Method and apparatus for a calendar system with a location functionality

• US 20050114191A1
• Filed: 11/20/2003
• Published: 05/26/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 11/20/2003
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Wright, Cornell G. Jr., Atkin, Steven Edward
• Application Number:
  US10/718,087
• Publication Number:
  US 20050114191A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

A method, apparatus, and computer instructions for managing scheduling information in a calendar program. Location information with scheduling information for a user is stored. The location information includes a time zone associated with a location for the user for a particular day. A calendar view is presented for the user with meetings being shown using a local time using the time zone associated with the location of the user.

Claims

1. A method in a data processing system for managing scheduling information in a calendar program, the method comprising:

storing location information with scheduling information for a user, wherein the location information includes a time zone associated with a location for the user for a particular day; and

presenting a calendar view for the user with meetings being shown using a local time using the time zone associated with the location of the user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the user is present in multiple time zones for the particular day and wherein the calendar view includes local times for each of the multiple time zones.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

obtaining location information for a set of potential participants for a meeting; and

responsive to the user selecting a proposed meeting time for the particular day, displaying the meeting time for a potential participant in the set of potential participants using a local time for the potential participant on the particular day.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising:

obtaining location information for a potential participant for a meeting;

determining whether a day is present in which the user and the potential participant are in a common location; and

responsive to the day being present, scheduling a meeting between the user and the potential participant on the day.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting step includes:

displaying an indication of business hours for each day based on the location information.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the obtaining step is initiated in response to the user identifying the set of potential participants.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the presenting step includes:

displaying an indication of holidays based on the location information, wherein a holiday for a selected day is based on a location of the user on the selected day.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the location information is stored locally in the data processing system.

9. A data processing system for managing scheduling information in a calendar program, the data processing system comprising:

storing means for storing location information with scheduling information for a user, wherein the location information includes a time zone associated with a location for the user for a particular day; and

presenting means for presenting a calendar view for the user with meetings being shown using a local time using the time zone associated with the location of the user.

10. The data processing system of claim 9, further comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining location information for a set of potential participants for a meeting; and

displaying means for displaying the meeting time for a potential participant in the set of potential participants using a local time for the potential participant on the particular day in response to the user selecting a proposed meeting time for the particular day.

11. The data processing system of claim 10 further comprising:

obtaining means for obtaining location information for a potential participant for a meeting;

determining means for determining whether a day is present in which the user and the potential participant are in a common location; and

scheduling means for scheduling a meeting between the user and the potential participant on the day in response to the day being present.

12. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the presenting means includes:

displaying means for displaying an indication of business hours for each day based on the location information.

13. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the obtaining means is initiated in response to the user identifying the set of potential participants.

14. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the presenting means includes:

displaying means for displaying an indication of holidays based on the location information, wherein a holiday for a selected day is based on a location of the user on the selected day.

15. The data processing system of claim 9, wherein the location information is stored locally in the data processing system.

16. A computer program product in a computer readable medium for managing scheduling information in a calendar program, the computer program product comprising:

first instructions for storing location information with scheduling information for a user, wherein the location information includes a time zone associated with a location for the user for a particular day; and

second instructions for presenting a calendar view for the user with meetings being shown using a local time using the time zone associated with the location of the user.

17. The computer program product of claim 16, further comprising:

third instructions for obtaining location information for a set of potential participants for a meeting; and

fourth instructions for displaying the meeting time for a potential participant in the set of potential participants using a local time for the potential participant on the particular day in response to the user selecting a proposed meeting time for the particular day.

18. The computer program product of claim 17 further comprising:

first sub-instructions for obtaining location information for a potential participant for a meeting;

second sub-instructions for determining whether a day is present in which the user and the potential participant are in a common location; and

third sub-instructions for scheduling a meeting between the user and the potential participant on the day in response to the day being present.

19. The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the second instructions includes:

sub-instructions for displaying an indication of business hours for each day based on the location information.

20. The method of claim 16, wherein the location information is stored locally in the data processing system.