Method for displaying and navigating calendar events in a computer system having a graphical user interface

• US 10,042,527 B2
• Filed: 10/29/2013
• Issued: 08/07/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/29/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ulrich Seuthe
• Original Assignee: Ulrich Seuthe
• Inventors: Seuthe, Ulrich
• Primary Examiner(s): KLICOS, NICHOLAS GEORGE
• Application Number:
  US14/439,391
• Publication Number:
  US 20150268823A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,743 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04815 Interaction with a metaphor-based environment or interaction object displayed as three-dimensional, e.g. changing the user viewpoint with respect to the environment or object
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0485 Scrolling or panning
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A computer system having a graphical user interface that includes a display and a user interface selection device. The computer system includes a method of displaying and navigating calendar events. The method includes selecting an initial calendar time period for display; selecting initial time units; displaying a band looped around an axis from a point of view located on the axis wherein the band depicts the time units and the calendar events on the side facing the axis in chronological order; and using the user interface selection device to receive navigation commands moving the view point along the axis and/or rotating the band around the axis.

Claims

1. A method for using a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device so as to enable a user to input, display and navigate stored calendar events, the method comprising:

using said user interface selection device to select an initial calendar time period for display;

using said user interface selection device to select initial time units;

displaying on said display a band looped around an axis from a point of view located on the axis that is partially created from the stored calendar events to form a three-dimensional conical display onto the two-dimensional display that represents a conical time representative display wherein images on the band are largest at a beginning of the band and the images decrease in size along a length of the band, the band depicting the time units and the calendar events based on said selections made using said user interface selection device, said band depicting the time units and the calendar events on the side facing the axis in chronological order, the band is looped around a conical-shaped cylinder surface and the view point is from inside the cylinder, said band including visual indicators to differentiate portions of the band that include calendar events from portions of the band that are absent calendar events; and

using the user interface selection device to move the view point along the axis, rotating the band around the axis, and to select a particular calendar event on the band.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the band includes a start point and an end point.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the band between a first point in time and a second point in time is displayed.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein adjacent loops are spaced apart.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the time units are days and one loop corresponds to one week.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the time units are days and one loop corresponds to one month.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the calendar events are selectable by the user and a selection of the calendar events opens a program associated with the type of the calendar event.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the view point movement is restricted to a linear movement into and out of the looped band.

9. A computer system, comprising:

a graphical user interface including;

at least one electronic processor;

a display; and

a user interface selection device,

wherein the display is configured to graphically display a calendar, the user interface selection device is configured to enable a user to input, display and navigate stored calendar events, characterized in that the calendar is created and displayed in a form of a band looped around an axis, the band depicting time units and at least one calendar event on the side of the band facing the axis to form a three-dimensional conical display onto the two-dimensional display that represents a conical time representative display wherein images on the band are largest at a beginning of the band and the images decrease in size along a length of the band, the band is looped around a conical-shaped cylinder surface and the view point is from inside the cylinder, said band including visual indicators to differentiate portions of the band that include calendar events from portions of the band that are absent calendar events, said computer system configured to receive navigation commands from a user via the user interface selection device, and to graphically display the calendar with a view point changed according to the navigation commands, the user interface selection device configured to enable the user move the view point along the axis, rotating the band around the axis, and to select a particular calendar event on the band.

10. The computer system of claim 9, configured to translate a navigation command into a movement of the view point along the axis.

11. The computer system of claim 9, configured to translate a navigation command into a rotation of the band around the axis.

12. The computer system of claim 9, configured to display a time unit of the calendar, an event, and/or data associated with the calendar, in response to one or more user inputs via a user interface.

13. The computer system of claim 9, comprising one of a personal computer, a mobile phone, a tablet, or a laptop.

14. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the user interface selection device is at least one of:

a mouse having one or more buttons configured for pressing by a user, the pressing of one of the buttons constituting a user input;

a keyboard having one or more keys configured for pressing by the user, the pressing of one of the keys constituting a user input;

a camera configured to obtain gestures of the user, the gestures constituting a user input; and

a touch sensitive surface covering all or at least a portion of the display configured to receive movements by the user, the movements constituting a user input;

wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to;

receive one or more user inputs from the user interlace selection device;

process the received user inputs as the navigation command; and

alter the view point of the calendar on the display based on the navigation command.

15. The computer system of claim 14, wherein the events are selectable by the user via the user interface selection device and a selection of an event of the calendar events causes the at least one electronic processor to open a program associated with the type of the event.

16. The computer system of claim 9, wherein the at least one electronic processor is configured to control the display of the graphical user interface to display a portion of the band between a first point in time and a second point in time.