METHOD, SYSTEM, AND STORAGE MEDIUM FOR PERFORMING CALENDARING AND REMINDER ACTIVITIES

• US 20050091095A1
• Filed: 10/22/2003
• Published: 04/28/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, Edward E., Wilbrink, Tijs Y.
• Granted Patent: US 7,475,021 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/7.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06312 Adjustment or analysis of established resource schedule, e.g. resource or task levelling, or dynamic rescheduling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06315 Needs-based resource requirements planning or analysis
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

An exemplary embodiment of the invention relates to a method, system, and storage medium for performing calendaring and reminder activities for a computer user. The method includes analyzing text displayed on a computer screen, identifying calendar parameters resulting from the analysis, creating a calendar entry record that includes a source of the calendar parameters, pasting the calendar parameters into the calendar entry record, and automatically storing the calendar entry record in a calendar application without opening the calendar application. Calendar parameters include at least one of a date, a time, a meeting type, and a subject.

Claims

1. A method for performing calendaring and reminder activities for a computer user, comprising:

analyzing text displayed on a computer screen;

identifying calendar parameters resulting from said analyzing, said calendar parameters comprising at least one of;

a date;

a time;

a meeting type; and

a subject;

creating a calendar entry record, said calendar entry record including a source of said calendar parameters;

pasting said calendar parameters into said calendar entry record; and

automatically storing said calendar entry record in a calendar application without opening said calendar application.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

checking said calendar application for scheduling conflicts by comparing said calendar parameters to data stored in said calendar application;

alerting said computer user when a scheduling conflict exists; and

in response to a request by said computer user, performing at least one of;

bypassing said scheduling conflict and retaining conflicting scheduling data; and

discarding selected calendar parameters to avoid said scheduling conflict.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said automatically storing said calendar entry record in a calendar application includes prompting said computer user to select a calendar application for storing said calendar entry record when more than one calendar application exists on said computer user'"'"'s computer system.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said text is selected for analysis by said computer user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said text is:

entered by said computer user using a software application;

displayed on said computer screen in response to accessing a web site;

displayed on said computer screen in response to accessing a web page;

displayed on said computer screen in response to opening an email message;

displayed on said computer screen in response to opening a document.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said source includes at least one of:

a web site address;

a uniform resource locator;

a file name and path in a directory; and

an email folder.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising analyzing said calendar entry records for validating currency of calendar data and updating said data if applicable, said analyzing said calendar entry records and updating said data comprises:

opening a source associated with a calendar entry record to be analyzed;

comparing content displayed upon said opening a source with content in said calendar entry record;

if content displayed upon said opening a source is not similar to content in said calendar entry record;

presenting both sets of data to said computer user; and

prompting said computer user to select from options including at least one of;

updating said calendar entry record with new data found as a result of said opening a source associated with a calendar entry record;

creating a new calendar entry record; and

canceling said calendar entry record; and

if content displayed upon said opening a source is similar to content in said calendar entry record, retaining said calendar entry record.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

including a notice in a calendar entry record when a source associated with said calendar entry record to be analyzed cannot be opened.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said meeting type comprises a location, said location including at least one of:

a conference call number;

a physical address;

an online address for a chat room or web-enabled presentation.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, said deploying comprising:

installing said process software on at least one server;

identifying server addresses for users accessing said process software on said at least one server;

installing a proxy server if needed;

sending said process software to said at least one server and copying said process software to a file system of said at least one server;

sending the process software to at least a first computer client; and

executing said process software on said first computer client.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein said installing said process software further comprises:

determining if programs will reside on said at least one server when said process software is executed;

identifying said at least one server that will execute said process software; and

transferring said process software to storage for said at least one server.

12. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client further includes having said at least one server automatically copy said process software to said first computer client, and running an installation program at said first computer client to install said process software on said first computer client.

13. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client further comprises identifying a user and an address of said first computer client.

14. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client includes sending said process software to at least one directory on said first computer client.

15. The method of claim 10, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client includes sending said process software to said first computer client via e-mail.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising integrating process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, said integrating comprising:

determining if said process software will execute on at least one server;

identifying an address of said at least one server;

checking said at least one server for operating systems, applications, and version numbers for validation with said process software, and identifying any missing software applications for said at least one server that are required for integration;

updating said at least one server with respect to any operating system and application that is not validated for said process software, and providing any of said missing software applications for said at least one server required for said integration;

identifying client addresses and checking computer clients for operating systems, applications, and version numbers for validation with said process software, and identifying any software applications missing from said computer clients that are required for integration;

updating said computer clients with respect to any operating system and application that is not validated for said process software, and providing any missing software application for said computer clients required for said integration; and

installing said process software on said computer clients and said at least one server.

