEN TO THE END OF THE
`PREVIOUS TOKEN AND LOOK UP THIS AUGMENTED TOKEN IN THE
`KEYWORD DICTIONARY AND IN THE LIST OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE
`WORDS. CONTINUE UNTIL A UNIQUE AND SUGGESTIBLE TOKEN IS
`GENERATED. SUGGEST THE UNIQUE TOKEN.
`
`1418
`
`APPEND ALL TOKENS OF THE INPUT EXPRESSION TOGETHER AND
`LOOK UP THIS COMBINED TOKEN SET IN THE DICTIONARY AND IN
`THE LIST OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE WORDS. SUGGEST THE
`COMBINED TOKEN IF NOT FOUND IN THE DICTIONARY OR THE LIST
`OF NON-SUGGESTIBLE WORDS
`
`1420
`
`FIG. 14
`
`EXIT
`
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 14 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
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`
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`
`15/50
`
`SAMSUNG EX. 1005
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`15/50
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`SAMSUNG EX. 1005
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`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 15 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`OBJECT ASSOCIATION TABLE
`
`TYPE
`
`ASSOCIATED TABLE
`
`ENVELOPE
`
`ENVELOPES
`
`LIST ITEM
`
`PROJECT
`
`LIST ITEMS
`
`PROJECTS
`
`SIMPLE DATE
`
`SIMPLE DATES
`
`RECURRING DATE
`
`RECURRING DATES
`
`PERSON
`
`LIST
`
`DELEGATE
`
`FYI RECIPIENT
`
`PEOPLE
`
`LISTS
`
`PEOPLE
`
`PEOPLE
`
`ATTACHED PROJECT
`
`PROJECTS
`
`ATTACHED PERSON
`
`PEOPLE
`
`KEYWORD
`
`KEYWORDS
`
`PHYSICAL ADDRESS
`
`PHYSICAL ADDRESSES
`
`EMAIL ADDRESS
`
`EMAIL ADDRESSES
`
`PHONE NUMBER
`
`PHONE NUMBERS
`
`EMAIL TO
`
`EMAIL FYI
`
`EMAIL ADDRESSES
`
`EMAIL ADDRESSES
`
`ENVELOPE CREATOR
`
`PEOPLE
`
`ENVELOPE SENDER
`
`PEOPLE
`
`FIG. 16
`
`16/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 16 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`SAMPLE DATABASE
`
`PROJECTS (TYPE=2)
`KEY
`NAME
`201
`PATENTS
`
`SIMPLE DATES (3)
`KEY
`DATE
`
`0
`
`202
`
`THU., 2/7/97
`
`PEOPLE (5)
`
`KEY
`NAME
`
`BRIAN SMIGA
` 204
`JIM SALTER
`
`TOM HAGAN
`DENNIS BUCHHEIM
`
`
`
`LISTS (6)
`KEY
`207
`
`NAME
`CALLS
`
`KEYWORDS (11)
`KEY
`KEYWORD
`208
`CALL
`209
`PATENT
`
`°
`
`EMAIL ADDRESSES (13) °
`
`KEY
`210
`211
`
`ADDRESS
`smi a@ac1ioneer.com
`ha an@actioneer.com
`
`LINKS
`
`0
`
`
`
`
`
`KEY1 TYPE1 OBJECTDESCRIPTION1
`KEY 2 TYPE2 OBJECTDESCFIIPTIONZ
`
`_ "CALLS" LIST
`-_ ”CALL" KEYWORD
`
` ”PA TENT" KEYWORD
`—”PATENTS" PROJECT 2-_
`
`
`
`"smiga @actioneer. com "
`- ”BFI’IAN SMIGA“PEHSON
`
`Email Address
`
`
`"hagan@actioneer. com"
`- "TOM HAGAN" PERSON .-
`Email Address
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 17
`
`17/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 17 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
`
`
`m.._m<._.v.2...m._ms_<m
`
`$569.w—mommmod>2mNEEIIII._EficcuammEch5wowmEOHuSZmmEEoz#235:5:lgEQEEIiNENZOEQEQMMQ
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`1&5.lgSEE:IE585355..I;SEE:!2m
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`BmBE8:03.?.22.”:E.lgg!m5.
