Efficiency enhancements in task management applications

Abstract

Presenting and manipulating task items includes creating a task item within a productivity application in association with a content item created with the productivity application and assigning the task item to one or more users. When the task item has been assigned, the task item is displayed to each user when each users opens the productivity application, or when the productivity application is already open to the user. User activity is then monitored in relation to the content item that is associated with the task item such that metadata for the user activity is captured. Based on the captured metadata, the users are alerted to the user activity that has occurred on the content item.

1 - 20 . (canceled) 
     
     
         21 . A method, comprising:
 determining, based on a past interaction by an individual with one or more task items in a task list associated with the individual, when to present a task item to the individual, the task item being associated with a due date and a content item associated with a productivity application;   receiving an indication of an interaction by the individual with the productivity application associated with the task item;   based on receiving the indication, determining whether to present the task item to the individual, the determining being based, at least in part, on the past interaction by the individual with the one or more task items in the task list; and   based on determining that the task item is to be presented, displaying the task item within the productivity application, the task item including the due date.   
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 21 , further comprising determining contextual information associated with the past interaction. 
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising using the contextual information when determining whether to present the task item to the individual. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the task item is associated with an assigning individual. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising displaying information associated with the assigning individual when the task item is presented. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the indication of the interaction comprises receiving an open command that causes the content item to be opened in the productivity application. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the displaying the task item within the productivity application comprises displaying the task item as a pop-up. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the displaying the task item within the productivity application comprises displaying the task item as an overlay. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the task item includes information corresponding to additional individuals that have been assigned the task item. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 21 , wherein the task item is associated with a particular section of the content item. 
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 30 , wherein the indication of the interaction by the individual with the productivity application associated with the task item comprises a detected interaction with the particular section. 
     
     
         32 . A system, comprising:
 a processor; and   a memory coupled to the processor and storing instructions that, when executed by the processor, perform operations, comprising:   determining, based on a past interaction by an individual with one or more task items in a task list associated with the individual, when to present a task item to the individual, the task item being associated a content item associated with a productivity application;   receiving an indication of an interaction by the individual with one or more of the productivity application associated with the task item or the content item;   based on receiving the indication, determining whether to present the task item to the individual, the determining being based, at least in part, on the past interaction by the individual with the one or more task items in the task list; and   based on determining that the task item is to be presented, displaying the task item within the productivity application.   
     
     
         33 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the task item is associated with a due date. 
     
     
         34 . The system of  claim 32 , further comprising instructions for determining contextual information associated with the past interaction. 
     
     
         35 . The system of  claim 34 , further comprising instructions for using the contextual information when determining whether to present the task item to the individual. 
     
     
         36 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the indication of the interaction comprises receiving an open command that causes the content item to be opened in the productivity application. 
     
     
         37 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the displaying the task item within the productivity application comprises displaying the task item as a pop-up. 
     
     
         38 . The system of  claim 32 , wherein the displaying the task item within the productivity application comprises displaying the task item as an overlay. 
     
     
         39 . A method, comprising:
 maintaining a task list associated with an individual, the task list including a plurality of task items accepted by the individual;   analyzing the task list to determine past interactions by the individual with one or more task items associated with the task list;   determining based, at least in part, on the past interactions by the individual, a profile that is predictive of when a task item should be presented to the individual;   identifying a particular task, the particular task being associated with a productivity application;   receiving an indication of an interaction by the individual with the productivity application;   based on receiving the indication, determining whether to present the task item to the individual, the determining being based, at least in part, on the past interaction by the individual with the one or more task items in the task list; and   based on determining that the task item is to be presented, displaying the task item within the productivity application.   
     
     
         40 . The method of  claim 39 , further comprising receiving information corresponding to the task item when the task item is displayed.