Calendar bar interface for electronic mail interaction

• US 20050057584A1
• Filed: 12/27/2002
• Published: 03/17/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/27/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ServiceNow Incorporated
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Rohall, Steven L., Gruen, Daniel M., Moody, Paul B., Patterson, John, Kellerman, Seymour, Kerr, Bernard
• Granted Patent: US 7,363,590 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/752
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2856 Access arrangements, e.g. Internet access asynchronous transfer mode networks H04L12/5601; broadband local area networks H04L12/2801; optical access or distribution networks H04Q11/0067; access to open networks H04L12/5691; digital subscriber line end-user equipment and bit-level processing of data on a PSTN-based network H04M11/00; home network gateways H04L12/2834; wireless access networks H04W
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/2874 Processing of data for distribution to the subscribers
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/42 Mailbox-related aspects, e.g. synchronisation of mailboxes

Abstract

A calendar bar utility with a special user interface may be integrated and displayed simultaneously with an electronic mail list inbox. The calendar bar user interface comprises a linear display arranged into multiple, chronologically-arranged, time periods. Upon selection of a specific time period, such as a day, or the current day, subdivisions of the time period, e.g. hours of a day, are displayed in a similar format. The calendar bar also allows multiple calendars, for example the personal calendar of the user, and a team calendar for multiple individuals, to be displayed simultaneously for easy access. Selection of a specific time period causes data associated with any event in that time period to be displayed next to the designated time period, or, alternatively, in a separate window. The data associated with the event may vary in detail and scope depending on the designer preferences, but will typically include the start and end times, the location, topic, type, i.e. call-in, video conference, etc., the participants, relevant telephone numbers, network addresses, electronic mail content and/or threads or summaries thereof and references to any relevant data and materials.

Claims

1. In a computer system operatively coupled to a network and capable of displaying a user interface, a method comprising:

(A) providing a first displayable calendar bar utility, the calendar utility defining a plurality of time periods;

(B) establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods and a data structure used to maintain information associated with the defined time period;

(C) displaying the first linear calendar bar utility on the user interface; and

(D) in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

(D) displaying a second linear calendar bar utility on the user interface simultaneously with the first linear calendar bar utility.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein (C) further comprises:

(C1) displaying the first calendar bar utility on the user interface in conjunction with graphic representations of a plurality of electronic mail documents.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein (C) further comprises:

(C1) in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface an original electronic mail document associated with the defined time period.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein (C) further comprises:

(C1) in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface a summary of an electronic mail document associated with the defined time period.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein (C) further comprises:

(C1) in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface a summary of an electronic mail conversation thread associated with the defined time period.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the information maintained in the data structure comprises any of start and end times, location, topic, participants, telephone numbers, network addresses, event type, and reference data relating to an event associated with the defined time period.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first calendar bar utility comprises a linear graphic display of defined time periods, each defined time period associated with a day.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein selection of a defined time period associated with a day causes a second linear graphic display of defined time periods to be displayed, each of the defined time periods of the second linear graphic display associated with an hour of the day.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein the first calendar bar utility comprises a linear graphic display of defined time periods extending normal to an axis along which the information associated with one of the defined time period is displayed.

11. A computer program product for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of displaying a user interface, the computer program product comprising a computer useable medium having embodied therein program code comprising:

(A) program code for generating a displayable calendar bar utility, the calendar utility defining a plurality of time periods;

(B) program code for establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods and a data structure use to maintain information associated with the defined time period;

(C) program code for displaying the linear calendar bar utility on the user interface; and

(D) program code for, in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period.

12. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable displaying a user interface, the computer data signal comprising:

(A) program code for generating a displayable calendar bar utility, the calendar utility defining a plurality of time periods;

(B) program code for establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods and a data structure use to maintain information associated with the defined time period,

(C) program code for displaying the linear calendar bar utility on the user interface; and

(D) program code for, in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period.

13. An apparatus for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and capable of displaying a user interface, the apparatus comprising:

(A) calendar bar utility displayable through the user interface, the calendar utility defining a plurality of time periods;

(B) program logic for establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods and a data structure used to maintain information associated with the defined time period; and

(C) program logic for, in response to selection of one of the defined time periods, displaying on the user interface the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 wherein (A) further comprises:

(A1) a first linear graphic display of defined time periods, each defined time period associated with a day.

15. The apparatus of claim 14 wherein (A) further comprises:

(A2) a second linear graphic display of defined time periods, each defined time period of the second linear graphic display associated with an hour of the day and displayable upon selection of a defined time period from the first linear graphic display.

16. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

(D) a user interface for receiving user defined information to be maintained in the data structure associated with a defined time period.

17. The apparatus of claim 13 further comprising:

(D) program logic for receiving information to be maintained in the data structure associated with a defined time period from a source other than through the user interface.

18. An apparatus for use with a computer system operatively connectable to a network and having a user interface, the apparatus comprising:

(A) calendar bar utility displayable through the user interface and comprising;

(i) a first linear graphic display of defined time periods, each defined time period associated with a day;

(ii) a second linear graphic display of defined time periods, each defined time period of the second linear graphic display associated with an hour of the day and displayable upon selection of a defined time period from the first linear graphic display;

(B) program logic for establishing a reference link between at least one of the defined time periods of the calendar bar utility and a data structure used to maintain information associated with the defined time period; and

(C) program logic for displaying on the user interface the information maintained in the data structure associated with the defined time period, in response to selection of one of the defined time periods.

19. The method of claim 18 further comprising:

(D) a user interface for receiving user defined information to be maintained in the data structure associated with a defined time period.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 further comprising:

(D) program logic for receiving information to be maintained in the data structure associated with a defined time period from a source other than through the user interface.