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`
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`28EEIQEEEas.!ggl2N
`
`3.Uum
`
`18/50
`
`SAMSUNG EX. 1005
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`18/50
`
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`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 18 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
`FIG. 19
`
`19/50
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`US. Patent
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`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 19 0f 26
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`6,026,410
`
`
`
`FIG. 20
`
`20/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 20 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`COLLABORATION
`
`
`
` 211
`
`
`IS
`FINAL ANSWER
`NEGATIVE
`AFFIRMATIVE
`
`
`
`
`AFFIRMATIVE OR
`
`NEGATIVE?
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`DELETE FROM
`
` ACKNOWLEDGE
`
`CALENDAR AND
`
`
`FILE IN CALENDAR
`AND
`
`PROJECT/CONTACT
`
`
`
`
`FIG. 21
`
`21/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 21 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`START
`
`gm
`
`IDENTIFY DELEGATE
`
`&
`
`ADD HEADER TO ACTION REQUEST
`& SEND COPY TO DELEGATE
`221
`
`FILE ACTION REQUEST
`PENCIL IT INTO CALENDAR
`AND/OR PROJECT/CONTACT LISTS
`
`2_2fi
`
`E29
`
`WAIT FOR REPLY FROM DELEGATEE(S)
`
`UPDATE
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`REQUEST,
`REFILE.
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`PUT INTO
`
`CALENDAR,
`ETCJNINK
`fl
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`
`DELETE FROM
`
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`OTHER
`
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`
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`
`2245
`
`
`
`OR NEGATIVE?
`
`FIG. 22A
`
`22/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 22 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`START
`
`PLACE RECEIVED ACTION REQUEST IN
`DELEGATEE'S INBOX
`225-19
`
`DISPLAY OPENED ACTION REQUEST
`
`IN PROPER FORMAT
`
`2255
`
`PROMPT FOR REPLY
`
`2260
`
`PLACE ON LIST AND CALENDAR IN
`26['0
`
`PENCIL
`
`0'1
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`I
`SEND REPLY TO ORIGINATOR 227O
`
`MOVE ACTION
`REQUEST FROM
`IN BOX TO
`ACTION LIST.
`PUT INTO
`
`2280
`
`CALENDAR, ETC.
`IN INK
`
`AFFIRMATIVE
`
`
`
`2275
`
`
`IS
`REPLY
`AFFIRMATIVE,
`
`
`NEGATIVE,
`
`OR
`
`OTHER?
`
`OTHER
`
`NEGATIVE
`
`CALENDAR,
`
`DELETE FROM
`IN BOX AND
`
`
`
`NEGOTIATION
`
`M
`
`2295
`
`
`
`
`
`IS FINAL
`
`ANSWER AFFIRMATIVE
`
`OR NEGATIVE?
`
`
`
`
`
`NEGATIVE
`
`AFFI RMATIVE
`
`FIG. 22B
`
`23/50
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`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 23 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`
`
`UPDATE FILED
`MESSAGES
`
`fl
`
`PROMPT FOR REPLY
`
`M
`
`SEND REPLY
`
`M
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`IS
`AFFIRMATIVE OR
`
`
`REPLY
`END NEGOTIATION
`NEGATIVE
`
`
`PROCESS
`AFFIRMATIVE, NEGATIVE
`
`OR OTHER?
