阅读说明：本技术 在搜索页面上主动显示与事件有关的相关信息 (Actively displaying relevant information related to an event on a search page ) 是由 Y·魏 W·孙 T·罗斯 M·C·菲茨杰拉德 M·F·巴勒米蒂二世 于 2020-03-30 设计创作，主要内容包括：一种用于向用户主动提供关于涉及该用户的事件的信息的方法,包括接收指示用于显示搜索页面的请求的用户输入并响应于用户输入而显示搜索页面。此外,响应于该用户输入,可以自动获取事件信息并将其显示在搜索页面上。可以提供的事件信息的一些示例包括关于除了该用户之外的事件的参与者的参与者信息、关于与事件相关的文件的文件信息、以及关于与事件相关的对话的对话信息。(A method for proactively providing information to a user regarding events involving the user includes receiving user input indicating a request to display a search page and displaying the search page in response to the user input. Further, in response to the user input, event information may be automatically obtained and displayed on a search page. Some examples of event information that may be provided include participant information about participants of an event other than the user, file information about files related to the event, and dialog information about a dialog related to the event.)

1. A computer-readable medium comprising instructions executable by one or more processors to cause a computing system to:

receiving user input indicating a request to display a search page;

displaying the search page in response to the user input;

automatically acquiring event information about an event involving a user in response to the user input; and

automatically displaying the event information on the search page.

2. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the event information comprises at least one of:

participant information about participants other than the user in the event;

file information about files related to the event; or

Dialog information about a dialog associated with the event.

3. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, further comprising additional instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to:

displaying a user interface element associated with the event information;

receiving additional user input selecting the user interface element; and

displaying additional event information in response to the additional user input selecting the user interface element.

4. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein:

the event information comprises a message informing the user that there will be at least one potential new contact at the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of a name of a participant in the event, a title of the participant, a department in which the participant works, or contact information of the participant.

5. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein:

the event information includes a message about a file that the user should view before the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of a filename corresponding to the file or a preview of the file.

6. The computer-readable medium of claim 3, wherein:

the event information includes messages regarding email conversations that the user should view before the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of: a subject line associated with the email conversation, or at least some portion of a message body of an email message belonging to the email conversation.

7. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the event is an impending event; and is

The computer-readable media further includes additional instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to display a shortcut action associated with the event.

8. The computer-readable medium of claim 1, wherein:

the event is a past event; and is

The computer-readable medium further includes additional instructions executable by the one or more processors to cause the computing system to display a summary of the event.

9. A method for proactively providing information to a user regarding an event involving the user, comprising:

receiving user input indicating a request to display a search page;

displaying the search page in response to the user input;

automatically obtaining event information regarding the event involving the user in response to the user input; and

automatically displaying the event information on the search page.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the event information comprises at least one of:

participant information about participants other than the user in the event;

file information about files related to the event; or

Dialog information about a dialog associated with the event.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

displaying a user interface element associated with the event information;

receiving additional user input selecting the user interface element; and

displaying additional event information in response to the additional user input selecting the user interface element.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the event information comprises a message informing the user that there will be at least one potential new contact at the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of a name of a participant in the event, a title of the participant, a department in which the participant works, or contact information of the participant.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the event information includes a message about a file that the user should view before the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of a filename corresponding to the file or a preview of the file.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein:

the event information includes messages regarding email conversations that the user should view before the event; and is

The additional event information includes at least one of: a subject line associated with the email conversation, or at least some portion of a message body of an email message belonging to the email conversation.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein:

the event is an impending event; and is

The method also includes displaying a shortcut action associated with the event.

Background

Computing technology has changed in many important respects and will continue to change our world. Modern computing technology has significantly increased the amount of information available to many people, etc. This brings great benefits to society. For example, learning new topics has become very simplified due to the large amount of education and reference material available via the internet. Furthermore, people have more choices of news sources than ever before. Communication technology also increases the speed at which information can be exchanged with others. People around the world can now exchange files via the internet in a few seconds instead of waiting several days for remote colleagues to receive the files.

Despite these benefits, the proliferation of available information is also disadvantageous. The term "information overload" is commonly used to describe what happens when a person is faced with information that exceeds their effective processing capacity. Many people encounter information overload when considering how many messages (e.g., emails, text messages, voice messages) are received each day and how many additional information sources (e.g., websites, blog articles, books) are available that are relevant to work or other interests. Social media can also lead to information overload, as many people feel stressed in reading and commenting on social media posts by friends, family, and colleagues. Current research indicates that information overload can adversely affect not only personal well-being, but also decision making, innovation, and productivity.

