Microsoft Technology Licensing, LLC

Kevin Browne

Allan Rousselle

Michael J Connolly

Erik V Schwiebert

Geoffrey M Price

A method and system for creating timed reminders linked to computer-readable documents. The present invention permits a user to create a reminder for any date and time, and associate any data file with the reminder in such a manner that the file is automatically opened, executed, or read as applicable at the date and time specified in the reminder. A document-linked reminder may be created from any application program within an application suite through the use of a reminder creation dialog. The reminder creation dialog permits a user to specify a time and date on which the reminder will activate, and an associated file. The reminder is then stored in a database. The reminder creation dialog may be later accessed in order to create additional reminders, or to edit the time, date, or associated file for existing reminders. Periodically, the document reminder system will poll the database in order to determine whether any reminders need to be activated. This polling is carried out via the application suite, when active, or via a background program if the application suite is inactive. At the time and date specified, the reminder will be displayed, along with the name of the associated file and a variety of reminder options. In an exemplary embodiment, these options include the ability to reschedule, delete, or delay the reminder, as well as the ability to launch or otherwise execute the associated file.

Method and system for setting document-linked timed reminders

Generally described, the invention is a graphical method for creating an embedded database, or List Object, within a spreadsheet program, wherein the List Object is made up of a number of individual records, which in turn are made up of a number of data fields. The method is a multi-step process that uses a graphical interface to create the List Object, also known as a List. In the first step of the process, the user must define where the data for the List is coming from and where the List will be stored in the spreadsheet program. Specifically, the user must identify whether any pre-existing data will be used to populate the List or whether the List will be populated from scratch. Next, the user must define the data fields in the list, which includes naming each field and defining the data type for each field. Finally, in the last step of the process, the List is created in the spreadsheet program in such a manner that each field in each record is logically associated to every other field in the record.

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Issaquah, WA, United States of America

Kevin Browne