`
`
`250
`
`
`
`
`M
`
`
` AUTO-TERMINATE
`
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`
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`T0 N0
`
`FIG. 23
`
`24/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15,2000
`
`Sheet 24 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`FILE FYI
`
`242
`
`IDENTIFY RECIPIENTS
`
`M
`
`
`
`ADD HEADER TO FYI
`
`fl
`
`SEND FYI TO
`
`RECIPIENTS
`
`240
`
`FIG. 24
`
`25/50
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`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 25 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
`V
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`US. Patent
`
`Feb. 15, 2000
`
`Sheet 26 0f 26
`
`6,026,410
`
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`
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`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`
`

`

`6,026,410
`
`1
`INFORMATION ORGANIZATION AND
`COLLABORATION TOOL FOR PROCESSING
`NOTES AND ACTION REQUESTS IN
`COMPUTER SYSTEMS
`
`FIELD OF THE INVENTION
`
`invention relates to the organization and
`The present
`access to information stored in a computer system. More
`specifically, the present invention relates to the analysis of
`natural language input to produce structured information
`output and the processing of notes in a computer system. The
`present
`invention also relates to time and action/project
`management using a computer system. More specifically,
`the present invention relates to a method and apparatus for
`collaboration between two or more persons for time and
`project management.
`
`DESCRIPTION OF RELATED ART
`
`in the prior art for
`Many application programs exist
`organizing information in particular ways or for manipulat-
`ing specific types of information. For example, word pro-
`cessing applications are specifically designed for manipu-
`lating text documents in a computer system. Similarly
`databases in the prior art provide means for structuring data
`in well defined ways. Further, calendaring systems provide
`a structured way for tracking events or actions required at
`specified dates and times. Although these prior art applica-
`tions provide ways for organizing information in particular
`ways, it is often inconvenient to require a user to switch back
`and forth between application programs when updates of
`information are required. Moreover, these types of systems
`require a user to organize the information prior to entering
`data into the computer system. For example, the user must
`know to activate a calendaring program if an appointment or
`action date is to be entered. In separate actions, the user may
`also need to update lists or databases associated with the
`appointment or action for which a calendar entry was made.
`In many prior art systems, the user is required to spend time
`navigating around a user interface to link information to the
`desired lists or categories to which it pertains.
`US. Pat. No. 5,115,504 entitled “Information Manage-
`ment System” describes a system for linking elements
`representing stored information in a database. The system
`comprises a link structure formed in a section of the database
`independent of the elements, a pointer in the link structure
`indicating the location of a first element, and a second
`pointer in the link structure indicating the location of a
`second element. The database contains items comprising
`textual data and a plurality of categories into which the items
`may be categorized such that each item may be linked to
`more than one category. The system automatically assigns
`an element in a database to a parent category if it has been
`assigned to a child category of the parent. The system also
`generally features a means for assigning an element in a
`database to one or more of a plurality of categories, the
`categories being hierarchically arranged. The system con-
`structs views as screens of information organized into sec-
`tions having categories and section heads and items pre-
`sented one after another beneath a given section head of a
`category to which the item has been assigned. After entering
`an item, the user can make further assignments directly by
`moving to the columns of the view and entering an existing
`name of a sub-category under the column head. In this
`manner, a link structure is created.
`Unfortunately,
`the system disclosed in US. Pat. No.
`5,115,504 still requires a user to directly manipulate infor-
`
`10
`
`15
`
`20
`
`25
`
`30
`
`35
`
`40
`
`45
`
`50
`
`55
`
`60
`
`65
`
`2
`mation categories on a display screen. Using this approach,
`a user is still required to organize the information in some
`fashion on entry of the data into the desired category. In
`many situations, it is inefficient and inconvenient for a user
`to pre-organize and explicitly store information in this
`fashion. Moreover, further efficiencies could be obtained if
`a user could provide input in a convenient free form or
`natural language representation. It would also improve prior
`art systems if a user could update an information item or
`action item easily, quickly and without losing the context in
`which he/she is currently engaged.
`Another disadvantage of the prior art systems described
`above, is that they do not provide a mechanism for collabo-
`ration between users or between applications. Organizing
`one’s own information is important, but actions/projects are
`often shared between two or more people. In other words, it
`is not sufficient to organize one’s own To Do lists and
`calendars. The user should also be able to collaborate with
`
`other users to assign projects, accept project assignments,
`and inform others. Furthermore, an ability to notify others of
`the status of projects is advantageous.