Some people use software to manage information about their work and other aspects of their life. One software application in widespread use today is commonly referred to as a personal information manager. Personal information managers help to record, track, and manage certain types of information about an individual's life. The personal information manager may include one or more of an email client, a calendar, a contacts manager, a tasks manager, and note taking functionality.

However, the use of a personal information manager does not necessarily address the problem of information overload. Consider a simple example in which a worker is invited to a meeting. The organizer of the meeting may send an email to the staff including a calendar invitation to the meeting, and when the staff accepts the calendar invitation, the meeting may be automatically scheduled as an event on the calendar within the staff's personal information manager. However, after the employee accepts the calendar invitation, a series of additional information (including email, text messages, phone calls, and social media notifications) may distract the employee. This may result in the staff forgetting the meeting altogether, or at least preventing the staff from preparing for the meeting (e.g., by viewing related files or emails). Even if the calendar event includes a reminder, such reminder is typically only provided a few minutes before the meeting begins. By that time, it may be late for the staff to be fully prepared for the meeting.

Disclosure of Invention

According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a method for proactively providing information to a user regarding an event involving the user is disclosed. The method includes receiving a user input indicating a request to display a search page and displaying the search page in response to the user input. The method also includes automatically obtaining event information regarding an event involving the user in response to user input and automatically displaying the event information on a search page.

The event information may include at least one of participant information of a participant of the event other than the user, file information of a file related to the event, or dialog information of a dialog related to the event.

The method may also include displaying a user interface element associated with the event information, receiving additional user input selecting the user interface element, and displaying additional event information in response to the additional user input selecting the user interface element.

In some embodiments, the event information may include a message informing the user that there will be at least one potential new contact at the event. The additional event information may include at least one of a name of a participant of the event, a title of the participant, a department in which the participant works, or contact information of the participant.

In some embodiments, the event information may include a message about a file that the user should view before the event. The additional event information may include at least one of a filename corresponding to the file or a preview of the file.

In some embodiments, the event information may include messages regarding email conversations that the user should view before the event. The additional event information may include at least one of a subject line associated with the email conversation or at least some portion of a message body of an email message belonging to the email conversation.

The event may be an impending event or a past event. If the event is an impending event, the method additionally includes displaying a shortcut action associated with the event. If the event is a past event, the method additionally includes displaying a summary of the event.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in a simplified form that are further described below in the detailed description. This summary is not intended to identify key features or essential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended to be used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subject matter.

Additional features and advantages will be set forth in the description which follows. The features and advantages of the disclosure may be realized and obtained by means of the systems and methods particularly pointed out in the appended claims. Features of the present disclosure will become more fully apparent from the following description and appended claims, or may be learned by the practice of the disclosed subject matter as set forth hereinafter.

Drawings

In order to describe the manner in which the above-recited and other features of the disclosure can be obtained, a more particular description thereof will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof which are illustrated in the appended drawings. Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the drawings represent only examples of particular embodiments, including examples of user interface pages that may be used to implement the inventive systems and methods disclosed herein. However, the disclosed systems and methods may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the scope of the present disclosure.

For a better understanding, like elements in the various drawings are identified with like reference numerals. Understanding that the accompanying drawings depict some example embodiments, the embodiments will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

FIG. 1A illustrates an example of a page that may be displayed by a personal information manager, the page including a search icon.

FIG. 1B illustrates an example of a search page that may be displayed in response to user selection of a search icon and event information that may be automatically displayed on the search page.

FIG. 1C illustrates an example showing additional information that may be displayed in response to user selection of a user interface element related to event participant information in connection with the search page shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1D illustrates additional information about the particular event participant that may be displayed in response to user selection of a user interface element associated with the event participant.

FIG. 1E illustrates an example showing additional information that may be displayed in response to user selection of a user interface element related to file information in conjunction with the search page shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1F illustrates an example of a preview of a file that may be displayed in response to a user selection of a user interface element associated with the file.

FIG. 1G illustrates an example showing additional information that may be displayed in response to user selection of a user interface element related to email conversation information in conjunction with the search page shown in FIG. 1B.

FIG. 1H illustrates additional information about the particular email conversation that may be displayed in response to user selection of a user interface element associated with the email conversation.

FIG. 2 illustrates an example of event information that may be automatically displayed on a search page in connection with past events.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of components that may be used to implement some aspects of the present disclosure.

FIG. 4 illustrates an example of a method for proactively providing information to a user regarding an event involving the user in accordance with the present disclosure.

FIG. 5 illustrates an example of a system including a personal information manager on a computing device in electronic communication with a server.

FIG. 6 illustrates certain components that may be included within a computing system.

