SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR MANAGING EVENTS OF EVENT SCHEDULING APPLICATIONS

• US 20090006161A1
• Filed: 06/27/2007
• Published: 01/01/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2007
• Status: Active Application

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Chen, Yen-Fu, Walker, Keith R., Morgan, Fabian F., White Eagle, Sarah V.
• Application Number:
  US11/769,605
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006161A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 705/8
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

Systems, methods, and computer program products for managing events in time management or event scheduling applications, such as calendar applications, are disclosed. Embodiments comprise analyzing event parameters, such as selections from input solicited from prospective meeting attendees that are associated with events of the meeting, determining an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the event parameters, and proposing the arrangement. System embodiments generally comprise a list of events for the meeting, such as event items in a database, a constraint solver to analyze parameters of events of the list, and an arrangement module to select an arrangement of the events based on analysis by the constraint solver.

Claims

1. A method to arrange events of a meeting, the method comprising:

defining the events of the meeting;

analyzing parameters of the events, wherein at least one of the parameters comprises a selection of a prospective attendee for at least one of the events; and

determining, by an apparatus, an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the parameters.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending invitations for the meeting to prospective attendees.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising accepting, by at least one prospective attendee, an invitation for at least one of the events.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising proposing the arrangement.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein the proposing the arrangement comprises scheduling the events in electronic calendars of the prospective attendees.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising proposing an alternate arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the parameters.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the alternate arrangement is based on a modification by one of a prospective attendee and a meeting coordinator.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the parameters comprises analyzing selected time slots for the events received from a plurality of prospective attendees.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the determining an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the parameters comprises selecting an arrangement of the events predefined by a meeting coordinator.

10. A system for arranging events of a meeting, the system comprising:

a list of events for the meeting;

a constraint solver to analyze parameters of the events, wherein the parameters are from people associated with the events; and

an arrangement module to select an arrangement of the events based on analysis by the constraint solver.

11. The system of claim 10, further comprising a meeting input module to receive details of the events.

12. The system of claim 10, further comprising an invitation module to send invitations to prospective attendees.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the invitation module solicits input of the parameters from the prospective attendees.

14. The system of claim 13, wherein the input of the parameters from the prospective attendees comprises one of an available time slot for an attendee, a priority of an available time slot for an attendee, acceptance of an invitation for at least one event, and a description of topics for an event.

15. The system of claim 13, wherein the invitation module communicates the selected arrangement to attendees for a specific event to solicit input for the specific event.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the arrangement module selects an alternative arrangement based on the solicited input.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the constraint solver analyzes an available time slot for at least one of the people, wherein the at least one of the people is a prospective attendee.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement module selects the arrangement based on participation by an attendee in two consecutive events.

19. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement module automatically selects an alternative arrangement of the events based on a modification by a meeting chair or an attendee.

20. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement module selects a predefined arrangement of a meeting coordinator.

21. The system of claim 10, wherein the arrangement module schedules at least one of the events in a calendar of at least one prospective attendee.

22. A computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer usable program code for arranging events of a meeting, the computer program product including;

computer usable program code for analyzing event parameters, wherein the event parameters are from input of attendees to the meeting;

computer usable program code for determining an arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the event parameters; and

computer usable program code for scheduling the arrangement for the attendees.

23. The computer program product of claim 22, further comprising computer usable program code for to receive details of the events, send invitations to the attendees, and solicit input from the attendees.

24. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer usable program code for determining the arrangement of the events based on the analysis of the event parameters comprises computer usable program code for determining the arrangement of the events based on the analysis of at least on one of an available time slot for an attendee, a priority of an available time slot for an attendee, and multiple available time slots for the events received from multiple attendees.

25. The computer program product of claim 22, wherein the computer usable program code for scheduling the arrangement for the attendees comprises computer usable program code for sending the arrangement to a meeting coordinator for approval.