Selective exposure of free time in group scheduling systems
First Claim
1. A system for selectively exposing free time in a group scheduling system, the system comprising:
- a groupware system comprising a calendar of scheduled meetings between a plurality of groupware system users;
a set of free time rules, each of said free time rules specifying whether to expose at least one of said scheduled meetings, or whether to hide said at least one scheduled meeting; and
, a free time rule processor configured to expose individual ones of said scheduled meetings to requesting ones of said groupware system users based upon associated ones of said free time rules, each said exposure permitting a new meeting to be scheduled in lieu of each said exposed individual ones of said scheduled meetings.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system for selectively exposing free time in a group scheduling system. THe system can include a groupware system having a calendar of scheduled meetings between a multiplicity of groupware system users. A set of free time rules further can be provided. Each of the free time rules can specify whether to expose at least one of the scheduled meetings, or whether to hide the at least one scheduled meeting. Finally, a free time rule processor can be configured to expose individual ones of the scheduled meetings to requesting ones of the groupware system users based upon associated ones of the free time rules. Consequently, each exposure can permit a new meeting to be scheduled in lieu of each the exposed individual ones of the scheduled meetings.
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Citations
15 Claims
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1. A system for selectively exposing free time in a group scheduling system, the system comprising:
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a groupware system comprising a calendar of scheduled meetings between a plurality of groupware system users;
a set of free time rules, each of said free time rules specifying whether to expose at least one of said scheduled meetings, or whether to hide said at least one scheduled meeting; and
,a free time rule processor configured to expose individual ones of said scheduled meetings to requesting ones of said groupware system users based upon associated ones of said free time rules, each said exposure permitting a new meeting to be scheduled in lieu of each said exposed individual ones of said scheduled meetings. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for selectively exposing free time in a group scheduling system, the method comprising the steps of:
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receiving a request from a requesting group scheduling system user to schedule a meeting with at least one directly invited group scheduling system user for a specified purpose during a specified time slot;
identifying a previously scheduled meeting during at least a portion of said specified time slot; and
,applying at least one free time rule to one of said previously scheduled meeting and said requesting group scheduling system user to determine whether to expose said previously scheduled meeting as free time and not as scheduled time. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for selectively exposing free time in a group scheduling system, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions for causing the machine to perform the steps of:
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receiving a request from a requesting group scheduling system user to schedule a meeting with at least one directly invited group scheduling system user for a specified purpose during a specified time slot;
identifying a previously scheduled meeting during at least a portion of said specified time slot; and
,applying at least one free time rule to one of said previously scheduled meeting and said requesting group scheduling system user to determine whether to expose said previously scheduled meeting as free time and not as scheduled time. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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Specification