Method and device for processing a time-related data entry

• US 20070239894A1
• Filed: 06/19/2002
• Published: 10/11/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 06/19/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oracle America, Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Siebel Systems Inc. (Oracle Corporation)
• Inventors: Tal, Yoram, Kaval, Maria, Leo, John, Thind, Jasjeet
• Granted Patent: US 7,711,855 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/246
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 9/0076 in which the time in another time-zone or in another city can be displayed at will
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of, and computer device for, processing a time-related data entry is provided. The method comprises obtaining the data entry from a user of the device, and obtaining a first time entry related to a first time zone. The first time entry and the first time zone are selected by a user of the device and the device converts the first time entry to a second time in a second time zone associated with a user of the device. The device then stores the data entry with the second time in the device. The method and device can thus be used to schedule a meeting in a selected local time in selected time zone, which is then converted to a local time in a time zone associated with the device.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a time-related data entry;

receiving an identifier for a first time in a first time zone of a first user of a first device;

converting the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone of a second user of a second device, wherein the converting is performed by the second device, and the second device is separate from the first device; and

storing the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the second time is a current time of the second device, and the second time zone is a local time zone for the second device.

3. The method of claim 2, which comprises displaying a calendar showing time and date data to facilitate selection of the first time and a date by the second user, and displaying a plurality of time zones from which the first time zone is selectable.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein when the second device is a handheld computer device, the time-related data entry relates to an activity to be performed at the first time in the first time zone.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein when the second device is a handheld computer device capable of synchronizing with a central computer, and the method further comprises communicating the stored time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time to the central computer upon synchronization.

6. The method of claim 1, which comprises:

identifying a default display time zone; and

displaying the time-related data entry in the default display time zone.

7. The method of claim 6, which comprises converting the identifier for the second time to an identifier for a time relative to the default display time zone.

53. The method of claim 1, wherein the receiving the identifier for the first time is performed by the second device.

8. A method of processing time-related data communicated between first and second remote computer devices, wherein the second remote computer device is separate from the first remote computer device, the method comprising:

retrieving a first reference time zone associated with a user of the first remote computer device;

retrieving a second reference time zone associated with a user of the second remote computer device; and

converting an identifier for a time associated with the time-related data from the first reference time zone to the second reference time zone.

10. The method of claim 8, wherein the method further comprises:

converting the time-related data from the first reference time zone to a central default time zone associated with a central computer; and

converting the time-related data from the central default time zone to the second reference time zone.

11. The method of claim 8, further comprising receiving the time-related data from the first or second remote computer devices and transmitting the converted time-related data to the first or second remote computer devices, and wherein the transmitting and the receiving of the time-related data takes place when each of the first or second remote computer devices synchronizes with a central computer.

50. The method of claim 10, wherein the central default time zone is Greenwich Meantime Time (GMT).

9. (canceled)

12. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving a time-related data entry;

receiving an identifier for a first time in a first time zone of a first user of a first device;

converting the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone of a second user of a second device, wherein the converting is performed by the second device, and the second device is separate from the first device; and

storing the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time.

13. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the second time is a current time of the second device and the second time zone is a reference time zone associated with the second user.

14. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 13, wherein the method further comprises providing a display with a calendar showing time and date data to facilitate selection of the first time and a date by the second user, and providing a plurality of time zones from which the first time zone is selectable.

15. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein when the second device is a handheld computer device, and the time-related data entry relates to an activity to be performed at the first time in the first time zone.

16. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein when the second device is a handheld computer device capable of synchronizing with a central computer, and the stored time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time is communicated to the central computer upon synchronization.

17. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 12, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a default display time zone; and

displaying the time-related data entry in the default display time zone.

18. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 17, wherein the method further comprises converting the identifier for the second time to an identifier for a time relative to the default display time zone.

19. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed, cause the machine to:

retrieve a first reference time zone associated with a user of a first remote computer device;

retrieve a second reference time zone associated with a user of a second remote computer device, wherein the second remote computer device is separate from the first remote computer device; and

convert an identifier for a time associated with time-related data from the first reference time zone to the second reference time zone.

21. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein time-related data is communicated between first and second remote computer devices via the machine and wherein the machine:

converts the time-related data from the first reference time zone to a central default time zone associated with the machine; and

converts the time-related data from the central default time zone to the second reference time zone.

22. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 19, wherein the machine is to further receive the time-related data from the first or second remote computer devices and transmit the converted time-related data to the first or second remote computer devices, and wherein the transmitting and the receiving of the time-related data takes place when each device synchronizes with a central computer.

51. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 21, wherein the central default time zone is Greenwich Meantime Time (GMT).