Detailed Description

The present disclosure relates generally to proactively providing information to a user regarding events involving the user. For purposes of the technology disclosed herein, it will be assumed that a software application, such as a personal information manager, is used to manage information relating to various aspects of a user's life. The software application includes a search function that enables a user to search for information (e.g., emails, calendar events, tasks, contact information, notes) stored in connection with a user account (e.g., information stored in a user mailbox). According to the present disclosure, when the user takes some action that causes the software application to display a search page (e.g., clicking on a search icon on the application home page), the software application automatically determines relevant information related to the event involving the user and displays the event information on the search page. In other words, upon receiving user input indicating a request to display a search page, the software application automatically displays event information on the search page without any additional user input.

The event for which the event information is displayed may be an upcoming event (i.e., an event scheduled to occur at a future point in time) or a past event (i.e., an event that has already occurred). In this context, the term "event information" includes any relevant information relating to an event. Many different types of event information may be displayed. Some examples include information about one or more participants (other than the user) in the event, information about one or more files related to the event, and information about one or more conversations related to the event (e.g., email conversations, instant messaging conversations, chat application conversations).

The event information may include information that helps make the event more efficient for the user. For example, the software application may scan a list of people scheduled to attend the event (e.g., included in a calendar invitation for the event) and determine whether the event attendee is included in the user's contact list or recent contact history. If someone scheduled to attend the event is determined and is not included in the user's contact list or recent contact history, the software application may infer that the user has not seen this person before and display a message indicating that there will be a new contact in the potential event (e.g., "you will encounter 1 new").

Event information may be structured and presented in such a way that the user can "drill down" into the event information of particular interest to the user. In some embodiments, event information may be displayed in conjunction with one or more User Interface (UI) elements (e.g., buttons). If the user wants to learn more about a certain type of event information, the user may simply select a UI element (e.g., by tapping or clicking on the UI element) to bring up additional event information that includes more details.

Consider the example mentioned above in which the event information includes a message indicating that there will be one potential new contact at the event. The message may be displayed in conjunction with a UI element such as a button. The names of potential new contacts may also be displayed. If the user wants to learn more about this potential new contact, the user may select the corresponding UI element. This may result in additional information being displayed about the potential new contact (e.g., the position of the new contact, the department in which the new contact works). This additional information may also be displayed in conjunction with a UI element that the user may select to cause more information about the potential new contact to be displayed (e.g., the new contact's email address and phone number, a link to the new contact establishing a connection on the social media).

As another example, assume that event information includes information about one or more files related to an event. Initially, a message may be displayed about the file (e.g., "you have 3 files to view. -). The user may select the UI element associated with the message in order to find additional information about the files, such as file names. The user may select a UI element associated with a particular filename to cause a preview of the corresponding file to be displayed.

As yet another example, assume that event information includes information about one or more dialogs related to an event. In this case, the term "conversation" refers to any type of message exchange between multiple people. Some examples of conversations include email conversations, instant messaging conversations, and conversations in chat applications.

Initially, a message about the conversation may be displayed (e.g., "you have 2 email conversations to view … …"). The user may select UI elements associated with the message in order to find additional information about those conversations, such as a subject line associated with an email conversation. A user may select a UI element associated with a particular conversation to cause display of at least some portions of the message body of messages belonging to that conversation.

The event information may include a shortcut action associated with the event. For example, if the event is an online meeting scheduled to occur at some point in time in the future, the event information may include a link to join the online meeting. When the meeting ends, another shortcut action may be displayed that prompts the user to record notes about the meeting. The event information may include an event summary if the event is a past event. Some examples of information that may be included in the event summary include notes that the event participant has made and any action items that were decided on during the event.

1A-H illustrate examples of various aspects of a user interface of a software application that may be configured to proactively provide information to a user regarding an event according to the present disclosure. In the example shown in fig. 1A-F, it will be assumed that the software application is a Personal Information Manager (PIM) that includes (at least) an email client, a calendar, a task manager, a contact manager, and a note taking function. It will also be assumed that the user interface of the PIM is displayed on a mobile computing device, such as a smartphone. However, the techniques disclosed herein may be used in connection with other types of software applications and other types of computing devices, and the scope of the present disclosure should not be limited to PIMs or mobile computing devices.

FIG. 1A illustrates a PIM page 102a displaying email messages currently in a user's inbox. This page 102a may be referred to herein as an email page 102 a. The PIM includes search functionality that enables a user to search information (e.g., email messages, calendar events, tasks, contact information, notes) stored by the PIM. Page 102a includes a search icon 104. A user of the PIM may select the search icon 104 by, for example, tapping the search icon 104. User selection of the search icon 104 causes the search page 102B to be displayed, as shown in FIG. 1B.

