Software mechanism for providing distinct types of time dependent event objects for display in a graphical user interface

• US 20070089071A1
• Filed: 10/14/2005
• Published: 04/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/14/2005
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: May, Darrell, Zinn, Ronald
• Application Number:
  US11/249,425
• Publication Number:
  US 20070089071A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/844
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 8/38 for implementing user interfaces

Abstract

At a computing device such as a wireless communication device, a software component receives a set of constraints for selecting objects representative of time dependent event objects. The constraints may be generated automatically by a software module for displaying a visual representation of different types of time dependent events, e.g., in a GUI having a calendar-type view. The set of constraints may for example define a time range within which events occur or a maximum number of time dependent events occurring before or after a specified time. Each of a plurality of software objects maintaining a distinct set of time dependent event objects representing a distinct type of time dependent event provides a set of time dependent event objects meeting the set of constraints. The sets of time dependent event objects are merged into an ordered list based on an ordering criterion and provided to the software module for display.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a set of constraints for selecting objects representative of time dependent events;

requesting, from each of a plurality of software objects, each software object maintaining a distinct set of time dependent event objects representing a distinct type of time dependent event, a set of time dependent event objects meeting said set of constraints;

merging each said set of time dependent event objects into an ordered list based on an ordering criterion; and

providing said ordered list to a software module for displaying a visual representation of the time dependent event objects of said ordered list in a graphical user interface.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said plurality of software objects comprises an executable code unit which is capable of execution independently of an executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

3. The method of claim 2 wherein each said executable code unit comprises byte code.

4. The method of claim 2 wherein each of said executable code units comprising said plurality of software objects dynamically apprises the executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing of its existence by dynamically registering with the executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

5. The method of claim 4 wherein said dynamically registering comprises performing run-time resolution of a routine of said executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the plurality of software objects from which said sets of time dependent event objects are requested is determined based on a user indication of types of time dependent events for which display in said graphical user interface is desired.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events defines a time range within which time dependent events are to occur.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events defines a maximum number of time dependent events occurring prior to a specified time.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events is a maximum number of time dependent events occurring after a specified time.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein a first software object of said plurality of software objects maintains a set of appointment event objects, each appointment event object containing a start time value and a stop time value.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein a second software object of said plurality of software objects maintains a set of task event objects, each task event object containing a deadline.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein each of said time dependent event objects of said ordered list includes a routine for drawing a visual representation of the time dependent event object based on its type, said visual representation being visually distinct from visual representations of time dependent event objects of other types.

13. A machine-readable medium containing code for execution at a computing device, comprising:

machine-executable code for receiving a set of constraints for selecting objects representative of time dependent events;

machine-executable code for requesting, from each of a plurality of software objects, each software object maintaining a distinct set of time dependent event objects representing a distinct type of time dependent event, a set of time dependent event objects meeting said set of constraints;

machine-executable code for merging each said set of time dependent event objects into an ordered list based on an ordering criterion; and

machine-executable code for providing said ordered list to a software module for displaying a visual representation of the time dependent event objects of said ordered list in a graphical user interface.

14. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein each of said plurality of software objects comprises an executable code unit which is capable of execution independently of an executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

15. The machine-readable medium of claim 14 wherein each said executable code unit comprises byte code.

16. The machine-readable medium of claim 14 wherein each of said executable code units comprising said plurality of software objects dynamically apprises the executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing of its existence by dynamically registering with the executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

17. The machine-readable medium of claim 16 wherein said dynamically registering comprises performing run-time resolution of a routine of said executable code unit effecting said receiving, said requesting, said merging and said providing.

18. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein the plurality of software objects from which said sets of time dependent event objects are requested is determined based on a user indication of types of time dependent events for which display in said graphical user interface is desired.

19. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events defines a time range within which time dependent events are to occur.

20. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events defines a maximum number of time dependent events occurring prior to a specified time.

21. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein said set of constraints for displaying time dependent events is a maximum number of time dependent events occurring after a specified time.

22. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein a first software object of said plurality of software objects maintains a set of appointment event objects, each appointment event object containing a start time value and a stop time value.

23. The machine-readable medium of claim 22 wherein a second software object of said plurality of software objects maintains a set of task event objects, each task event object containing a deadline.

24. The machine-readable medium of claim 13 wherein each of said time dependent event objects of said ordered list includes a routine for drawing a visual representation of the time dependent event object based on its type, said visual representation being visually distinct from visual representations of time dependent event objects of other types.