Combining calendar entries with map views

• US 20080109718A1
• Filed: 11/06/2006
• Published: 05/08/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group), Kia Corp.
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Narayanaswami, Chandrasekhar
• Granted Patent: US 7,673,248 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/262
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A method for displaying a calendar event on an electronic map includes steps of: receiving a request to generate a map view of a selected timeline of calendar events, wherein the calendar events are associated with event locations; converting event locations to geographic locations; generating a map view showing the geographic locations of the calendar events and legends representing the calendar events; and displaying the map view with the legends shown in close proximity to the locations of the calendar events. A user can elect to switch between a display of the map view and a display of a view of the selected timeline. A user can also select to create a calendar event on an electronic map by selecting a location associated with the calendar event on the map; receive a graphical user interface display, enter information about the calendar event on the graphical user interface display, and view the electronic map.

Claims

1. A method for displaying calendar entries on an electronic map, the method comprising steps of:

receiving a request to generate a map view of a selected timeline, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a calendar entry from the selected timeline, the calendar entry associated with an event location and comprising information about the event;

retrieving a geographic location from persistent storage, the geographic location associated with the event location, wherein the geographic location is a representation of the event location stored in the persistent storage that can be interpreted by an electronic map tool;

generating a map view of the electronic map, the map view comprising;

the geographic location of the calendar entry; and

a legend representing the calendar entry; and

displaying the map view with the legend representing the calendar entry shown in close proximity to the location of the calendar entry shown on the map view.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

enabling a user to switch between a display of the map view and a display of a view of the selected timeline.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the legend represents event details of the calendar entry, the event details comprising at least one of a selection of:

time of event, duration of event, subject of event, driving directions, attendees at event, teleconference information, and sensitivity.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

displaying a clock view with a map overlay comprising the map view showing the geographic location of the calendar entry corresponding to a time shown in the clock view.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising a step of:

enabling the user to switch between the display of the map view and the display of the clock view.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

receiving a map view over a wide area network, before displaying the map view.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of retrieving the geographic location further comprises steps of:

searching for the event location in the persistent storage in order to retrieve the geographic location associated with the event location; and

if the event location is not found in the persistent storage;

converting the event location to its associated geographic location based on user input to an automated mapping tool; and

storing the event location in the persistent storage, along with its associated geographic location.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

dynamically updating the map view upon receipt of a change to the selected timeline.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising a step of:

enabling a user to drag and drop the calendar entry from one location on the map view to another location on the map view, in response to a venue change.

10. The method of claim 4 further comprising a step of:

changing the map view displayed in response to time changes.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising a step of:

selecting the legend on the map view in order to reveal the event details associated with the legend.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein selecting the legend further comprises touching the legend with a user interface tool.

13. The method of claim 10 wherein the time changes occur as a result of a user manually changing a time on the clock view in order to view the map view associated with a time period other than a current time period.

14. A system for displaying a calendar entry on an electronic map, the system comprising:

a persistent storage for storing location data;

a processor for executing program code wherein the program code enables the processor to;

receive the calendar entry as part of a timeline, said calendar entry associated with an event location, the calendar entry comprising event details;

retrieve a geographic location from persistent storage, the geographic location associated with the event location, wherein the geographic location is a representation of the event location that can be interpreted by an electronic map tool;

generate a map view of the electronic map, the map view comprising;

the geographic location of the calendar entry; and

a legend representing the calendar entry;

display the map view with the corresponding legend shown in close proximity to the location of the calendar entry on the map view;

a network interface;

an input/output interface; and

a display subsystem configured for;

displaying the map view; and

displaying the event details in response to a user selecting the calendar entry.

15. The system of claim 14 wherein the map view changes in response to time changes.

16. The system of claim 14 wherein the map view is displayed as an underlay to a clock view.

17. The system of claim 14 wherein the map view is displayed on a portable device.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein the program code further enables the processor to:

search for the event location in the database in order to retrieve its associated geographic location; and

if the event location was not found in the persistent storage;

convert the event location to its associated geographic location; and

store the event location in the persistent storage, along with its associated geographic location.

19. A method of entering a calendar entry on an electronic map, the method comprising steps of:

receiving the electronic map of a selected geographic location;

selecting a location associated with the calendar entry on the electronic map;

receiving a graphical user interface display upon selecting the location associated with the calendar entry;

entering information associated with the calendar entry on the graphical user interface display, the information comprising event details and a legend to be displayed on the electronic map in close proximity to the selected location associated with the calendar entry; and

viewing the electronic map.

20. A computer readable medium for displaying calendar entries on an electronic map, the medium comprising program code for:

receiving a request to generate a map view of a selected timeline, wherein the receiving step comprises receiving a selection of the calendar entries of the selected timeline, each of the calendar entries associated with an event location and comprising information about the event;

retrieving a geographic location associated with the event location in persistent storage, wherein the geographic location is a representation of the event location that can be interpreted by an electronic map tool;

generating a map view of the electronic map, the map view comprising;

the geographic location of the calendar entry; and

a legend representing the calendar entry; and

displaying the map view with the legend representing the calendar entry shown in close proximity to the location of the calendar entry shown on the map view.