In response to user selection of search icon 104, the PIM automatically determines information about the event involving the user and displays the event information on search page 102 b. In this case, the term "automatic" means that no additional user input is required. Thus, in response to user selection of the search icon 104, the PIM determines and displays event information without any additional user input. In other words, the user does not need to search for information about the event in order for the event information to be displayed. Instead, the event information is automatically displayed to the user in response to user selection of the search icon 104.

In the example shown in FIG. 1B, the event is a meeting scheduled to occur in the future, and the event information is included in a window 106 displayed on the search page 102B. The window 106 includes a plurality of UI elements, which in the depicted example are buttons 108 a-d. Each of the buttons 108a-dz includes some information about the event.

The first button 108a includes information about the participants (other than the user) of the event. In particular, the first button 108a includes a message indicating that the user will encounter a new person at the event. There are several different ways in which this determination can be made. As one example, the PIM may scan a list of people scheduled to attend the event (e.g., included in a calendar invitation for the event) and determine whether the attendees of the event are included in the user's contact list. As another example, the PIM may determine whether a user knows his or her contacts based on the user's recent interactions with people scheduled to attend an event. Information regarding the user's recent interactions with his or her contacts may be obtained from various sources, such as the user's contact history cache, connection graphs, and so forth. In the depicted example, the PIM has identified two people that are scheduled to attend the event and are not included in the user's contact list or recent contact history. The message on the first button 108a includes the name of one of the people.

The second button 108b includes information about files related to the event, and the third button 108c includes information about email conversations related to the event. In particular, the second button 108b includes a message indicating that there is a file that the user should view before the event, and the third button 108c includes a message indicating that there is an email conversation that the user should view before the event. There are many different ways in which these files and conversations can be identified. For example, the PIM may scan calendar invitations for events and infer that any files and/or conversations attached to the calendar invitations are relevant and should be viewed prior to the event. As another example, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques can be utilized to identify relevant documents and conversations. The PIM itself may be configured to utilize such techniques, and/or the PIM may coordinate with one or more other applications configured to utilize such techniques. In the depicted example, two related files and three related email conversations have been identified.

The fourth button 108d includes a shortcut action associated with the event. In the depicted example, the event is an online meeting and the shortcut action includes a link to join the online meeting. In other words, the user may join the online conference by selecting the fourth button 108 d. The PIM itself may include functionality to enable a user to join an online conference, or user selection of the fourth button 108d may cause the PIM to launch another application including such functionality. In alternative embodiments, other types of quick actions may be displayed. For example, if the event is a teleconference, the shortcut action may include a link to join the call. As another example, the shortcut actions may include one or more links to social media pages associated with other event participants.

The window 106 also includes a UI element in the form of a bar 110 that enables a user to close (dismiss) the window 106. If the user wants to search for other information rather than prepare for the event, the user may close window 106 by sliding bar 110 upward.

However, if the user does want to prepare for the event, the user may select one or more of the buttons 108a-d to find more information about any type of event information displayed in the window 106. For example, if the user wants to know more about the people the user will encounter at the event, the user may select the first button 108 a. This may cause window 106 with all buttons 108a-d to be replaced by window 112 that includes additional information about the person that the user will encounter at the event, as shown in FIG. 1C.

As described above, in the depicted example, the PIM has identified two people that are scheduled to attend the event and are not included in the user's contact list or recent contact history. The window 112 includes two additional buttons 114a-b, each of which corresponds to one of the potential new contacts. Window 112 includes more information about these new contacts than was displayed in the previous window 106. In particular, while the previous window 106 includes a message indicating that the user will encounter two new people at the event and provide the name of one of those people, the window 112 shown in FIG. 1C includes additional information about those two people (e.g., name, title, and department). The window 112 also includes a bar 116 that enables the user to close the window 112, and another UI element in the form of a navigation arrow 126 that enables the user to return to the previously displayed window 106.

The user may also be allowed to find out more information about one or both of the individuals whose names are displayed on buttons 114 a-b. For example, if the user selects the second button 114b shown in FIG. 1C, the search page 102b and window 112 shown in FIG. 1C may be replaced by another page 102C that includes additional information about the individual, as shown in FIG. 1D. The page 102c shown in FIG. 1D may be referred to herein as a contacts page 102 c. The contacts page 102c may include more information about the individual than is displayed in the previously illustrated window 112. For example, the contact page 102c may include contact information 118 (e.g., email address, phone number, instant message address), information 120 about a social media page corresponding to an individual, information 122 about the person's supervisor within an organization, and email messages 124 that one or more users have previously received from the individual.