`One prior art method of allowing multiple users to work
`together includes using e-mail to send messages to others.
`Although this prior art application allows users to commu-
`nicate regarding any topic, it is not linked to calendars, lists,
`or external databases maintained by the users. Thus, as an
`agreement evolves with each e-mail exchange, the user is
`often involved in updating everything associated with the
`project. It would further improve prior art systems if a user
`could update an action item easily, quickly and without
`losing the context in which he/she is currently engaged.
`Further, it would be an improvement over the prior art to
`provide a system whereby multiple users could collaborate
`and track action items between many participants and across
`many computer systems.
`Another prior art method utilizes top down delegation.
`This allows a supervisor to delegate projects to subordinates.
`However,
`it does not allow negotiation or collaboration
`between users. Rather, it is rigidly hierarchical. Thus, this
`method is not useful
`for collaboration and negotiation
`between peers. Another disadvantage of such prior art sys-
`tems is that they use a client-server system. That is, a server
`has to be provided as a repository of information regarding
`the collaboration process. Thus, only clients that are con-
`nected to the server can participate in the collaboration. This
`means that persons who are not linked to the same server can
`not participate in the collaborative environment.
`It would be an improvement over the prior art to provide
`a system that allows collaboration between two or more
`users. Further, it would be an improvement over the prior art
`to provide a system whereby multiple users could collabo-
`rate and track action items between many participants and
`across many computer systems.
`Thus, a better natural language information organization
`and collaboration tool is needed.
`
`SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
`
`The present invention is a natural language based infor-
`mation organization and collaboration tool for a computer
`system. The present invention includes an apparatus and
`method for processing text expressions in a computer
`system, the apparatus including: 1) relational object data-
`base defining an information object with an associated
`keyword, project, list, contact, date/time event or enclosure;
`2) a user input device for receiving an input text expression;
`3) a parsing device for identifying the keyword in the input
`
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`6,026,410
`
`3
`text expression, the parsing device including functions for
`linking the input text expression to the information object
`based on the keyword identified in the input text expression;
`and 4) a user output device for displaying to the user the
`identity of the information object to which the input text
`expression was linked. The apparatus of the present inven-
`tion further includes supplemental information in the object
`database which is related to the information object, and the
`user output device further includes functions for displaying
`the supplemental information when a corresponding key-
`word is identified in the input text expression. The apparatus
`of the present
`invention further includes a method and
`apparatus for collaboration between users of a time and
`project management system.
`
`BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
`
`The present invention is illustrated by way of example,
`and not by way of limitation, in the figures of the accom-
`panying drawings and in which like reference numerals refer
`to similar elements and in which:
`
`FIG. 1 illustrates a complete system on which the present
`invention may be implemented.
`FIG. 2 is a block diagram of the main system elements of
`the present invention.
`FIG. 3 illustrates a display screen showing the keynote
`and shadow regions.
`FIGS. 4A, 4B, and 5—7illustrate the operation of the user
`interface of the present invention.
`FIG. 8 is a block diagram of the components of the parser.
`FIG. 9 is a flow diagram showing the processing flow of
`the lexical analysis tool.
`FIGS. 10—11 are flow diagrams showing the processing
`flow of the keyword parser.
`FIGS. 12—13 illustrate examples of the processing per-
`formed by the keyword parser.
`FIG. 14 is a flow diagram showing the processing flow of
`the suggest list keyword function.
`FIGS. 15—18 illustrate the organization of tables in the
`object database of the preferred embodiment.
`FIG. 19 is a diagram of a client-server system.
`FIG. 20 is a diagram of a peer-to-peer distributed system.
`FIG. 21 is a flowchart illustrating an overview of the
`present invention.
`FIG. 22A is a flowchart illustrating the collaboration cycle
`as viewed by the originator, or requester.
