Method and apparatus for dynamically processing events based on automatic detection of time conflicts

• US 20090276780A1
• Filed: 04/10/2009
• Published: 11/05/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 11/15/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas M. Cronin
• Original Assignee: Thomas M. Cronin
• Inventors: Cronin, Thomas M.
• Granted Patent: US 9,082,111 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 718/102
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/955 using information identifiers, e.g. uniform resource locators [URL]
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/466 Transaction processing
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/02 Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 20/202 Interconnection or interaction of plural electronic cash registers [ECR] or to host computer, e.g. network details, transfer of information from host to ECR or from ECR to ECR
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/0635 Processing of requisition or of purchase orders
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

A scheduling apparatus, system, and article including a machine-accessible medium, along with a method of dynamically processing events, are disclosed. The apparatus may include a receiving module capable of receiving information associated with an event. The information may include an event name and event time. The apparatus may also include a memory capable of storing the information associated with the event, and being communicatively coupled with the receiving module. The memory may be used to store a plurality of schedule items, at least one of which may be associated with an item time. The method may include selecting an event associated with a transaction and event time, determining whether a conflict exists, and adjusting the set of events stored in the memory to include the information associated with the event if no conflict is found.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

selecting a first event associated with a transaction and an event time;

determining whether a conflict exists between the event time and an item time associated with a second event included in a set of events stored in an event processing apparatus; and

providing information associated with the first event for further processing of the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus if the conflict is determined not to exist.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the first event includes an event map.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

refraining from further processing of the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus if the conflict is determined to exist.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

further processing the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus to include the information associated with the first event.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the first event includes at least one available event service.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein the information associated with the first event includes an alternate event time.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

sending a message including the existence of the conflict to a point of sale device for the transaction.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

receiving the information associated with the first event by the event processing apparatus.

9. An article comprising a machine-accessible storage medium having associated data, wherein the data, when accessed, results in a machine performing:

selecting a first event associated with a transaction and an event time;

determining whether a conflict exists between the event time and an item time associated with a second event included in a set of events stored in an event processing apparatus; and

providing information associated with the first event for further processing of the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus if the conflict is determined not to exist.

10. The article of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the first event includes an event map.

11. The article of claim 9, wherein the data, when accessed, further results in the machine performing:

refraining from further processing of the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus if the conflict is determined to exist.

12. The article of claim 9, wherein the data, when accessed, further results in the machine performing:

further processing the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus to include the information associated with the first event.

13. The article of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the first event includes at least one available event service.

14. The article of claim 9, wherein the information associated with the first event includes an alternate event time.

15. The article of claim 9, wherein the data, when accessed, further results in the machine performing:

sending a message including the existence of the conflict to a point of sale device for the transaction.

16. The article of claim 9, wherein the data, when accessed, further results in the machine performing:

receiving the information associated with the first event by the event processing apparatus.

17. A scheduling system, comprising:

a point of sale device having information associated with a first event, wherein the first event is associated with a transaction and an event time;

an event processing apparatus capable of being communicatively coupled with the point of sale device, the event processing apparatus including a memory capable of storing the information associated with the first event, the memory further storing a set of events, the set of events including a second event, the second event being associated with an item time; and

an event processing module capable of identifying a conflict between the event time and the item time.

18. The scheduling system of claim 17, wherein

the event processing module is further capable of refraining from further processing of the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus if the conflict is determined to exist.

19. The scheduling system of claim 17, wherein

the event processing module is further capable of processing the set of events stored in the event processing apparatus to include the information associated with the first event.

20. The scheduling system of claim 17, wherein

the event processing module is further capable of sending a message including the existence of the conflict to the point of sale device.