The contacts page 102c may also include additional UI elements that the user may select to display more information about the person. In the depicted example, these additional UI elements take the form of navigation arrows 128 a-d. For example, the user may select the navigation arrow 128a to find additional contact information about the person. Another navigation arrow 128b may be selected to navigate to a social media site that is related (or at least likely related) to the individual. Other navigation arrows 128c-d may be selected to find more information about the person's supervisor and/or the department the person is working on.

Thus, event participant information may be presented in a manner that the user can "drill down" into a particular individual that is of particular interest to the user. The window 106 shown in FIG. 1B includes a button 108a with high-level information about the event participants (e.g., a message indicating that the user will encounter a new person at the event). By selecting this button 108a, additional information (e.g., name, title, department) about at least some of the event participants may be displayed in the window 112 shown in FIG. 1C. By selecting one of the buttons 114a-b in the window 112 corresponding to a particular individual, more information about the individual may be displayed in the contacts page 102c shown in FIG. 1D.

Other types of event information may also be constructed in a similar manner. Referring briefly again to FIG. 1B, assume that the user selects the second button 108B, which includes information about the file associated with the event. This may be such that window 106 shown in FIG. 1B is replaced by window 130 that includes additional information about those files, as shown in FIG. 1E. Window 112 includes more information about the relevant files than was previously displayed in window 106. In particular, while previous window 106 includes a message indicating that there are three files that the user should view before the event, window 130 shown in the graph IE contains a specific file name. The window 112 includes three additional buttons 132a-c, each of which includes a filename corresponding to one of the related files.

The user may also be allowed to view a preview of the relevant file. For example, the first button 132a shown in FIG. 1E corresponds to a file named "conference agenda". If the user selects the first button 132a, the search page 102b and window 130 shown in FIG. 1E may be replaced with another page 102d that includes a preview of the "meeting agenda" file, as shown in FIG. 1F.

If the user selects the third button 108c shown in FIG. 1B, which includes information about email conversations related to the event, this may cause the window 106 shown in FIG. 1B to be replaced with a window 134 that includes additional information about those email conversations, as shown in FIG. 1G. Window 134 includes more information about the relevant email conversation than was displayed in the previous window 106. In particular, while previous window 106 includes messages indicating that there are three email conversations that the user should view before the event, window 134 shown in FIG. 1G includes subject lines associated with these email conversations. The window 112 includes three additional buttons 136a-c, each of which includes a subject line corresponding to one of the related email conversations.

If the user is interested in finding more information about any of these email conversations, the user may select one or more of the buttons 136 a-c. For example, the first button 136a shown in fig. 1G corresponds to a first button named "friday meeting? "email conversation. If the user selects the first button 136a, the search page 102b and window 134 shown in FIG. 1G may be replaced by another page 102e that includes at least some portion of the message body of the email message, as shown in FIG. 1H.

In the example shown in FIGS. 1A-H, the event is an impending event. However, information about past events may also be displayed according to the present disclosure. FIG. 2 illustrates an example in which information about past events involving a user is automatically displayed on the search page 202 b. As previously described, the event information may be automatically determined and displayed in response to user selection of the search icon 204 on the search page 202 b. The event information is included in a window 206 displayed on the search page 202 b. The window 206 includes a plurality of UI elements, such as buttons 208a-b, both of which include some information about the event.

In the depicted example, the first button 208a includes a link to an event summary. The user may select the first button 208a to view the summary of the event. When the user selects the first button 208a, the summary of the event may be displayed in a separate window (not shown). Some examples of information that may be included in the event summary include notes that event participants (including participants other than the user) have made and any action items decided upon during the event. The second button 208b includes a link to a note feature of the PIM (or a separate note taking application) that allows the user to write additional notes about the event.

FIG. 3 illustrates an example of components that may be used to implement some aspects of the present disclosure. As described above, the techniques disclosed herein may be implemented by a software application, such as a Personal Information Manager (PIM) 340. The PIM 340 may include a user interface component 342 configured to create and manage a user interface through which a user interacts with the PIM 340. The user interface component may be configured to create and display a page (such as the pages 102a-e, 202b described above) having various UI elements (e.g., the search icons 104, 204, windows 106, 112, 130, and buttons 108a-d, 114a-b, 132a-c described above).

The PIM 340 may also include components configured to determine information about events involving the user. This component may be referred to herein as event recognition component 344. As described above, the event information 348 may be automatically determined and displayed in response to receiving the user input 346 indicating a request to display the search page 102 b. User interface component 342 may include a component that detects user input. This component may be referred to herein as a user input detector 350. The user input detector 350 may be configured to detect a user input 346 indicative of a request for displaying the search page 102 b. For example, the user input detector 350 may be configured to detect user selection of a search icon 104 on another page 102a displayed by the PIM 340. If this type of user input 346 is detected, a notification 352 of the user input 346 can be provided to the event recognition component 344. In response, the event recognition component 344 may return event information 348 that should be displayed to the user on the search page 102 b. The user interface component 342 is shown with a message generator 374 for providing functionality to display event information 348 on the search page 102 b.

