Calendar-based user interface system

• US 20030156138A1
• Filed: 06/28/2002
• Published: 08/21/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 02/20/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Cheng, Lili, Kelly, Sean U., Vronay, David P.
• Granted Patent: US 7,441,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/772
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A calendar-based interface system accommodates innate human memory by associating computer-related events, and other events, based upon when they occur. The calendar user interface system utilizes a calendar as a top-level user interface for accessing computer information. The calendar-based interface system utilizes system-wide monitoring of the user and associations between various computer files, people, and other information related to the user. This allows a user to view and assign searchable metadata (e.g., metadata relating to associated dates) and to retrieve computer information that matches selected metadata.

Claims

1. Calendar-based interface software in a computer readable medium, comprising:

a system activity monitor that monitors user activity on a user-operated computer;

a calendar system database of metadata relating to objects stored or activities carried out on a computer;

a similarity system that determines a degree of similarity between at least a pair of computer files or objects;

a chunking system that uses the degrees of similarity determined by the similarity system for a set of objects and groups them into a number of sub-groups; and

a calendar user interface system that utilizes information stored in the calendar system database by the system activity monitor, and information determined by the similarity system and the chunking system to display in a calendar format time-based information relating to objects stored or activities carried out on the computer.

2. The medium of claim 1 in which the calendar user interface system renders on a display screen an overview calendar-based user interface that includes one or more visualizations relating to user activity on the user-operated computer as determined by the system activity monitor.

3. The medium of claim 1 in which the calendar user interface system renders on a display screen an overview calendar-based user interface that includes one or more visualizations relating to information that is automatically stored in the calendar system database without user activity.

4. The medium of claim 1 in which the system activity monitor discerns automatically a user context based upon user activity on the computer and in which the calendar user interface system renders on a display screen a context-based calendar user interface based upon the user context.

5. The medium of claim 4 further comprising a database query user interface for creating a database query directed to dates associated with metadata stored in the calendar system database, the dates in the database query being selectable directly from a calendar in the context-based calendar user interface.

6. The medium of claim 4 in which the database query user interface includes a database query directed to metadata other than dates stored in the calendar system database.

7. The medium of claim 4 further comprising a database query user interface for creating a database query directed to metadata other than dates stored in the calendar system database.

8. The medium of claim 1 in which the system activity monitor includes a universal input activity monitor.

9. Calendar-based interface software in a computer readable medium, comprising:

a system database of metadata relating to objects stored or activities carried out on a user-operated computer, the metadata including date information that is stored automatically in the database; and

software for a calendar user interface that utilizes information stored in the system database to display in a calendar format time-based information relating the objects stored or activities carried out on the computer.

10. The medium of claim 9 in which the software for a calendar user interface renders on a display screen an overview calendar-based user interface that includes one or more visualizations relating to user activity on the user-operated computer.

11. The medium of claim 9 in which the software for a calendar user interface renders on a display screen an overview calendar-based user interface that includes one or more visualizations relating to date information that is automatically stored in the system database.

12. The medium of claim 9 further comprising a system activity monitor that monitors user activity on a user-operated computer and discerns automatically a user context based upon user activity on the computer and in which the software for a calendar user interface renders on a display screen a context-based calendar user interface based upon the user context.

13. The medium of claim 12 further comprising software for a database query user interface for creating a database query directed to dates associated with metadata stored in the calendar system database, the dates in the database query being selectable directly from a calendar in the context-based calendar user interface.

14. The medium of claim 12 in which the software for a database query user interface further provides a database query directed to metadata other than dates stored in the system database.

15. A calendar-based system user interface rendered on a computer display, comprising:

a user interface calendar that utilizes information stored in a system database to display in a calendar format time-based information relating objects stored or activities carried out on a user-operated computer.

16. The interface of claim 15 in which the user interface calendar includes one or more visualizations rendered on the display screen and relating to user activity on the user-operated computer.

17. The interface of claim 16 in which the user interface calendar includes one or more visualizations rendered on the display screen and relating to date information that is automatically stored in the system database.

18. The interface of claim 15 in which the user interface calendar includes a context-based calendar user interface corresponding to a user context based upon user activities carried out on the computer.

19. The medium of claim 18 further comprising a database query user interface for creating a database query directed to date information relating to the computer files stored on or the activities carried out on the user-operated computer, the dates in the database query being selectable directly from the user interface calendar.