Method and apparatus for providing individualized client data from a service provider to a portable digital device of a client

• US 6,785,680 B1
• Filed: 06/26/2000
• Issued: 08/31/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Cragun, Brian John
• Primary Examiner(s): Pardo, Thuy N.
• Application Number:
  US09/603,027
• Time in Patent Office: 1,527 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/200, 707/203, 707/205, 709/203, 709/224, 705/11, 340/309.15, 342/457, 434/238
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/951 Calendar or scheduling
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99953 Recoverability

Abstract

A service provider generates digital records of calendar events with respect to its clients using its own data, and automatically transfers these records to portable digital devices of the clients. Preferably, the service provider maintains a computer system or terminal at the point of personal contact with the client, which is also used to track service provider operations. The provider'"'"'s computer system automatically generates an event record in a format for use by the client, from data in the computer system used to track service provider operations. Preferably, the service provider maintains a list of clients and their associated portable digital device interface type. The provider'"'"'s computer system generates an appropriate calendar event, and formats and transmits it according to the client'"'"'s interface type. The service provider may include with the calendar event any associated data which might be useful to the client, such as the telephone number of the service provider, hours of service, instructions for something the client should do, etc. In one example, the service provider is a public library, and event records are borrowed item information. In another example, the service provider is a health care provider, and event records are appointments for health care services. The present invention thus achieves greater integration of relatively large computer systems with portable digital devices.

Claims

1. A method for recording calendar events, comprising the steps of:

maintaining service provider data for operation of a service provider in a service provider computer system, said service provider providing services to a plurality of clients, said services being other than data processing services;

automatically generating a calendar event record for a client of said service provider from said service provider data, said automatically generating step being performed by said service provider computer system, said calendar event record being formatted for use by a portable digital device of said client, said calendar event record containing information of a calendar event relating to said services provided by said service provider to said client; and

transmitting said calendar event record directly from said service provider computer system to said portable digital device.

2. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting said calendar event record over an infrared transmission frequency.

3. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said step of automatically generating a calendar event record for a client comprises:

accessing client specific data in said service provider computer system, said client specific data including formatting information for specifying content of said calendar event record; and

generating said calendar event record in accordance with said formatting information contained in said client specific data.

4. The method for recording calendar events of claim 3, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a form of transmission of said calendar event record to said portable digital device.

5. The method for recording calendar events of claim 3, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a template to be used for formatting said calendar event record.

6. The method for recording calendar events of claim 3, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a password for access to said portable digital device.

7. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said service provider is a library.

8. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said service provider is a health care provider.

9. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said calendar event record generated by said service provider includes instructions for said client relating to said calendar event, said instructions being retrieved from a database of instructions in said service provider computer system.

10. The method for recording calendar events of claim 1, wherein said calendar event record generated by said service provider includes an advertisement, said advertisement being retrieved from a database of advertisements in said service provider computer system.

11. A computer program product for constructing and transmitting calendar event records, said computer program product comprising a plurality of computer executable instructions recorded on signal-bearing media, wherein said instructions, when executed by a computer of a service provider, cause the computer to perform the steps of:

maintaining service provider data for operation of said service provider in said service provider computer system, said service provider providing services to a plurality of clients, said services being other than data processing services;

automatically generating a calendar event record for a client of said service provider from said service provider data, said automatically generating step being performed by said service provider computer system, said calendar event record being formatted for use by a portable digital device of said client, said calendar event record containing information of a calendar event relating to said services provided by said service provider to said client; and

transmitting said calendar event record directly from said service provider computer system to said portable digital device.

12. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said transmitting step comprises transmitting said calendar event record over an infrared transmission frequency.

13. The computer program product of claim 11, wherein said step of automatically generating a calendar event record for a client comprises:

accessing client specific data in said service provider computer system, said client specific data including formatting information for specifying content of said calendar event record; and

generating said calendar event record in accordance with said formatting information contained in said client specific data.

14. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a form of transmission of said calendar event record to said portable digital device.

15. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a template to be used for formatting said calendar event record.

16. The computer program product of claim 13, wherein said client specific data includes data specifying a password for access to said portable digital device.

17. A computer system for managing calendar information for a service provider, comprising:

a programmable processor;

a memory for storing data and instructions executable on said programmable processor;

at least one interactive data terminal for receiving data from and displaying data to an agent of said service provider;

a calendar application embodied as a plurality of instructions executable on said programmable processor, said calendar application maintaining calendar data for operation of said service provider, said service provide providing services to a plurality of clients, said services being other than data processing services;

a client event record generation function embodied as a plurality of instructions executable on said programmable processor, said client event record generation function automatically generating a calendar event record for a client of said service provider using said calendar data, said calendar event record being formatted for use by a portable digital device of said client, said calendar event record containing information of a calendar event relating to said services provided by said service provider to said client; and

an interface for transmitting said calendar event record from said computer system to said portable digital device.

18. The computer system of claim 17, further comprising a database of client specific data, said client specific data including formatting information specifying the content of calendar event records generated by said client event record generation function.

19. A method for providing data to a portable digital device of a client of a service provider, said service provider providing services to a plurality of clients, said method comprising the steps of:

maintaining service provider data for use in the provision of services by said service provider to said plurality of clients of said service provider, said services being other than data processing services, said service provider data being maintained in a computer system of said service provider, said service provider data including client specific data for each respective one of a plurality of clients of said service provider;

automatically generating an individualized data record for a first client of said service provider from said service provider data, at least some of said individualized data record being generated using client specific data corresponding to said first client, said automatically generating step being performed by said service provider computer system, said individualized data record being formatted for use by a portable digital device of said first client, said individualized data record containing information relating to said services provided by said service provider to said first client; and

transmitting said individualized data record directly from said service provider computer system to said portable digital device.