Event identification component 344 can obtain event information 348 from a variety of sources. For example, the PIM 340 may include a calendar 354, and the event identification component 344 may obtain calendar data 356 from the calendar 354. Alternatively or additionally, event identification component 344 may obtain calendar data 356 from one or more other applications or services external to PIM 340. The event identification component 344 may analyze the calendar data 356 to identify information about events involving the user. Some examples of the kind of information that calendar data 356 may provide about a future event include the time at which the event will occur, the location at which the event will occur, and the people scheduled to attend the event. Similar information about past events may also be provided. In addition, other information may also be provided, such as event summaries (e.g., decisions made, action items assigned). In some cases, the calendar data 356 about the event may include files and/or conversations related to the event. Such files and/or conversations may be included as an attachment to a calendar invitation sent to a user to schedule an event.

PIM 340 may also include a contact manager 358, and event recognition component 344 may obtain contact data 360 from contact manager 358. Alternatively or additionally, event recognition component 344 may obtain contact data 360 from one or more other applications or services external to PIM 340. Contact data 360 can include information about individuals included in one or more contact lists maintained by the user. Some examples of the types of information that contact data 360 may provide about a particular person include the person's name, the person's contact information (e.g., email address, phone number, instant message number), the name of the organization the person is doing, the person's job title within the organization, and the department the person is working within the organization. Event recognition component 344 may analyze contact data 360 to determine various aspects of the event information displayed to the user, such as whether the user may have previously encountered a person scheduled to attend a particular event.

The PIM 340 may also include a task manager 362, and the event recognition component 344 may obtain task data 364 from the task manager 362. Alternatively or additionally, event recognition component 344 may obtain task data 364 from one or more other applications or services external to PIM 340. Task data 364 may include information about tasks included in one or more task lists maintained by a user. The event recognition component 344 may analyze the task data 364 to determine additional information about the events included in the calendar data 356, such as files and/or conversations related to the events. The task data 364 may also include information about additional events not included in the calendar data 356.

The PIM 340 may also include a note manager 366, and the event recognition component 344 may obtain note data 368 from the note manager 366. Alternatively or additionally, event recognition component 344 may obtain note data 368 from one or more other applications or services external to PIM 340. The note data 368 can include information about notes that the user has created. The event recognition component 344 may analyze the note data 368 to determine additional information about the events included in the calendar data 356. The note data 368 may also include information about additional events not included in the calendar data 356.

The event recognition component 344 may also search the stored files 370 and stored dialogs 372 for files and dialogs related to the event involving the user. As described above, machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques can be utilized to identify relevant documents and conversations. In some embodiments, event recognition component 344 (or another component within PIM 340) may be configured to utilize such techniques. Alternatively or additionally, PIM 340 may coordinate with one or more other applications configured to utilize such techniques.

Fig. 4 illustrates an example of a method 400 for proactively providing information to a user regarding an event involving the user in accordance with the present disclosure. The method 400 may be implemented by a software application, such as a personal information manager, that facilitates recording, tracking, and managing certain types of information about an individual's life.

Step 402 of method 400 includes receiving user input 346 indicating a request for displaying search page 102 b. In some embodiments, this may include detecting a user selection of a search icon 104 on another page 102a of the user interface (i.e., page 102a other than search page 102 b). Step 404 of method 400 includes displaying search page 102b in response to user input 346.

Step 406 of method 400 includes automatically obtaining event information 348 about an event involving a user in response to user input 346. In some embodiments, personal information manager may obtain event information 348 by determining event information 348 (e.g., as described above in connection with fig. 3). Alternatively, the personal information manager may obtain the event information 348 by sending a request for the event information 348 to a server. This will be described in more detail below in connection with fig. 5.

Step 408 of method 400 includes automatically displaying event information 348 on search page 102 b. As mentioned above, in this context, the term "automatic" means that no additional user input is required. Thus, in response to receiving the user input 346 indicating a request to display the search page 102b (in step 402), the software application obtains the event information 348 (in step 406) and displays the event information on the search page 102b (in step 408) without any additional user input.

Many different types of event information 348 may be displayed. Some examples of event information 348 include participant information (information about one or more participants in an event other than a user), file information (information about one or more files related to the event), and session information (information about one or more sessions related to the event).

