Method, system, and computer program product for providing an intelligent event notification system

• US 7,595,717 B2
• Filed: 05/21/2008
• Issued: 09/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Trio, Nicholas R., Boss, Gregory J., Waters, Timothy M., Hamilton, Rick A. II
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen; Phung
• Application Number:
  US12/124,536
• Publication Number:
  US 20080218318A1
• Time in Patent Office: 496 Days
• Field of Search: 340/309.16, 340/457, 340/384.71, 455/412.1, 455/412.2, 368/243
• US Class Current: 340/309.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A computer program product for providing an intelligent event notification system includes instructions for implementing a method. The method includes selecting a type of event notification for an event. Determining the type of event notification is based in part on information elements associated with the event. The method also includes determining at least one optimal alert system to receive an event notification corresponding to the type of event notification selected. The determination is based in part on information elements associated with the event. The method further includes associating an alert trigger with the event notification and transmitting the event notification to the at least one optimal alert system upon activation of the alert trigger. The event notification type includes a supplemental information notification specifying activities to be performed in advance of, or in preparation for, the event.

Claims

1. A computer program product for providing an intelligent event notification, the computer program product including instructions stored in a computer-readable storage medium for performing:

selecting a type of event notification for an event, the type is selected based, in part, on information elements associated with the event;

determining at least one optimal alert system to receive an event notification corresponding to the type of event notification selected, the determining based in part on information elements associated with the event;

associating an alert trigger with the event notification; and

transmitting the event notification to the at least one optimal alert system upon activation of the alert trigger;

wherein the event notification type includes a supplemental information notification, the supplemental information notification specifying activities to be performed in advance of, or in preparation for, the event.

2. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising instructions for performing:

reading the event from an electronic calendar, the event comprising at least one of;

a meeting;

an appointment;

a trip;

a teleconference;

a video conference;

a seminar; and

an obligatory activity.

3. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the event notification types further include:

a reminder;

a wake-up call; and

a recurring reminder at specified time intervals.

4. The computer program product of claim 3, wherein the activities include at least one of:

a reservation;

an event confirmation;

a car rental;

a dry cleaning order or pickup; and

personal matters.

5. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the optimal alert system comprises at least one of:

an email program;

a telephone;

a pager;

a personal digital assistant;

a computer;

an instant messaging program;

an MP3 player;

an alarm clock; and

an alarm watch.

6. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the alert trigger comprises a time for executing the event notification.

7. The computer program product of claim 1, further comprising:

selecting an alert format from a group of alert format types; and

associating the alert format with the event notification;

wherein the transmitting the event notification includes;

presenting the event notification to the at least one alert system in the alert format selected, the alert form types including;

audio tones;

video images;

mechanical vibration;

music;

light emission; and

multi-media.

8. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein the selecting, determining, and associating are accomplished heuristically by comparing the information elements associated with the event with similar information elements associated with a previously-occurring event and applying the event notification, alert system, and alert trigger of the previously-occurring event to the event.

9. The computer program product of claim 1, wherein at least one of the selecting, determining, and associating are accomplished, in part, by applying at least one user-specified event notification type, alert system, and alert trigger to the event.

10. A system for providing an intelligent event notification, comprising:

an event notification engine in communication with at least one alert system, the event notification operable for performing;

selecting a type of event notification for an event, the type is selected based, in part, on information elements associated with the event;

determining at least one optimal alert system to receive an event notification corresponding to the type of event notification selected, the determining based in part on information elements associated with the event;

associating an alert trigger with the event notification; and

transmitting the event notification to the at least one optimal alert system upon activation of the alert trigger;

wherein the event notification type includes a supplemental information notification, the supplemental information notification specifying activities to be performed in advance of, or in preparation for, the event.

11. The system of claim 10, wherein the event notification engine is in communication with an electronic calendar, the event notification engine further performing:

reading the event from the electronic calendar, the event comprising at least one of;

a meeting;

an appointment;

a trip;

a teleconference;

a video conference;

a seminar; and

an obligatory activity.

12. The system of claim 10, wherein the event notification types further include:

a reminder;

a wake-up call; and

a recurring reminder at specified time intervals.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein the activities include at least one of:

a reservation;

an event confirmation;

a car rental;

a dry cleaning order or pickup; and

personal matters.

14. The system of claim 10, wherein the optimal alert system comprises at least one of:

an email program;

a telephone;

a pager;

a personal digital assistant;

a computer;

an instant messaging program;

an MP3 player;

an alarm clock; and

an alarm watch.

15. The system of claim 10, wherein the alert trigger comprises a time for executing the event notification.

16. The system of claim 10, wherein the event notification engine further performs:

selecting an alert format from a group of alert format types; and

associating the alert format with the event notification;

wherein the transmitting the event notification includes;

presenting the event notification to the at least one alert system in the alert format selected, the alert form types including;

audio tones;

video images;

mechanical vibration;

music;

light emission; and

multi-media.

17. The system of claim 10, wherein the selecting, determining, and associating are accomplished heuristically by comparing the information elements associated with the event with similar information elements associated with a previously-occurring event and applying the event notification, alert system, and alert trigger of the previously-occurring event to the event.

18. The system of claim 10, wherein at least one of the selecting, determining, and associating are accomplished, in part, by applying at least one user-specified event notification, alert system, and alert trigger to the event.