20. (canceled)

23. A handheld computer device for processing a time-related data entry, the device comprising:

memory wherein instructions are stored;

an input facility to acquire an identifier for a first time and to acquire a related first time zone, wherein the first time zone is different from a local time zone for the device and the first time is related to the time-related data entry; and

a processor to execute the instructions which convert the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone and store the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time in the device.

24. The device of claim 23, wherein the second time is a current time of the device and the second time zone is the local time zone for the device.

25. The device of claim 23, which comprises a display screen to display a calendar showing time and date data to facilitate selection of the first time and a date by a user, and to display a plurality of time zones from which the first time zone is selectable.

26. The device of claim 25, wherein the display screen is a touch screen which defines the input facility.

27. The device of claim 23, wherein the time-related data entry is an activity to be performed at the first time in the first time zone.

28. The device of claim 23, wherein the device is capable of synchronizing with a central computer, and the stored time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time is communicated to the central computer upon synchronization.

29. The device of claim 23, wherein a default display time zone is provided for selection by a user, and the time-related data entry is displayed to the user using the default display time zone.

30. The device of claim 29, wherein the processor converts the identifier for the second time to the default display time zone.

31. A central computer for processing time-related data communicated between first and second remote computer devices via the central computer, the central computer comprising:

a database including time zone data of a plurality of time zones; and

a server configured to;

retrieve a first reference time zone associated with a user of the first remote computer device from the database;

retrieve a second reference time zone associated with a user of the second remote computer device from the database; and

convert the time-related data from the first reference time zone to the second reference time zone.

33. The central computer of claim 31, wherein the server is configured to:

convert the time-related data from the first reference time zone to a central default time zone associated with the central computer; and

convert the time-related data from the central default time zone to the second reference time zone.

34. The central computer of claim 31, wherein the server is further configured to receive time-related data from the first or second remote computer devices and transmit the converted time-related data to the first or second remote computer devices, and wherein the transmitting and the receiving of the time-related data takes place when each device synchronizes with the central computer.

52. The central computer of claim 33, wherein the central default time zone is Greenwich Meantime Time (GMT).

32. (canceled)

35. A handheld computer device for processing a time-related data entry, the device comprising:

means to store instructions of an application module;

means to acquire an identifier for a first time and to acquire a related first time zone of a first user, the first time being related to the time-related data entry; and

means to process the instructions which convert the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone, wherein the second time zone is associated with the device and is different from the first time zone, and store the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time in the device.

36. A computer-implemented method comprising:

receiving a time-related data entry;

receiving an identifier for a first time in a first time zone of a first user of a first device;

converting the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone of a second user of a second device, wherein the converting is performed by the second device, and the second device is separate from the first device; and

user of a second device; and

storing the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time in a device.

37. The method of claim 36, wherein the second time is a current time of the second device, and the second time zone is a local time zone for the second device.

38. The method of claim 37, which comprises displaying a calendar on the second device showing time and date data to facilitate selection of the first time and a date by the second user, and displaying a plurality of time zones from which the first time zone is selectable.

39. The method of claim 36, wherein the time-related data entry relates to an activity to be performed at the first time in the first time zone.

40. The method of claim 36, further comprising:

synchronizing the second device with a central computer; and

communicating the stored time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time to the central computer upon synchronization.

41. The method of claim 36, which comprises:

identifying a default display time zone; and

displaying the time-related data entry in the default display time zone on the second device.

42. The method of claim 41, which comprises converting the identifier for the second time to an identifier for a time relative to the default display time zone.

43. A machine-readable storage medium comprising a plurality of instructions that, when executed on a second handheld computer device, cause the second handheld computer device to implement a method, the method comprising:

receiving a time-related data entry;

receiving an identifier for a first time in to a first time zone of a first user of a first handheld computer device;

converting the identifier for the first time to an identifier for a second time in a second time zone of a second user of a second handheld computer device, wherein the converting is performed by the second handheld computer device, and the second handheld computer device is separate from the first handheld computer device; and

transmitting the time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time to a device.

44. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the second time is a current time of the second handheld computer device and the second time zone is a local time zone for the second handheld computer device.

45. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 44, wherein the method further comprises displaying a calendar on the second handheld computer device showing time and date data to facilitate selection of the first time and a date by the second user, and provides a plurality of time zones from which the first time zone is selectable.

46. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the time-related data entry relates to an activity to be performed at the first time in the first time zone.

47. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the second handheld computer device synchronizes with the device, and the stored time-related data entry with the identifier for the second time is communicated to the device upon synchronization.

48. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 43, wherein the method further comprises:

identifying a default display time zone; and

displaying the time-related data entry in the default display time zone on the second handheld computer device.

49. The machine-readable storage medium of claim 48, wherein the method further comprises converting the identifier for the second time to an identifier for a time relative to the default display time zone.