Scheduling system for use between users on the web

• US 5,960,406 A
• Filed: 01/22/1998
• Issued: 09/28/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 01/22/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: LTT Global Consultants
• Original Assignee: eCal Corporation
• Inventors: Rasansky, Richard A., Denton, III, Leet E., Morris, Robert M.
• Primary Examiner(s): Voeltz, Emanuel Todd
• Assistant Examiner(s): JEANTY, ROMAIN
• Application Number:
  US09/010,963
• Time in Patent Office: 614 Days
• Field of Search: 705/9, 705/8, 705/1, 707/500, 707/517
• US Class Current: 705/7.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

A computer system for scheduling events between end users of the system. Each end user is granted a unique password protected personal calendar. This calendar is generated from information stored in a database at a central server, and delivered to each end user as standard HTML sent through the Internet. This custom personal calendar is then viewed by the end user in a standard Web Browser. This obviates the need for special software programs to be purchased by end users, and also allows end users of any CPU type to read their calendars. When an end user uses the system to send an Invitation or Announcement to others on the system, the sending end user has the option of sending Email in addition to posting that information in the calendars'"'"' of others. When an end user sends an Invitation or Announcement to a person who is not an Appointnet user, then the Appointnet system automatically creates a unique calendar for the recipient, and sends and Email to that person. Individuals who use the present system can post reminders to themselves, send announcements to people they know, and make appointments with people they know. When these messages are sent, the communications is nearly instantaneous because the system makes one record and allows both (or many) parties to view it.

Claims

1. A computer system for scheduling events between a plurality of end users comprising:

a client interface for allowing an initial end user to communicate a desired scheduled event through the system to either other end users or other potential end users of the system;

a transport medium interface for allowing the system to transport the desired scheduled event between the other end users or other potential end users of the system;

a computer subsystem in communication with the client interface and transport medium for generating a calendar for the initial end user that is adapted to contain the desired scheduled event for the initial end user and which may be modified by either other end users of the system or the initial end user; and

means for adjusting for different time zones between the end users of the system.

2. A computer system for scheduling events between a plurality of end users comprising:

an end user interface that is generated in a standard page markup syntax language which may be accessible by a first end user of the system using standard communication protocols and which allows the first end user to establish a desired event to be scheduled within the system;

a computer subsystem in communication with the end user interface for generating an active calendar grid for the first end user that is adapted to contain the scheduled event for the first end user in the time zone of the first end user and which may be modified by a preselected second end user of the system or the first end user;

a transport medium interface to transport the desired scheduled event to the preselected second end user of the system using the standard communication protocols and for providing a medium by which the preselected second end user can confirm the scheduled event on the active scheduling grid of the first end user;

said computer subsystem further generating a second active calendar grid for the preselected second end users in which the scheduled event is scheduled according to the time zone of the second end user via an end user interface that is generated in a standard page markup syntax language and which may be accessible by the second end user of the system using standard communication protocols.

3. A computer system for scheduling events between a plurality of end users comprising:

an end user interface that is generated in a standard page markup syntax language which may be accessible by a first end user of the system using standard communication protocols and which allows the first end user to establish a desired event to be scheduled within the system;

a computer subsystem in communication with the end user interface for generating an active calendar grid for the first end user that is adapted to contain the scheduled event for the first end user in the time zone of the first end user and which may be modified by a preselected potential second end user of the system or the first end user;

a transport medium interface to transport notification of the desired scheduled event to the preselected potential second end user of the system via an electronic mail message using the standard communication protocols, said electronic mail message providing a hyperlink to said computer subsystem by which the preselected second end user can obtain and confirm the scheduled event on the active scheduling grid of the first end user and further authorize the creation of an active scheduling grid for said second end user.