SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR PROVIDING TRAVEL-RELATED INFORMATION ASSOCIATED WITH A CALENDAR APPOINTMENT

• US 20100094529A1
• Filed: 10/13/2008
• Published: 04/15/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: CenturyLink Intellectual Property LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Embarq Holdings Company LLC (Lumen Technologies, Inc.)
• Inventors: Dwyer, Kendra, Gupta, Shekhar, Sweeney, Jeffrey, Rooks, Kelsyn D.S., Wilmoth, Mark
• Granted Patent: US 8,457,887 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 701/117
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/40 of multimedia data, e.g. slideshows comprising image and additional audio data retrieval of still image data G06F16/50; retrieval of audio data G06F16/60; retrieval of video data G06F16/70
• 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 50/14 Travel agencies

Abstract

According to one embodiment of the present invention, a method for providing travel-related information associated with a calendar appointment is presented. The method comprises monitoring a calendar application for travel-related appointments. In response to identifying a travel-related appointment, the method retrieves travel-related information associated with a location of the travel-related appointment and provides the travel-related information to a user.

Claims

1. A method for providing travel-related information associated with calendar appointments, the method comprising:

monitoring a calendar application for travel-related appointments;

responsive to identifying a travel-related appointment, retrieving travel-related information associated with a location of the travel-related appointment; and

providing the travel-related information to a user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the steps of retrieving the travel-related information and providing the travel-related information to the user are performed at a specified time prior to the travel-related appointment.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the specified time is specified by the user.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving travel-related information associated with the location includes retrieving directions from a user location to the location associated with the travel-related appointment.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising determining the user location based on a prior calendar appointment location.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving travel-related information associated with the location includes retrieving weather information associated with the location.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving travel-related information associated with the location includes retrieving traffic-related information associated with traveling to the location.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving travel-related information associated with the location includes retrieving points of interest associated with the location.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein retrieving travel-related information associated with the location includes retrieving flight information.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising notifying the user of any changes associated with the travel-related information.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising requesting missing information associated with the travel-related appointment from a user of the calendar application.

12. A method for providing appointment notifications, the method comprising:

monitoring a calendar application for travel-related appointments of a user,

determining an appointment location and an appointment time associated with a travel-related appointment;

determining a user location of the user;

determining an estimated travel time for traveling from the user location to the appointment location;

calculating a remaining time until the appointment time;

determining an available time by subtracting the estimated travel time from the remaining time; and

notifying the user if the available time is less than or equal to a specified time limit.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the user location includes applying a specified user location.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the user location further includes:

determining a day associated with the travel-related appointment; and

responsive to the day being a workday, identifying a work location of the user as the user location.

15. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the user location further includes:

determining a day associated with the travel-related appointment; and

responsive to the day being a non-workday, identifying a home location of the user as the user location.

16. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the user location includes determining a current location of the user by receiving geographical coordinates of a wireless communication device associated with the user.

17. The method of claim 12, wherein determining the estimated travel time for traveling from the user location to the appointment location includes accounting for a current traffic condition associated with traveling from the user location to the appointment location.

18. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

determining an airport location in response to the travel-related appointment requiring air travel;

determining an estimated travel time for traveling from the user location to the airport location;

calculating a remaining time until a flight time;

determining an available time by subtracting the estimated travel time from the remaining time; and

notifying the user if the available time is less than or equal to a specified time limit.

19. An apparatus for providing travel-related information associated with calendar appointments, the apparatus comprising:

a data bus system;

memory coupled to the data bus system, wherein the memory includes computer usable program code;

a processing unit coupled to the data bus system, wherein the processing unit executes the computer usable program code to;

monitor a calendar application for travel-related appointments;

retrieve travel-related information associated with a location of a travel-related appointment; and

provide the travel-related information to a user.

20. The apparatus of claim 19, wherein the processing unit further executes the computer usable program code to notify the user of any changes associated with the travel-related information.