ACCOMMODATING UNFORESEEN EVENTS USING AN ELECTRONIC CALENDAR

• US 20070168243A1
• Filed: 01/17/2006
• Published: 07/19/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 01/17/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Xiao, Lun, Li, Yongcheng, Chen, LI
• Granted Patent: US 8,880,419 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063116 Schedule adjustment for a person or group
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

Methods and computer program products for accommodating unforeseen events using an electronic calendar. Occurrences of unforeseen events pertinent to preexisting appointments are detected. Occurrences of unforeseen events may be detected by, for example, accepting input from the user conveyed by, for example, a keyboard, a mouse click, or a menu selection; or by accepting input from an automated information source that provides, for example, commute times or weather reports. The calendar responds automatically on behalf of the user to the detection of unforeseen events pertinent to preexisting appointments. Response may include sending notifications to other parties to appointments by way of, for example, electronic mail, instant messaging, or voice mail messaging; by canceling appointments; or by rescheduling appointments.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for accommodating unforeseen events using an electronic calendar, said method comprising:

detecting an occurrence of an unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment scheduled in an electronic calendar; and

responding automatically, by the electronic calendar, to detection of the occurrence of the unforeseen event.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein responding automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises sending notifications to other parties to the appointment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein notifications are sent using electronic mail.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein notifications are sent using instant messaging.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein notifications are sent using voice mail messages.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein responding automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises canceling the appointment.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein responding automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises rescheduling the appointment.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an occurrence of an unforeseen event comprises accepting input about the unforeseen event from a user of the calendar.

9. The method of claim 8, wherein the input is conveyed by one of:

a keyboard entry, a mouse click, and a menu selection.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein detecting an occurrence of an unforeseen event comprises accepting information provided by an automated information source.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein the information provided by the automated information source concerns one of:

a commute time, and a weather report.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising accepting configuration information from a user about unforeseen events.

13. A computer program product for accommodating unforeseen events using an electronic calendar, the computer program product comprising a computer readable medium having computer readable program code tangibly embedded therein, the computer readable program code comprising:

computer readable program code configured to detect an occurrence of an unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment scheduled in an electronic calendar; and

computer readable program code configured to respond automatically to detection of the occurrence of the unforeseen event.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code configured to respond automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises computer readable program code configured to send notifications to other parties to the appointment.

15. The computer program product of claim 14, wherein notifications are sent using one of:

electronic mail, instant messaging, and voice mail messages.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code configured to respond automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises computer readable program code configured to cancel the appointment.

17. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code configured to respond automatically to the occurrence of the unforeseen event pertinent to a preexisting appointment comprises computer readable program code configured to reschedule the appointment.

18. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code configured to detect an occurrence of an unforeseen event comprises computer readable program code configured to accept input about the unforeseen event from a user of the calendar.

19. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code configured to detect an occurrence of an unforeseen event comprises computer readable program code configured to accept information provided by an automated information source.

20. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein the computer readable program code further comprises computer readable program code configured to accept configuration information from a user about unforeseen events.