Method and System for Improved Electronic Task Flagging and Management

Abstract

An improved method and system are provided for creating tasks and for inputting information associated with created tasks according to an electronic task management application or system. Electronic correspondence items may be flagged as tasks. Upon flagging an individual electronic correspondence item, a corresponding task is created for the flagged item, and the created task is then populated into and exposed by one or more applications used for displaying tasks such as a tasks application, calendar application, or electronic to-do list application. Properties such as task start dates and task categories may be applied to the created task, as desired.

1 . A method for marking a mail item for recognition as a task item, comprising:
 associating a task flagging control with a mail item;   receiving a selection of the task flagging control; and   in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the mail item, wherein applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises making the mail item available to at least one of the following: a calendar application and a task application.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically applying at least one property to the mail item comprises applying a start date property to the mail item. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 , wherein applying a start date property to the task item includes applying the start date property from a context menu at least one start date property. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 4 , further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual icon for identifying the start date property applied to the task item. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising automatically applying a default start date property to the mail item. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically applying at least one property to the mail item comprises applying a task category property to the mail item. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein applying a task category property to the mail item includes applying the task category property from a context menu containing at least one task category property. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , further comprising populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the mail item. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein populating the task flagging control with a visual identifier for identifying the task category property applied to the mail item includes populating the task flagging control with a unique color associated with the task category property applied to the task item. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein automatically applying at least one property to the mail item comprises applying a default task category property to the mail item. 
     
     
         13 . A computer-readable medium having a set of instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for marking a mail item for recognition as a task item, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:
 associating a task flagging control with a mail item;   receiving a selection of the task flagging control, wherein receiving the selection of the task flagging control comprises receiving the selection from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the mail item; and   in response to receiving a selection of the task flagging control, automatically applying at least one property to the mail.   
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises making the mail item available to at least one of the following: a calendar application and a task application. 
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises applying at least one user-customized property to the mail item. 
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , wherein automatically applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises applying at least one of the following: a default start date property, a default task category, and a default due date to the mail item. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising storing the task item in a list of task items. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 13 , further comprising displaying the list of task items in a task list user interface. 
     
     
         19 . A system for marking a mail item for recognition as a task item, the system comprising:
 a memory storage; and   a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is configured to:
 associate a task flagging control with the mail item displayed in a user interface, wherein the task flagging control comprises a context menu displaying selection options for customizing the mail item as the task item; 
 receive a selection of the task flagging control from the context menu accessed via a quick flag box adjacent to the mail item; and 
 apply, in response to receiving the selection of the task flagging control, at least one property to the mail item, wherein applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises:
 making the mail item available to at least one of the following: a calendar application and a task application, and 
 adding the mail item to a tasks list. 
 
   
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 19 , wherein the processing unit being configured to applying the at least one property to the mail item comprises the processing unit being configured to configure the mail item with at least one of the following: a calendar application and a task application.