Time-triggered portable data objects
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A system comprising:
- a PDA;
a computer that is programmed to create a data object as an independent data structure specifying an event in terms of a PDA action and a time for initiating the PDA action, wherein a PDA action is performed by logic within the PDA, the logic being independent of the data object;
a transmission medium to convey the data object to the PDA;
the PDA being configured to receive the data object and to initiate the specified PDA action at the specified time.
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Abstract
The invention includes a time-triggered data object that is formulated at a host computer and transmitted to a PDA such as a personal electronic information manager that has data reception capabilities. The data object includes a specification of an action to be performed as well as a specification of an initiation time for initiating the specified action. The action can consist of a simple reminder or alarm, or can specify the execution of an application program on the PDA. When a data object is received by the PDA, its action and initiation time are stored in a local database. The PDA monitors the time and the database, and initiates the specified action at the specified time.
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Citations
45 Claims
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1. A system comprising:
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a PDA;
a computer that is programmed to create a data object as an independent data structure specifying an event in terms of a PDA action and a time for initiating the PDA action, wherein a PDA action is performed by logic within the PDA, the logic being independent of the data object;
a transmission medium to convey the data object to the PDA;
the PDA being configured to receive the data object and to initiate the specified PDA action at the specified time. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
an application program that is a PDA action;
wherein a particular data object can specify its PDA action to be the execution of the application program;
wherein the PDA executes the application program at the time specified by the particular data object.
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3. A system as recited in claim 1, further comprising:
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a program that is a PDA action, the PDA being further configured to receive the program from the computer through the transmission medium;
wherein a particular data object can specify its action to be the execution of the program;
wherein the PDA executes the program at the time specified by the particular data object.
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4. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a paging channel, the PDA receiving the data object via the paging channel.
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5. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a paging channel, the PDA automatically receiving the data object as part of a page over the paging channel without intervention by a user of the PDA.
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6. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission medium is a paging channel, the PDA automatically receiving the data object as part of a page over the paging channel without intervention by a user of the PDA, wherein the PDA notifies the user upon receiving the data object.
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7. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the transmission medium comprises an infrared communications signal.
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8. A system as recited in claim 1, wherein the computer comprises another PDA.
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9. A method implemented by an operating program in a PDA, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of independent data objects, at least some of the data objects specifying events in terms of PDA actions and corresponding times for initiating the PDA actions, wherein a PDA action is performed by logic within the PDA, the logic being independent of the data object;
initiating the specified PDA actions at the corresponding specified times in response to receiving the data objects. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17)
receiving a PDA action from an external source, wherein the PDA action is an application program;
executing the application-program PDA action in response to an event specified in a particular data object.
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18. A system comprising:
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an operating program for execution on a PDA;
PDA actions for execution by the operating program;
the operating program being configured to receive data objects of different types from a remote source;
each data object being associated with an identifier indicating its type;
the different types of data objects including a time-triggered type of data object that specifies an event in terms of a PDA action and a corresponding time for initiating the PDA action;
the operating program being further configured to initiate the specified PDA actions at the corresponding times. - View Dependent Claims (19, 20)
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21. A method of instructing a PDA to perform a PDA action at a specified time, the method comprising:
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formulating a data object that specifies an event in terms of a PDA action and a corresponding initiation time for initiating the action;
providing the data object to the PDA as an independent data structure, wherein a PDA action is performed by logic within the PDA, the logic being independent of the data object. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25)
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26. A method of instructing a PDA to perform a PDA action at a specified time, the method comprising:
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using a scheduling program on a computer to specify a plurality of events;
selecting an event from the plurality of events to send to a PDA;
formulating a data object for the selected event, said data object specifying the event in terms of a PDA action and a corresponding initiation time for the PDA action;
transferring the data object to the PDA as an independent data, wherein a PDA action is performed by logic within the PDA, the logic being independent of the data object. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30)
receiving the data object at the PDA;
initiating the specified PDA action in the PDA at the initiation time.
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28. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the transferring step comprises sending the data object to the PDA in a page.
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29. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the transferring step comprises using a wireless communications signal to transmit the data object to the PDA.
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30. A method as recited in claim 26, wherein the transferring step comprises using an infrared communications signal to transmit the data object to the PDA.
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31. A system comprising:
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a PDA;
a computer that is programmed to create a data object as an independent data structure specifying an event in terms of a PDA action and a time for initiating the PDA action;
a transmission medium to convey the data object to the PDA;
the PDA being configured to receive the data object and to initiate the specified PDA action at the specified time;
the PDA being configured to notify a user of the PDA upon reception of the data object. - View Dependent Claims (32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37)
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38. A method implemented by an operating program in a PDA, comprising:
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receiving a plurality of independent data objects, at least some of the data objects specifying events in terms of PDA actions and corresponding times for initiating the PDA actions;
notifying a user of the PDA upon receiving of the data objects specifying events;
initiating the specified PDA actions at the corresponding specified times in response to receiving the data objects. - View Dependent Claims (39, 40, 41)
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42. A method of instructing a PDA to perform a PDA action at a specified time, the method comprising:
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using a scheduling program on a computer to specify a plurality of events;
selecting an event from the plurality of events to send to a PDA;
formulating a data object for the selected event, said data object specifying the event in terms of a PDA action and a corresponding initiation time for the PDA action;
transferring the data object to the PDA as an independent data structure;
receiving the data object at the PDA;
notifying a user of the PDA about the receiving the data object at the PDA;
initiating the specified PDA action in the PDA at the initiation time. - View Dependent Claims (43, 44, 45)
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Specification