`FIG. 22B is a flowchart illustrating the collaboration cycle
`as viewed by the recipient, or delegate.
`FIG. 23 is a flowchart illustrating the negotiation process
`of the present invention.
`FIG. 24 is a flowchart illustrating the distribution of an
`FYI note.
`
`FIGS. 25A and 25B illustrate a graphical an example of
`the collaborative process.
`DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE
`PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
`
`The present invention is a natural language based infor-
`mation organization and collaboration tool for a computer
`system.
`In the following description, numerous specific
`details are set forth in order to provide a thorough under-
`standing of the present
`invention. However,
`it will be
`apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that these specific
`details need not be used to practice the present invention. In
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`other circumstances, well-known structures, circuits, and
`interfaces have not been shown in detail in order to not
`obscure unnecessarily the present invention.
`FIG. 1 illustrates a typical data processing system upon
`which one embodiment of the present invention is imple-
`mented. It will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the
`art, however that other alternative systems of various system
`architectures may also be used. The data processing system
`illustrated in FIG. 1 includes a bus or other internal com-
`
`munication means 101 for communicating information, and
`a processor 102 coupled to the bus 101 for processing
`information. The system further comprises a random access
`memory (RAM) or other volatile storage device 104
`(referred to as main memory), coupled to bus 101 for storing
`information and instructions to be executed by processor
`102. Main memory 104 also may be used for storing
`temporary variables or other intermediate information dur-
`ing execution of instructions by processor 102. The system
`also comprises a read only memory (ROM) and/or static
`storage device 106 coupled to bus 101 for storing static
`information and instructions for processor 102, and a data
`storage device 107 such as a magnetic disk or optical disk
`and its corresponding disk drive. Data storage device 107 is
`coupled to bus 101 for storing information and instructions.
`The system may further be coupled to a display device 121,
`such as a cathode ray tube (CRT) or a liquid crystal display
`(LCD) coupled to bus 101 through bus 103 for displaying
`information to a computer user. An alphanumeric input
`device 122, including alphanumeric and other keys, may
`also be coupled to bus 101 through bus 103 for communi-
`cating information and command selections to processor
`102. An additional user input device is cursor control device
`123, such as a mouse, a trackball, stylus, or cursor direction
`keys coupled to bus 101 through bus 103 for communicating
`direction information and command selections to processor
`102, and for controlling cursor movement on display device
`121. Another device which may optionally be coupled to bus
`101 thorough bus 103 is a hard copy device or printer 124
`which may be used for printing instructions, data, or other
`information on a medium such as paper, film, or similar
`types of media. In the preferred embodiment, a communi-
`cation device 125 is coupled to bus 101 through bus 103 for
`use in accessing other nodes of a distributed system via a
`network. The communication device 125 may include any of
`a number of commercially available networking peripheral
`devices such as those used for coupling to an Ethernet, token
`ring, Internet, or wide area network. Note that any or all of
`the components of this system illustrated in FIG. 1 and
`associated hardware may be used in various embodiments of
`the present invention; however, it will be appreciated by
`those of ordinary skill in the art that any configuration of the
`system may be used for various purposes according to the
`particular implementation. In one embodiment of the present
`invention, the data processing system illustrated in FIG. 1 is
`an IBM® compatible personal computer or a Sun® SPARC
`workstation. Processor 102 may be one of the 80X86
`compatible microprocessors such as the 80486 or PEN-
`TIUM® brand microprocessors manufactured by INTEL®
`Corporation of Santa Clara, Calif.
`The control logic or software implementing the present
`invention can be stored in main memory 104, mass storage
`device 107, or other storage medium locally accessible to
`processor 102. Other storage media may include floppy
`disks, memory cards, flash memory, or CD-ROM drives. It
`will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that the
`methods and processes described herein can be implemented
`as software stored in main memory 104 or read only memory
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`106 and executed by processor 102. This control logic or
`software may also be resident on an article of ma