17. The method of claim 1, further comprising on demand sharing of process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, said on demand sharing comprising:

creating a transaction containing unique customer identification, requested service type, and service parameters;

sending said transaction to at least one main server;

querying said at least one main server about processing capacity associated with said at least one main server to help ensure availability of adequate resources for processing of said transaction; and

allocating additional processing capacity when additional capacity appears needed to process said transaction, said additional processing capacity being selected from the group of additional capacities consisting of central processing unit capacity, processor memory capacity, network bandwidth capacity, and storage capacity.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising recording a plurality of usage measurements selected from the group of usage measurements consisting of network bandwidth, processor memory, storage, and central processing unit cycles.

19. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

summing said usage measurements;

acquiring at least one multiplicative value associated with said usage measurements and with unit costs; and

recording any such acquired multiplicative value as an on demand charge to a requesting customer.

20. The method of claim 19, further comprising at least one of:

posting said on demand charge on a web site if requested by said requesting customer; and

sending said on demand charge via e-mail to said requesting customer'"'"'s e-mail address.

21. The method of claim 19, further comprising charging said on demand charge to said requesting customer'"'"'s account if an account exists and if said requesting customer has selected a charge account payment method.

22. The method of claim 1, further comprising deploying, accessing, and executing process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, said deploying, accessing, and executing process software implemented through a virtual private network, the method further comprising:

determining if a virtual private network is required;

checking for remote access to said virtual private network when it is required;

if said remote access does not exist, identifying a third party provider to provide secure, encrypted connections between a private network and remote users;

identifying said remote users; and

setting up a network access server operable for downloading and installing client software on desktop computers for remote access of said virtual private network;

accessing said process software;

transporting said process software to at least one remote user'"'"'s desktop computer; and

executing said process software on said at least one remote user'"'"'s desktop computer.

23. The method of claim 22, further comprising:

determining if said virtual private network has a site-to-site configuration for providing site-to-site access, and if said virtual private network is not so available, installing equipment required to establish a site-to-site configuration for said virtual private network;

installing large scale encryption into said site-to-site virtual private network; and

accessing said process software through said site-to-site configuration with large scale encryption.

24. The method of claim 23, wherein said accessing said process software further comprises at least one of:

dialing into said network access server, and attaching directly via a modem into said network access server, said modem being selected from the group of modems consisting of telephone dial-up modems, cable modems, DSL modems, and wireless modems.

25. A storage medium encoded with machine-readable computer program code for performing calendaring and reminder activities for a computer user, said storage medium including instructions for causing a computer to implement a method, comprising:

analyzing text displayed on a computer screen;

identifying calendar parameters resulting from said analyzing, said calendar parameters comprising at least one of;

a date;

a time;

a meeting type; and

a subject;

creating a calendar entry record, said calendar entry record including a source of said calendar parameters;

pasting said calendar parameters into said calendar entry record; and

automatically storing said calendar entry record in a calendar application without opening said calendar application.

26. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

checking said calendar application for scheduling conflicts by comparing said calendar parameters to data stored in said calendar application;

alerting said computer user when a scheduling conflict exists; and

in response to a request by said computer user, performing at least one of;

bypassing said scheduling conflict and retaining conflicting scheduling data; and

discarding selected calendar parameters to avoid said scheduling conflict.

27. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said automatically storing said calendar entry record in a calendar application includes prompting said computer user to select a calendar application for storing said calendar entry record when more than one calendar application exists on said computer user'"'"'s computer system.

28. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said text is selected for analysis by said computer user.

29. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said text is:

entered by said computer user using a software application;

displayed on said computer screen in response to accessing a web site;

displayed on said computer screen in response to accessing a web page;

displayed on said computer screen in response to opening an email message;

displayed on said computer screen in response to opening a document.

30. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said source includes at least one of:

a web site address;

a uniform resource locator;

a file name and path in a directory; and

an email folder.

31. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to perform:

analyzing said calendar entry records for validating currency of calendar data and updating said data if applicable, said analyzing said calendar entry records and updating said data comprises;

opening a source associated with a calendar entry record to be analyzed;

comparing content displayed upon said opening a source with content in said calendar entry record;

if content displayed upon said opening a source is not similar to content in said calendar entry record;

presenting both sets of data to said computer user; and

prompting said computer user to select from options including at least one of;

updating said calendar entry record with new data found as a result of said opening a source associated with a calendar entry record;

creating a new calendar entry record; and

canceling said calendar entry record; and

if content displayed upon said opening a source is similar to content in said calendar entry record, retaining said calendar entry record.

32. The storage medium of claim 31, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

including a notice in a calendar entry record when a source associated with said calendar entry record to be analyzed cannot be opened.

33. The storage medium of claim 25, wherein said meeting type comprises a location, said location including at least one of:

a conference call number;

a physical address;

an online address for a chat room or web-enabled presentation.

34. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to deploy process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, wherein deployment of process software comprises:

installing said process software on at least one server;

identifying server addresses for users accessing said process software on said at least one server;

installing a proxy server if needed;

sending said process software to said at least one server and copying said process software to a file system associated with said at least one server;

sending said process software to at least a first client system;

executing said process software on said first client system;

determining if programs will reside on said at least one server when said process software is executed;

identifying said at least one server that will execute said process software; and

transferring said process software to storage for said at least one server.

35. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein said installing said process software further comprises:

determining if programs will reside on said at least one server when said process software is executed;

identifying said at least one server that will execute said process software; and

transferring said process software to storage for said at least one server.

36. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein said sending said process software to said first client system includes having said at least one server automatically copy said process software to said first client system, and running an installation program at said first client system to install said process software on said first client system.

37. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client further comprises identifying a user and an address of said first computer client.

38. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client includes sending said process software to at least one directory on said first computer client.

39. The storage medium of claim 34, wherein said sending said process software to said first computer client includes sending said process software to said first computer client via e-mail.

40. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to integrate process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, wherein integration comprises:

determining if said process software will execute on at least one server;

identifying an address of said at least one server;

checking said at least one server for operating systems, applications, and version numbers for validation with said process software, and identifying any missing software applications for said at least one server that are required for integration;

updating said at least one server with respect to any operating system and application that is not validated for said process software and providing any of said missing software application for said at least one server required for said integration;

identifying client addresses and checking client systems for operating systems, applications, and version numbers for validation with said process software, and identifying any software applications missing from said client systems that are required for integration;

updating said client systems with respect to any operating system and application that is not validated for said process software, and providing any missing software application for said client systems required for said integration; and

installing said process software on said client systems and said at least one server.

41. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement on demand sharing of process software operable for performing said calendaring and reminder activities, said on demand sharing of process software including:

creating a transaction containing a unique customer identification, requested service type, and service parameters;

sending said transaction to said at least one server;

querying said at least one server about processing capacity associated with said at least one server to help ensure availability of adequate resources for processing of said transaction; and

allocating additional processing capacity when additional capacity is needed to process said transaction, said additional processing capacity being selected from the group of additional capacities consisting of central processing unit capacity, processor memory capacity, network bandwidth capacity, and storage capacity.

42. The storage medium of claim 41, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

recording a plurality of usage measurements selected from the group of usage measurements consisting of network bandwidth, processor memory, storage, and central processing unit cycles.

43. The storage medium of claim 42, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

summing said usage measurements;

acquiring at least one multiplicative value associated with said usage measurements and with unit costs; and

recording any such acquired multiplicative value as an on demand charge to a requesting customer.

44. The storage medium of claim 43, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement at least one of:

posting said on demand charge on a web site if requested by said requesting customer; and

sending said on demand charge via e-mail to said requesting customer'"'"'s e-mail address.

45. The storage medium of claim 43, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

charging said on demand charge to said requesting customer'"'"'s account if an account exists and if said requesting customer has selected a charge account payment method.

46. The storage medium of claim 25, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement deploying, accessing, and executing process software for performing said calendaring and reminder activities through a virtual private network, said deploying, accessing, and executing process software including:

determining if a virtual private network is required;

checking for remote access to said virtual private network when it is required;

if said remote access does not exist, identifying a third party provider to provide secure, encrypted connections between a private network and remote users;

identifying said remote users;

setting up a network access server for downloading and installing client software on desktop computers for remotely accessing said virtual private network;

accessing said process software;

transporting said process software to at least one remote user'"'"'s desktop computer; and

executing said process software on said at least one remote user'"'"'s desktop computer.

47. The storage medium of claim 46, further comprising instructions for causing said computer to implement:

determining if said virtual private network has a site-to-site configuration for providing site-to-site access, and if said virtual private network is not so available, installing equipment required to establish a site-to-site configuration for said virtual private network;

installing large scale encryption into said site-to-site virtual private network; and

accessing said process software through said site-to-site configuration with large-scale encryption;

wherein said accessing said process software includes at least one of;

dialing into said network access server; and

attaching directly via a modem into said network access server, said modem being selected from the group of modems consisting of telephone dial-up modems, cable modems, DSL modems and wireless modems.

48. A system for performing calendaring and reminder activities for a computer user, comprising:

a computer client system executing at least one calendar application and at least one of;

a web browser program;

an email program;

a word processing program;

a link to a server, wherein said computer client system accesses data from said server via a communications network;

a calendaring and reminder system accessible to said computer client system; and

a calendar entry record stored on said computer client system;

wherein said calendaring and reminder system performs;

analyzing text displayed on a computer screen of said computer client system;

identifying calendar parameters resulting from said analyzing, said calendar parameters comprising at least one of;

a date;

a time;

a location;

a meeting type; and

a subject;

creating a calendar entry record, said calendar entry record

including a source of said calendar parameters;

pasting said calendar parameters into said calendar entry record; and

automatically storing said calendar entry record in said calendar application without opening said calendar application.