System for user to accept or decline updating a calendar remotely with a proposed schedule update that may have schedule confliction

• US 6,167,379 A
• Filed: 03/24/1998
• Issued: 12/26/2000
• Est. Priority Date: 03/24/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Original Assignee: Siemens Information And Communication Networks, Inc.
• Inventors: Dean, Matthew T., King, Neal J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Luu, Le Hien
• Application Number:
  US09/047,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,008 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 705/8, 705/9, 395/330, 708/112, 709/248
• 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 method and apparatus for remotely updating a portable calendar includes a receiver for receiving a first wireless data transmission which includes a proposed scheduling update to the calendar. A memory provides storage for data comprising the calendar. A display which is responsive to the receiver displays a graphical representation of the calendar and the proposed scheduling update. A user interface, such as a set of keys of a keypad or an alternative input device, is configured to transmit control signals to a processor in response to manipulation of the interface by the user. The processor is connected to the memory to execute a calendar control program and is configured to effect a scheduling update in response to a control signal received from the user interface. A preferred embodiment of the invention provides a transmitter for transmitting a second wireless data transmission in response to the proposed schedule update, the second transmission including either a scheduling update acceptance, a scheduling update rejection, or a rescheduling proposal.

Claims

1. A method for reconciling a first calendar supported by a portable electronic organizer with a second calendar supported by a remotely located device, said first and second calenders being independently updatable and maintainable, said method comprising the steps of:

as a preliminary step to entering a first proposed scheduling update into said second calendar of said remotely located device, transmitting a first wireless signal that includes information indicative of said first proposed scheduling update;

receiving said first wireless signal at said portable electronic organizer over a wireless communication link;

determining whether said first proposed scheduling update conflicts with a previously entered scheduling update of said first calendar;

enabling a user to accept said first proposed scheduling update if a conflict with said previously entered scheduling update is identified;

entering said first proposed scheduling update into said first calendar if it is decided to accept said first proposed scheduling update of said calendar; and

transmitting a second wireless signal from said portable electronic organizer to said remotely located device such that said second wireless signal is indicative of responsiveness to entering said first proposed scheduling update into said first calendar of said portable electronic organizer.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said second wireless signal is one of:

an acceptance message if it has been decided to accept said first proposed scheduling update, said acceptance message including instructions to enter said first proposed scheduling update to said second calendar maintained by said remote device;

a rejection message if it has been decided to reject said first proposed scheduling update, said rejection including instructions to not enter said first proposed scheduling update to said second calendar; and

a response message relating to a proposed rescheduling of said first proposed scheduling update, said response message including a proposed alternative rescheduling time.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising the step of:

receiving a confirmation of said proposed alternative rescheduling time from said remotely located device.

4. The method of claim 3 further comprising the step of:

transmitting a second proposed scheduling update of said first calendar to said remotely located device together with instructions to enter said second proposed scheduling update into said second calendar, said second update and said instructions to enter said second proposed scheduling update being transmitted via said wireless communication link; and

receiving an acknowledge message responsive to said second proposed scheduling update from said remotely located device via said wireless communication link, said acknowledge message indicating receipt of said second proposed scheduling update.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting said second wireless signal includes transmitting information via a paging service provider.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of transmitting said second wireless signal includes transmitting information in an e-mail message.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving said data transmission over said wireless communication link includes receiving said data transmission via a paging service provider.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein said step of receiving said data transmission over said wireless communication link includes receiving said data transmission in the form of an e-mail message.

9. A portable electronic organizer for reconciling a first calendar supported by said organizer with a second calendar supported by a remotely located device comprising:

means for receiving a first wireless data transmission from said remotely located device via a wireless communication network, said data transmission including a first proposed scheduling update to said first calendar wherein said first wireless data transmission being generated absent entry of said first proposed scheduling update into said second calendar;

memory having stored data representative of said first calendar;

a display, responsive to said receiving means, configured for displaying said first calendar and said first proposed scheduling update to said first calendar;

processor means, connected to said memory, for executing a calendar control program, said processor means being configured to effect a first scheduling update to said first calendar in response to reception of a first control signal;

a user interface cooperatively associated with said processor means, said user interface being configured to transmit control signals in response to manipulation of said user interface, said control signals including said first control signal; and

means for transmitting a second wireless data transmission to said remotely located device via said wireless communication network in response to said first wireless data transmission, said second wireless data transmission being directed to update said second calendar.

10. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said second transmission includes one of a scheduling update acceptance, a scheduling update rejection, and a rescheduling proposal.

11. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said transmitting means includes a modem output configured to transmit, in the form of an e-mail message, one of said scheduling update rejection, said scheduling update acceptance, a scheduling update proposal, and said rescheduling update proposal via said wireless telephone network.

12. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said transmitting means includes circuitry enabled to transmit messages to said remotely located device via a paging service provider.

13. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said transmitting means is configured to transmit a second proposed scheduling update to said remotely located device.

14. The organizer of claim 10 further comprising a hand-held housing containing said means for receiving, said memory, and said processor.

15. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said receiving means is configured to transmit a second control signal to said processing means in response to a third wireless data transmission from said remote device, said third wireless data transmission including a rescheduling confirmation transmitted by said remotely located device, said second control signal triggering a second scheduling update executed by said processing means.

16. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said receiving means includes circuitry enabled to receive paging signals from a paging service provider.

17. The organizer of claim 9 wherein said receiving means includes a modem input enabled to receive said proposed scheduling update in the form of an e-mail message.

18. A method for reconciling a first calendar supported by a portable electronic organizer with a second calendar supported by a remotely located device, said method comprising the steps of:

receiving a wireless data transmission via a wireless communication network from said remotely located device including a proposed scheduling update for said first calendar absent entering said proposed scheduling update into said second calendar;

accessing said first calendar from a memory storage;

determining whether said proposed scheduling update conflicts with a previously scheduled entry in said first calendar;

enabling a user to enter said proposed schedule update into said first calendar;

transmitting a response to said proposed scheduling update to said remotely located device in the form of a wireless data transmission via said wireless communication network, said response including one of a proposed update rejection, a proposed update acceptance, and a proposed alternative scheduling update;

receiving a confirmation of said proposed alternative scheduling update via said wireless communication network if a proposed alternative scheduling update is transmitted;

entering said proposed scheduling update into said first and second calendars if it is decided to accept said proposed scheduling update; and

entering said proposed alternative scheduling update into said first and second calendars if said confirmation is received.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of receiving said proposed scheduling update and said step of receiving said confirmation include receiving data transmissions from a paging service provider, and further, wherein said step of transmitting said response to said proposed scheduling update includes transmitting said response via said paging service provider.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein said step of receiving said proposed scheduling update and said step of receiving said confirmation include receiving an e-mail message via a wireless connection to an Internet, and further, wherein said step of transmitting said response to said proposed scheduling update includes transmitting said response via said wireless connection to said remotely located device via said Internet.