Method for controlling a computerized organizer

• US 5,457,476 A
• Filed: 05/27/1993
• Issued: 10/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Jenson, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): BRIER, JEFFERY A
• Application Number:
  US08/068,523
• Time in Patent Office: 866 Days
• Field of Search: 345/146
• US Class Current: 715/823
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

The method of the present invention includes the steps of executing a process to support a number of temporal-based functions and activating at least one of these temporal-based functions. Temporal-based functions of the present invention include a scheduler, to-do list, and a note function. Temporal-based entries can then be moved within and/or between the temporal-based functions. Further, temporal-based entries can be edited for each temporal-based function. Moving temporal-based entries involves the selection of an entry with a pointer mechanism, dragging the entry to a new location, releasing the entry at the new location, and updating a database to reflect the entry'"'"'s change in position. Editing an entry involves direct editing of an entry, editing through an editing window, or editing of a duration bar associated with an entry. Data entered into a scheduling field of the scheduler function is processed according to its placement within the scheduling field. Annotation entries are separated from appointment entries by an invisible margin in the scheduling field.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a computerized organizer comprising the steps of:

executing a computer-implemented process which supports a plurality of non-model temporal-based functions including a scheduler, a to-do list and a note function, wherein said scheduler includes an appointment area and an annotation area, said appointment area and said annotation area being separated by an invisible margin such that temporal-based entries corresponding to annotations in said annotation area that are moved across said invisible margin to said appointment area are transformed into temporal-based entries corresponding to appointments and temporal-based entries corresponding to appointments that are moved across said invisible margins into said annotation area are transformed into temporal-based entries corresponding to annotations;

selecting a temporal-based entry within one said temporal-based functions;

moving said temporal-based entry at least within one of said temporal-based functions in response to a user-initiated move command; and

editing a temporal-based entry in response to a user-initiated edit command.

2. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of activating includes activating a temporal-based note area and a temporal-based scheduler area.

3. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 2 wherein said temporal-based entry is moved within said temporal-based scheduler area.

4. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 3 wherein said moving includes updating a time associated with said temporal-based entry.

5. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 2 wherein said step of activating includes displaying a plurality of dates in said temporal based scheduler area.

6. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 5 wherein said temporal-based entry is moved between said plurality of dates.

7. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 6 wherein said moving includes updating a time and date associated with said temporal-based entry.

8. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of moving includes moving said temporal-based entry from a temporal-based note area to a temporal-based scheduler area.

9. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 8 wherein said step of moving includes updating a time associated with said temporal-based entry.

10. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of moving includes moving said temporal-based entry from a temporal-based scheduler area to a temporal-based note area.

11. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 10 wherein said step of moving includes removing a time associated with said temporal-based entry.

12. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of activating includes activating a temporal-based note area and a temporal-based to-do list area.

13. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 12 wherein said temporal-based entry is moved within said temporal-based to-do list area.

14. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 12 wherein said step of activating includes displaying a plurality of dates in said temporal-based to-do list area.

15. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 14 wherein said temporal-based entry is moved between said plurality of dates.

16. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 15 wherein said moving includes updating a date associated with said temporal-based entry.

17. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein step of moving includes moving said temporal-based entry from a temporal-based note area to a temporal-based to-do list area.

18. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of moving includes moving said temporal-based entry from a temporal-based to-do list area to a temporal-based note area.

19. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of editing comprises editing the content of said temporal-based entry.

20. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of editing comprises editing from an edit window.

21. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of editing comprises editing a duration bar of said temporal-based entry.

22. A method for controlling a computerized organizer as recited in claim 21 wherein said step of editing further comprises resizing said duration bar to alter a stop time and a duration of said temporal-based entry.

23. A method for moving temporal-based entries in a computerized organizer having a screen and a pointer mechanism, said method comprising the steps of:

selecting a temporal-based object with a pointer mechanism of a computerized organizer, said computerized including a computer-implemented process which supports a plurality of non-modal temporal-based functions including a scheduler, a to-do list and a note function, wherein said scheduler includes an appointment area and an annotation area, said appointment area and said annotation area being separated by an invisible margin such that temporal-based objects corresponding to annotations in said annotation area that are moved across said invisible margin to said appointment area are transformed into temporal-based objects corresponding to appointments and temporal-based objects corresponding to appointments that are moved across said invisible margin into said annotation area are transformed into temporal-based objects corresponding to annotations;

dragging said temporal-based object at least partially across a screen of said computerized organizer;

releasing said temporal-based object at a new position on said screen; and

updating a temporal value associated with said temporal-based object to reflect said position.

24. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 23 wherein said temporal value is selected from the group including a start time, a stop time, and a date stamp.

25. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 24 wherein said temporal value stored in said date stamp includes a month value, a day value, and a year value.

26. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 23 further comprising displaying at least one day of a temporal-based scheduler, said temporal-based scheduler having a plurality of appointment times.

27. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 26 further comprising dragging said temporal-based object between said appointment times within one day of said temporal-based scheduler.

28. A method for moving a temporal-based entries as recited in claim 26 further comprising dragging said temporal-based object between days of said temporal-based scheduler.

29. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 23 further comprising displaying at least one day of a temporal-based to-do list.

30. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 29 further comprising dragging said temporal-based object within one day of said temporal-based to-do list area.

31. A method for moving temporal-based entries as recited in claim 29 further comprising dragging said temporal-based object between days of said temporal-based to-do list.