Determining graduated availability for meetings by individuals and groups
First Claim
1. A method for scheduling a task based upon a measure of graduated availability for a specified time frame, the method comprising the steps of:
- identifying tasks which previously had been scheduled about a specified time frame;
weighting each of said identified tasks according to a likelihood that a newly scheduled task when combined with said weighted identified tasks would interfere with completing said weighted identified tasks;
computing an average of said weights, said average producing a graduated availability for said specified time frame; and
, storing said graduated availability for use in scheduling a new task about said specified time frame.
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Abstract
A method, system and apparatus for scheduling a task based upon a measure of graduated availability for a specified time frame. The method can include identifying tasks which previously had been scheduled about a specified time frame. Each of the identified tasks can be weighted according to a likelihood that a newly scheduled task when combined with the weighted identified tasks would interfere with completing the weighted identified tasks. An average of the weights can be computed, the average producing a graduated availability for the specified time frame. Finally, the graduated availability can be stored for use in scheduling a new task about the specified time frame. For example, a new task can be scheduled about the specified time frame only if the graduated availability indicates that the new task would not interfere with completing the weighted identified tasks.
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Citations
19 Claims
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1. A method for scheduling a task based upon a measure of graduated availability for a specified time frame, the method comprising the steps of:
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identifying tasks which previously had been scheduled about a specified time frame;
weighting each of said identified tasks according to a likelihood that a newly scheduled task when combined with said weighted identified tasks would interfere with completing said weighted identified tasks;
computing an average of said weights, said average producing a graduated availability for said specified time frame; and
,storing said graduated availability for use in scheduling a new task about said specified time frame. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A groupware system comprising:
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group calendering logic configured to schedule tasks for individual groupware users during specified time periods;
a data store coupled to said group calendaring logic for storing calendars managed by said group calendaring logic for each of said users; and
,a graduated availability processor coupled to said group calendaring logic and said data store, and programmed to determine whether scheduling a new task in at least one of said stored calendars involving selected ones of said users during a specified time frame would overload any one of said selected ones of said users by virtue of other tasks which had previously been scheduled in proximity to, but not in direct conflict with, said specified time frame. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11)
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12. A machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program for scheduling a task based upon a measure of graduated availability for a specified time frame, the computer program comprising a routine set of instructions which when executed by the machine cause the machine to perform the steps of:
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identifying tasks which previously had been scheduled about a specified time frame;
weighting each of said identified tasks according to a likelihood that a newly scheduled task when combined with said weighted identified tasks would interfere with completing said weighted identified tasks;
computing an average of said weights, said average producing a graduated availability for said specified time frame; and
,storing said graduated availability for use in scheduling a new task about said specified time frame. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification