Email Task Tracking via Embedded Selectable Objects

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Solution Overview

Problem

Users face challenges in tracking and following up on email-related tasks due to the overwhelming nature of email communications, leading to lost information and uncompleted tasks.

Innovation Solution

An email system that allows recipients to assume ownership of tasks by selecting a selectable object in the email, which automatically monitors completion and sends follow-up notifications to both the sender and owner if the task is not completed within a predefined time.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Productivity

If manual tracking of email tasks is used, then users have full control over task management, but users experience overwhelming workload and lose track of tasks

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask completion rateVSAvoidtime spent tracking tasks

Core Design Contradiction:

ProductivityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables automatic self-tracking of email tasks through embedded code that autonomously monitors task status, sends notifications, and updates recipients without requiring manual intervention from users

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system performs preliminary setup by inserting tracking code into emails before they are sent, establishing automated monitoring mechanisms in advance so that task tracking begins immediately upon email delivery without requiring subsequent manual configuration

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

2Reliability

If automated task tracking is implemented, then task follow-up is improved, but email system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask follow-up reliabilityVSAvoidemail system complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system introduces an intermediary tracking code component that sits between the email system and task monitoring functions, handling the complexity of automated tracking, status updates, and notification logic while presenting a simple interface to users through standard email interactions

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of operation

If task ownership is assigned manually, then clear responsibility is established, but communication overhead increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetask assignment easeVSAvoidnumber of communication messages

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSQuantity of substance

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables recipients to self-assign task ownership by interacting with selectable objects in the email, automatically establishing responsibility without requiring the sender to manually assign tasks or engage in additional communication exchanges

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentUS11601389B1Email system with action required and follow-up features

Publication Date: 2023.03.07 KYNDRYL INC

AI summary

A computer-implemented method includes: receiving, by a computing device, input from a sender of an email, the input defining the email as having a task associated with it; inserting, by the computing device, code into the email, the code defining a selectable object in the email; sending, by the computing device, the email to one or more recipients; receiving, by the computing device, input indicating a selection of the selectable object by one of the one or more recipients; assigning, by the computing device, the one of the one or more recipients as an owner of the task; and sending, by the computing device, a notification email to the sender and the one or more recipients, the notification email indicating the owner of the task.