Step 410 of method 400 includes displaying one or more UI elements associated with event information 348, such as buttons 108a-d shown in FIG. 1B. The buttons 108a-d each include some event information 348. Step 412 includes receiving additional user input selecting one or more of the UI elements. Step 414 includes displaying additional event information in response to additional user input selecting the UI element.

For example, assume that step 410 includes displaying a UI element (e.g., button 108a, as shown in FIG. 1B) that includes a message indicating that the user will encounter a new person at the event, and that step 412 includes receiving additional user input selecting the UI element. In this example, step 414 may include displaying additional event information, such as the name of the new person that the user will encounter, their job title, the department in which they work, their contact information, and so forth. In some embodiments, this additional event information may be displayed in successive stages, as described above in connection with fig. 1C and 1D.

As another example, assume that step 410 includes displaying a UI element (e.g., button 108B, as shown in FIG. 1B) that includes a message regarding one or more files that the user should view before the event, and that step 412 includes receiving additional user input selecting the UI element. In this example, step 414 may include displaying additional event information, such as a filename and/or a preview of the file that should be viewed. In some embodiments, this additional event information may be displayed in successive stages, as described above in connection with fig. 1E and 1F.

As another example, assume that step 410 includes displaying a UI element (e.g., button 108c, as shown in fig. 1B) that includes a message regarding one or more conversations that the user should view before the event, and that step 412 includes receiving additional user input selecting the UI element. In this example, step 414 may include displaying additional information about the conversation (e.g., a subject line associated with the email conversation). If the user selects a particular conversation, portions of the message body of the messages belonging to that conversation may be displayed. In some embodiments, this additional event information may be displayed in successive stages, as described above in connection with fig. 1G and 1H.

Step 416 of method 400 includes displaying a shortcut action associated with the event. If the event is a future event, then step 416 may be performed. For example, if the event is an online meeting scheduled to occur at some point in time in the future, step 416 may include displaying a link to join the online meeting.

Step 418 of method 400 includes displaying a summary of the event. This step 418 may be performed with respect to past events, i.e., events that have occurred. Some examples of information that may be included in the event summary include notes that the event participant has made and any action items decided on during the event.

Fig. 5 illustrates an example of a system 500 that includes a Personal Information Manager (PIM)540 on a computing device 576. The PIM540 is in electronic communication with a server 578. Communication between PIM540 and server 578 may occur via one or more computer networks, which may include the internet.

As described above, the PIM540 may be configured to receive a user input 546 indicating a request to display a search page, and to display the search page in response to the user input. The PIM540 may also be configured to obtain event information 548 regarding events involving the user in response to user input 546. To obtain event information 548, PIM540 may send a request 580 to server 578.

Server 578 may receive request 580 from PIM 540. In response to receiving request 580, server 578 may determine event information 548. The server 578 is shown with an event recognition component 544. Event recognition component 544 can operate similar to event recognition component 344 described above in connection with fig. 3. For example, event recognition component 544 can analyze data from various sources to determine event information 548. These sources may include, for example, calendar data 556 from calendar 554, contact data 560 from contact manager 558, task data 564 from task manager 562, and note data 568 from note manager 566. Event recognition component 544 can also analyze stored file 570 and stored dialog 572 to determine event information 548. Calendar data 556, contact data 560, task data 564, note data 568, files 570, and conversations 572 may be associated with a user of the PIM 540.

Once event information 548 has been determined, server 578 may send event information 548 to PIM 540. PIM540 may receive event information 548 from server 578 and display event information 548 on a search page.

PIM540 may automatically obtain event information 548 from server 578 and automatically display event information 548 in response to user input 546. In other words, once user input 546 has been received, PIM540 may send request 580 to server 578 and receive event information 548 from server 578 without any additional user input.

The computing device 576 may be any electronic device that includes a memory and a processor configured to perform a sequence of mathematical and logical operations following instructions stored in the memory. Some examples of computing devices that may be used in conjunction with the disclosed embodiments include desktop computers, laptop computers, smart phones, tablet computers, smart watches, virtual reality headsets, and fitness trackers.

The server 578 can be implemented using a single computing device or multiple computing devices. In some embodiments, the server 578 can be implemented as a distributed computing system (e.g., a cloud computing system) whose components reside on multiple computing devices. For example, a distributed computing system may include a number of different processing, memory, storage, and communication components connected by one or more communication networks. The various components of the distributed computing system may communicate with one another to coordinate their actions.

As described above, the techniques disclosed herein may be implemented by a software application, such as a personal information manager. Fig. 6 illustrates certain components that may be included within a computing system 600 on which such software applications may run.

