Group Task Template Distribution and Automated Update System
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional software applications, such as personal information managers, do not effectively address the duplication of effort in coordinating shared tasks among groups of people, leading to time-consuming and inefficient task management.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a system using templates that can be distributed to group members, identifying shared and individual tasks, with automated updates and integration with personal information managers and voice-capable systems to streamline task management and reduce duplication.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of time
If each person manually enters their own calendar information, then individual calendar management is maintained, but time consumption and duplicated effort increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges individual calendar management with group coordination by creating a centralized system where one person's calendar entries can be automatically distributed to multiple group members. This eliminates the need for each person to manually enter the same event information, reducing time consumption while maintaining individual calendar accessibility.
Solution Approach 2:
The system introduces a calendar server as an intermediary between individuals and group members. The server receives calendar information from one person, processes it, and automatically distributes it to relevant group members' calendars. This intermediary automates the distribution process, eliminating manual entry requirements for each person.
2Adaptability or versatility
If conventional personal information managers are used, then individual task management is supported, but coordinated task management for groups is not addressed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extends the functionality of conventional personal information managers to include group coordination capabilities. The system maintains compatibility with existing PIM applications while adding multi-functionality to support both individual and group task management. This allows the system to adapt to different usage scenarios without requiring completely new software.
Solution Approach 2:
The system segments task management into individual tasks and shared tasks. Individual tasks remain managed by personal calendars, while shared tasks are coordinated through the group calendar system. This segmentation allows the system to handle different types of tasks differently, providing group coordination capability without unnecessarily complicating individual task management.
3Productivity
If shared tasks are manually coordinated among group members, then task completion is achieved, but duplication of effort and inefficiency persist
Solution Approach 1:
The system implements automated feedback mechanisms where the calendar server continuously monitors for completed tasks and automatically updates all group members' calendars when a shared task is marked as complete. This feedback loop eliminates the need for manual coordination updates, significantly improving productivity while increasing automation.
Solution Approach 2:
The system enables self-service automation where the calendar server automatically detects task completion status and propagates updates to all relevant calendars without human intervention. This self-updating mechanism eliminates duplicated effort in manually notifying group members, improving coordination efficiency while maximizing automation.
Data Source
AI summary
A template listing one or more associated tasks is distributed to one or more devices, each device having a respective user. A task is selectively designated as either shared or individual. When information indicating that an action associated with a particular task has been performed is received at a first one of the devices, the template is updated at the first device, and optionally at others of the devices to indicate to others of the users that the action has been performed. The associated action of a shared task is performed once for all users, and the associated action of an individual task is performed separately by one or more of the users. Task information is optionally communicated between a template on a particular one of the devices and a personal information manager of the respective user of a particular device.