Multi-layered online calendaring and purchasing

• US 7,174,517 B2
• Filed: 04/03/2002
• Issued: 02/06/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 03/10/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: AOL Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: America Online Inc. (Warner Bros. Discovery, Inc.)
• Inventors: Sobotka, David C., Barnett, Theodore H., Lao, Vengpui Louis, Espinoza, Anthony A., Zaeske, Andrew W.
• Primary Examiner(s): Vu; Kieu D.
• Application Number:
  US10/116,301
• Publication Number:
  US 20020154178A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,770 Days
• Field of Search: 345/963, 345/727, 345/728, 345/741, 345/751, 345/841, 345/793, 345/797, 715/963
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06314 Calendaring for a resource
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/02 Marketing; Price estimation or determination; Fundraising
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 30/06 Buying, selling or leasing transactions
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/962 Operator interface for marketing or sales
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A computer-implemented method and system for generating and displaying a calendar containing user-selected events from user-selected categories. A plurality of categories of events are provided. The user can select which categories are of interest, and then select individual events within those categories. Events are overlaid on a calendar unique to the user. Calendars may also be shared among a number of selected users, if desired. Online purchasing and related actions can be associated with each event.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for multi-layered online calendaring, comprising:

a) subscribing by a user to at least one of a plurality of categories;

b) retrieving a plurality of single and recurring events from event information supplied by at least one event information provider, said plurality of single and recurring events belonging to the at least one category each event having a date or dates;

c) selectively displaying by category a date-delimited subset of retrieved events simultaneously;

d) accepting input from said subscriber user selecting at least one of the displayed events; and

e) adding the selected event to said subscriber user'"'"'s computer-implemented personal calendar;

wherein at least a portion of said categories are definable by said subscriber user.

2. A computer-implemented system for multi-layered online calendaring, comprising:

a user input device for accepting user input subscribing to least one of a plurality of categories, and for accepting user input selecting at least one of a plurality of displayed events;

an event retrieval module, coupled to the user input device, for retrieving a plurality of single and recurring events from event information supplied by at least one event information provider, said plurality of single and recurring events belonging to the at least one category associated with the specified category each event having a date or dates;

a display module, coupled to the event retrieval module, for selectively displaying by category simultaneously a date-delimited subset of retrieved events; and

a personal calendar storage device, coupled to the user input device, for adding a selected event to a computer-implemented personal calendar;

wherein at least a portion of said categories are definable by said subscriber user.

3. A multi-layered online calendaring method, comprising the steps of:

subscribing to categories of events;

viewing single and recurring events from event information supplied by at least one event information provider, said single and recurring events belonging to categories subscribed to by a subscriber user and displayed simultaneously by category from outside sources;

adding selected events to a personal calendar; and

choosing which categories of selected events are to be displayed;

wherein at least a portion of said categories are definable by said subscriber user.

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

sharing any of said personal calendar, selected events, and categories.

5. The method of claim 3, further comprising the steps of:

setting up a group calendar; and

specifying members in said group;

wherein every group member can access said group calendar and make changes to it.

6. The method of claim 5, wherein different levels of access can be specified for different members of said group.

7. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

importing events from other calendars.

8. The method of claim 3, further comprising the step of:

effecting purchases of any of products, services, and tickets using links associated with displayed events.

9. A calendar method, comprising the steps of:

logging onto a calendaring system by providing a unique login name and password that identifies a user and that allows retrieval of said user'"'"'s personal calendar and associated information;

once the user is logged in, entering any of a plurality of different areas to perform different types of activities; and

providing an event tracker to allow said user to subscribe to categories of events that are of interest, wherein at least some of said categories are definable by said subscriber user;

wherein said event tracker allows said user to view single and recurring events from event information supplied by at least one event information provider, belonging to categories subscribed to, wherein said single and recurring events are displayed by category, simultaneously to obtain more details concerning such events, and to add events selectively to said subscriber user'"'"'s personal calendar.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the steps of:

providing a calendar area with several views of said subscriber user'"'"'s personal calendar, including any of events that were selected using said event tracker and events that have been manually added by said subscriber user;

wherein, in said calendar area, said subscriber user can view and manipulate any of these events.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing a “

what'"'"'s new”

area for alerting said subscriber user to new categories and events that may be of interest;

wherein said “

what'"'"'s new”

area may also be used to emphasize particularly important events.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing an event directory having listings of event categories, optionally arranged by area of interest;

wherein event categories optionally include any of movie opening dates, sporting events, and computer tradeshows.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein subscriber users can develop their own event categories and share them with other users by publishing them on said event directory;

wherein said subscriber user can subscribe to any event category and view a list of events belonging to that category; and

wherein additional information can be obtained for each of said events.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein said subscriber user can choose to subscribe to any event categories for inclusion in said event tracker;

and

wherein said subscriber user can also select a localized option which restricts events to those located in any of said subscriber user'"'"'s city, state, or other region.

15. The method of claim 9, wherein said event tracker displays a list of events belonging to said categories subscribed to;

wherein said subscriber user can select from several different views of displayed events and can also choose to view any of one category at a time and all categories at once; and

wherein events can be sorted by.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein said subscriber user can add a particular event to said personal calendar.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein said subscriber user can effect online ordering and purchasing of any of products, services, and tickets as appropriate for a particular event.

18. A configurable personal calendar stored on a machine-readable medium, said configurable personal calendar comprising:

any of user selectable daily, weekly, and monthly views;

user subscribable categories of single and recurring events obtained from event information supplied by an event information provider, said single and recurring events belonging to said categories and to be displayed simultaneously; and

a multi-layered calendar, where each layer corresponds to an event category;

wherein viewing multiple categories simultaneously provides an integrated personal calendar showing all events in one place;

wherein at least a portion of said categories are definable by said user.

19. The calendar of claim 18, wherein said user can add appointments and other events manually in a my calendar area;

and

wherein such events are displayed alongside events that were selected in a event tracker.

20. The calendar of claim 18, wherein said user can also specify that he would like to be notified by any of email and some other communications means when an event is about to occur.

21. The calendar of claim 18, wherein said user can specify whether he would like to share said personal calendar with other users.