The computing system 600 includes a processor 601. The processor 601 may be a general-purpose single-chip or multi-chip microprocessor (e.g., an advanced RISC (reduced instruction set computer) machine (ARM)), a special-purpose microprocessor (e.g., a Digital Signal Processor (DSP)), a microcontroller, a programmable gate array, or the like. The processor 601 may be referred to as a Central Processing Unit (CPU). Although only a single processor 601 is shown in the computing system 600 of FIG. 6, in alternative configurations, a combination of processors (e.g., an ARM and DSP) may be used.

The computing system 600 also includes memory 603 in electronic communication with the processor 601. The memory 603 may be any electronic component capable of storing electronic information. For example, the memory 603 may be embodied as Random Access Memory (RAM), Read Only Memory (ROM), magnetic disk storage media, optical storage media, flash memory devices in RAM, on-board memory included in the processor 601, Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EPROM), Electrically Erasable Programmable Read Only Memory (EEPROM) memory, registers, and so forth, including combinations thereof.

Instructions 605 and data 607 may be stored in memory 603. The instructions 605 may be executable by the processor 601 to implement some or all of the methods, steps, operations, actions, or other functionality disclosed herein. For example, the instructions 605 may be executable by the processor 601 to implement the method 400 shown in fig. 4. Executing the instructions 605 may involve using the data 607 stored in the memory 603. Unless otherwise noted, any of the various examples of modules and components described herein may be implemented in part or in whole as instructions 605 stored in memory 603 and executed by processor 601. Any of the various examples of data described herein may be in data 607 that is stored in memory 603 and used during execution of instructions 605 by processor 601.

Computing system 600 may also include one or more communication interfaces 609 for communicating with other electronic devices. The communication interface 609 may be based on wired communication technology, wireless communication technology, or both. Some examples of communication interface 609 include a Universal Serial Bus (USB), an Ethernet adapter, a wireless adapter that operates in accordance with an Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE)802.11 wireless communication protocol, a USB interface, a wireless interface, a USB interface, a wireless interface, a USB interface, an interface that operates in accordance with an Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE)802.11 wireless communication protocol,A wireless communication adapter and an Infrared (IR) communication port.

Computing system 600 may also include one or more input devices 611 and one or more output devices 613. Some examples of input devices 611 include a keyboard, mouse, microphone, remote control device, buttons, joystick, trackball, touch pad, and light pen. One particular type of output device 613 that is typically included in computing system 600 is a display device 615. Display device 615 for use with embodiments disclosed herein may utilize any suitable image projection technology, such as Liquid Crystal Displays (LCDs), Light Emitting Diodes (LEDs), gas plasmas, electroluminescence, and the like. A display controller 617 may also be provided for converting the data 607 stored in the memory 603 into text, graphics, and/or moving images (as appropriate) shown on the display device 615. Computing system 600 may also include other types of output devices 613, such as speakers, printers, and so forth.

The various components of computing system 600 may be coupled together by one or more buses, which may include a power bus, a control signal bus, a status signal bus, a data bus, and so forth. For clarity, the various buses are illustrated in FIG. 6 as a bus system 619.

The techniques described herein may be implemented in hardware, software, firmware, or any combination thereof unless specifically described as being implemented in a particular manner. Any features described as modules, components, etc. may also be implemented together in an integrated logic device or separately as discrete but interoperable logic devices. If implemented in software, the techniques may be realized at least in part by a non-transitory computer-readable medium having stored thereon computer-executable instructions that, when executed by at least one processor, perform some or all of the steps, operations, actions, or other functions disclosed herein. Instructions may be organized into routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc., that perform particular tasks and/or implement particular data types, and may be combined or distributed as desired in various embodiments.

The steps, operations, and/or actions of the methods described herein may be interchanged with one another without departing from the scope of the claims. In other words, unless a specific order of steps, operations, and/or actions is required for proper functioning of the described method, the order and/or use of specific steps, operations, and/or actions may be modified without departing from the scope of the claims.

In one example, the term "determining" (and grammatical variants thereof) encompasses a variety of actions and, thus, "determining" can include calculating, computing, processing, deriving, investigating, looking up (e.g., in a table, a database or other data structure), corroborating, and the like. Further, "determining" can include receiving (e.g., receiving information), accessing (e.g., accessing data in a memory), and the like. Further, "determining" may include resolving, selecting, establishing, and the like.

The terms "comprising," "including," and "having" are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements. Furthermore, it should be understood that references to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" of the present disclosure are not intended to be interpreted as excluding the existence of additional embodiments that also incorporate the recited features. For example, any element or feature described with respect to an embodiment herein may be combined with any element or feature of any other embodiment described herein, where compatible.

The present disclosure may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from its spirit or characteristics. The described embodiments are to be considered in all respects only as illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the disclosure is, therefore, indicated by the appended claims rather than by the foregoing description. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within their scope.