Systems and Methods for Task Assistance

Abstract

A method of task management executes at a computing device having one or more processors and memory. The memory stores one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors. There is received a description of a task associated with a user. Upon receipt of the description of the task, one or more entities associated with the task are identified using at least the description of the task and geographic information about the user. Information is identified for performing the task with the at least one respective entity in the one or more entities based upon an identity of the entity. This identified information for performing the task is then formatted for use by the user.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method of providing task assistance in association with an electronic messaging application, the method comprising:
 obtaining, by one or more processors of a computing device associated with the electronic messaging application, an identification of a task to be performed by a user;   identifying, by the one or more processors, at least one entity corresponding to the task based on a description of the task and information about the user;   based on identifying the at least one entity, the one or more processors identifying information for performing the task;   formatting, by one or more processors, the identified information for performing the task for presentation via a user interface; and   outputting by one or more processors, for presentation with the electronic messaging application via the user interface, the identified information for performing the task and information about the identified at least one entity.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein obtaining the identification of the task to be performed includes identifying the task based on an electronic message object associated with one or more messages of the electronic messaging application. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one entity includes evaluating whether each entity of a set of entities is capable of enabling performance of the task. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 3 , wherein identifying the at least one entity includes further includes comparing geographical locations for each of the entities in the set to geographical information for a location associated with a computing device of the user. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising selecting the at least one entity from a set of entities associated with the task by determining that the at least one entity is capable of enabling the user to perform the task. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the set of entities includes one or more of business entities or government entities. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one entity is a government entity, and the task is one of obtaining a government license, renewing the government license, obtaining a government permit, or amending the government permit. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one entity is a business entity, and the task is one of a service request, a cancellation request, or a renewal request. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein formatting the identified information for performing the task for presentation via the user interface includes adding the identified information to a task item in a message list. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein identifying the at least one entity corresponding to the task includes identifying a time of day or an amount of time in which the at least one entity is able to assist in performing the task. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 10 , wherein identifying the time of day or the amount of time includes evaluating at least one of an opening time, a closing time, or a time of day when the at least one entity will stop receiving requests to assist in performing the task. 
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the electronic messaging application is either an email application or an instant messaging application. 
     
     
         13 . A computing device, comprising:
 one or more processors; and   memory operatively coupled to the one or more processors, the memory storing one or more programs configured for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for a method of providing task assistance in association with an electronic messaging application, the method comprising:
 obtaining an identification of a task to be performed by a user; 
 identifying at least one entity corresponding to the task based on a description of the task and information about the user; 
 based on identifying the at least one entity, identifying information for performing the task; 
 formatting the identified information for performing the task for presentation via a user interface; and 
 outputting, for presentation with the electronic messaging application via the user interface, the identified information for performing the task and information about the identified at least one entity. 
   
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein obtaining the identification of the task to be performed includes identifying the task based on an electronic message object associated with one or more messages of the electronic messaging application. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein identifying the at least one entity includes evaluating whether each entity of a set of entities is capable of enabling performance of the task. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein identifying the at least one entity includes further includes comparing geographical locations for each of the entities in the set to geographical information for a location associated with a computing device of the user. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 13 , wherein the method further comprises selecting the at least one entity from a set of entities associated with the task by determining that the at least one entity is capable of enabling the user to perform the task. 
     
     
         18 . A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computing device having one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for performing a method of providing task assistance in association with an electronic messaging application, the method comprising:
 obtaining an identification of a task to be performed by a user;   identifying at least one entity corresponding to the task based on a description of the task and information about the user;   based on identifying the at least one entity, identifying information for performing the task;   formatting the identified information for performing the task for presentation via a user interface; and   outputting, for presentation with the electronic messaging application via the user interface, the identified information for performing the task and information about the identified at least one entity.   
     
     
         19 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein obtaining the identification of the task to be performed includes identifying the task based on an electronic message object associated with one or more messages of the electronic messaging application. 
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer readable storage medium of  claim 18 , wherein identifying the at least one entity includes evaluating whether each entity of a set of entities is capable of enabling performance of the task.