The patent was discovered by MSPowerUser (MSPU) and is titled “MEETING PREPERATION MANAGER”. Microsoft originally filed the patent back on June 19, 2019 and it was published on WIPO on January 2, 2020. In the Microsoft Patent, the company describes a tool that would make it easier for users to organize meetings, prepare for them, and manage ongoing preparations. Sure, Microsoft already has tools geared towards this baked into services such as To-Do, Teams, and Outlook. However, it seems the company wants to create a singular experience. Any organization will say meetings are easy to set up but are often frustrating to prepare for. This preparation could involve creating a presentation, ensuring all parties can attend, finding the correct resources, etc. Microsoft explains this process is often time consuming: “Often, a significant amount of time is spent preparing for these meetings. Calendars make it relatively easy to set up and track the meetings. However, preparing for meetings can be a challenge. For example, a person may need to read a document, prepare slides, get feedback from stakeholders, or perform other tasks before attending a meeting.”
Automated Preparation
According to the Microsoft Patent, Redmond is working on an automated tool that would do the heavy lifting during preparations. “Aspects of this disclosure provide systems and methods for managing meeting preparation for attendees. In an aspect, preparation events are associated with upcoming meetings. The preparation events are then viewable in association with the meeting or through other preparation interfaces. “The technology can determine due dates and work times for the preparation events that allow the user to complete the preparation prior to a scheduled meeting. The due dates and times can be used to surface notifications and reminders of the preparation events. If a meeting is canceled or rescheduled, the due dates for preparation events can automatically be updated.” In the patent, Microsoft suggests the tool will not be a standalone service but will instead be integrated with current services.
