Sharing calendar information

• US 20080115196A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/15/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 11/14/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Tsang, Brian, Comertoglu, Can, Bjordahl, Hans, Michel, Theodore L., Abdo, Ralph, Frankel, Glenn
• Granted Patent: US 7,870,194 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 726/4
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Sharing calendar information may be provided. Calendar information may be shared with individuals that may or may not be associated with a local exchange server in order to coordinate schedules. A determination is conducted to decide whether a sender is authorized to send calendar information to another by examining registration rights. Next, if the registration rights are valid, input may be received from the sender associated with sending the calendar information to another using one or more entry points. Next, calendar information settings are received from the sender, which are used when sending the calendar information to another. Next, calendar information is published to the Internet based on the calendar information settings established by the sender, and provided to others for viewing.

Claims

1. A method for sharing calendar information, the method comprising:

determining (210) whether a sender is authorized to send calendar information to another by examining registrations rights associated with the sender;

if the registration rights associated with the sender are valid, receiving (220) input from the sender associated with sending the calendar information to another using one or more entry points;

receiving (225) calendar information settings from the sender;

publishing (235) the calendar information on the Internet based on the calendar information settings; and

providing (240) access to the calendar information to another.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the published calendar information is associated with one or more online communities.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein a portion of the calendar information is published on the Internet.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting a detail level for controlling an amount of calendar information published to the Internet.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising setting a time frame limit for published calendar information using a rolling time window.

6. The method of claim 1 further comprising updating the published calendar information when the calendar information changes.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the update is automatic.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the update occurs in response to a send/receive operation.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein examining registrations rights associated with the sender uses an Internet based authentication process.

10. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing subscription based viewing of the published calendar information.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein a user can search for calendar information associated with one or more calendars using a search engine.

12. A system for sharing calendar information, the system comprising:

a memory storage (804, 809, 810) for storing calendar information, wherein the memory storage is searchable;

a processing unit (802) coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

determine (210) whether a sender is authorized to send calendar information to another by examining registrations rights associated with the sender;

if the registration rights associated with the sender are valid, receive (220) input from the sender associated with sending the calendar information to another using one or more entry points;

receive (225) calendar information settings from the sender;

publish (235) the calendar information on the Internet based on the criteria; and

provide (240) access to the calendar information to another.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the processing unit is associated with a server that supports a hypertext transfer protocol (http).

14. The system of claim 12, wherein the published calendar information is associated with one or more online communities.

15. The system of claim 12 further comprising using a search engine to search the memory storage, wherein the search engine searches for calendar information using search criteria associated with the calendar information.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the memory storage stores calendar information associated with a plurality of calendars.

17. A computer-readable medium (820) which stores a set of instructions which when executed performs a method for sharing calendar information, the method executed by the set of instructions comprising:

determining (210) whether a sender is authorized to send calendar information to another by examining registrations rights associated with the sender;

if the registration rights associated with the sender are valid, receiving (225) input from the sender associated with sending the calendar information to another using one or more entry points;

receiving (225) calendar information settings from the sender;

publishing (235) the calendar information on the Internet based on the criteria; and

providing (240) access to the calendar information to another, wherein providing access to another comprises inviting one or more recipients to view the published calendar information.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising setting a detail level for controlling an amount of calendar information published to the Internet.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 17 further comprising setting a time frame limit for published calendar information using a rolling time window.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein examining registrations rights associated with the sender examines an Internet based authentication process.