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Apple patents digital assistant feature that sorts timed tasks by user

Apple has filed a patent for a system that manages timed tasks through a digital assistant. The invention describes how the system identifies a user and changes the order in which task statuses are displayed based on whether the tasks belong to that specific user.

Why it mattersThis could make shared calendars or task lists easier to read by prioritizing items relevant to the person asking.

In the filing’s own words

Systems and processes for managing timed tasks with a digital assistant are provided. An example method includes at a computer system that is in communication with one or more input devices: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a request for a set of statuses corresponding to a respective set of timed tasks; identifying a user corresponding to the request; receiving the set of statuses; in accordance with a determination that a first timed task of the set of timed tasks is associated with the identified user, providing at least a subset of the set of statuses in a first order; and in accordance with a determination that the first timed task of the set of timed tasks is not associated with the identified user, providing the at least a subset of the set of statuses in a second order different than the first order.

What exactly they claim (claim 1)

1. A computer system configured to communicate with one or more input devices, the computer system comprising: one or more processors; memory storing one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for: receiving, via the one or more input devices, a request for a set of statuses corresponding to a respective set of timed tasks; identifying a user corresponding to the request; receiving the set of statuses; in accordance with a determination that a first timed task of the set of timed tasks is associated with the identified user, providing at least a subset of the set of statuses in a first order; and in accordance with a determination that the first timed task of the set of timed tasks is not associated with the identified user, providing the at least a subset of the set of statuses in a second order different than the first order.

Facts

Company
Apple (Apple Inc.)
Official title
MANAGING TIMED TASKS WITH A DIGITAL ASSISTANT
Publication number
US20260279355A1
Application number
19661250
Filed
Apr 28, 2026
Published
Sep 17, 2026
Inventors
6
Claims
18

Classified under

G10L 15/22 Physics & computingG10L 15/18 Physics & computingG10L 2015/223 Physics & computingG10L 15/30 Physics & computing

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Summaries are simplified from the filing’s own abstract and first claim. A patent filing is not a product announcement.
Patent data and drawings: U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). Nebula is not affiliated with or endorsed by the USPTO.