Time based profile management on palmtop computer

• US 7,725,338 B1
• Filed: 09/15/2000
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 09/15/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Access Company Limited
• Original Assignee: Palmsource Incorporated (Access Company Limited)
• Inventors: Wong, Yoon Kean
• Primary Examiner(s): Frenel; Vanel
• Application Number:
  US09/663,363
• Time in Patent Office: 3,539 Days
• Field of Search: 707/507, 707/2, 707/7, 707/104.1, 705 7- 9, 455/418
• US Class Current: 705/7.11
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/063 Operations research, analysis or management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/944 Business related
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/951 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A personal information manager or other software program, preferably residing within a palmtop computer, uses a time of day profile to establish a default data category. When the user wishes to enter or edit data or retrieve data, the personal information manager or other software program inspects a real-time clock to determine the time of day. The personal information manager or other software program then establishes a default category based upon the time of day profile established by the user. The user is given the opportunity to modify the default category at any time. In this manner, for example, the user can establish a default business category during business times in days and a personal category during personal times in days. This provides the advantage of correctly categorizing data in an automated manner under most circumstances.

Claims

1. A computer implemented method for a portable electronic device for automating the categorization of data based on clock time of day, comprising the steps of:

determining a clock time of day on a portable electronic device by referencing a real-time clock;

determining a day of a week;

referencing a time of day profile that correlates clock time of day information and day of week information with data categories stored on said portable electronic device, wherein at least one data category in said portable electronic device is associated with a block of time corresponding to two or more days of said week; and

setting a default data category which differentiates between business and personal hours based upon the clock time of day, the day of the week, and the time of day profile that is used for accessing stored data in the portable electronic device and for storing entered data in the portable electronic device at that clock time of day based on the real-time clock, wherein the default data category includes a business category during business times in days and a personal category during personal times in days wherein the time of day profile correlates a clock time with at least one of a personal data category and a business data category.

2. The method according to claim 1, wherein said implemented method is carried out within a personal information manager program operating on a programmed processor residing within the portable electronic device.

3. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

displaying only data categorized in the default data category and hiding data categorized in any other category;

and

providing for editing of data categorized in the default data category.

4. The method according to claim 1, further comprising entering data categorized in the default data category.

5. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option to change the default data category to a selected data category; and

entering data categorized in the selected data category.

6. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

providing an option to change the default data category to a selected data category;

displaying only data categorized in the default data category; and

hiding data categorized in any other category.

7. The method according to claim 1, wherein the data comprises one of the group:

address book data, to-do list data, notes data, email data and calendar data.

8. A portable electronic device, comprising:

a programmed processor;

a personal information manager program operating on the programmed processor;

a real-time clock for determining a clock time of day;

a calendar for indicating a day of a week;

first program means for referencing a time of day profile that correlates clock time of day information and day of week information with data categories, wherein at least one data category is associated with a block of time corresponding to two or more days of said week; and

second program means for setting a default data category which differentiates between business and personal hours for the personal information manager based upon the clock time of day, the day of the week, and the time of day profile that is used for accessing stored data in said portable electronic device and for storing entered data in the portable electronic device at that clock time of day, wherein the default data category is set to differentiate between business and personal hours of the day, wherein the time of day profile correlates a clock time with at least one of a personal data category and a business data category.

9. The-device according to claim 8, further comprising a display;

and wherein only data categorized in the default data category is displayed on the display;

and wherein data categorized in any other category is hidden.

10. The-device according to claim 8, further comprising data entry means for entering data categorized in the default data category and for editing data categorized in the default data category.

11. The-device according to claim 8, further comprising:

program means for changing the default data category to a selected data category; and

data entry means for entering data categorized in the selected data category.

12. The-device according to claim 8, further comprising:

a display;

program means for changing the default data category to a selected data category;

wherein only data categorized in the default data category is displayed on the display; and

wherein data categorized in any other category is hidden.

13. The-device according to claim 8, wherein the data comprises one of address book data, to-do list data, notes data and calendar data.

14. An electronic storage medium containing instructions which, when carried out on a programmed processor for a portable electronic device, carry out the steps of:

determining a clock time of day on the programmed processor;

determining a day of a week;

referencing a time of day profile that correlates clock time of day information and day of week information with data categories on the programmed processor, wherein at least one data category is associated with a block of time corresponding to two or more days of said week; and

setting a default data category which differentiates between business and personal hours based upon the clock time of day, the day of the week, and the time of day profile that is used for accessing stored data in the programmed processor and for storing entered data in the programmed processor at that clock time of day, wherein the default data category establishes differences between business and personal hours of the day, wherein the time of day profile correlates a clock time with at least one of a personal data category and a business data category; and

wherein the data comprises one of address book data, notes data, email data, to-do list data and calendar data.

15. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising a personal information manager program operating on a programmed processor residing within a portable electronic device.

16. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising:

providing an option to change the default data category to a selected data category; and

entering data categorized in the selected data category.

17. The electronic storage medium according to claim 14, further comprising:

displaying only data categorized in the default data category and hiding data categorized in any other category;

providing an option to change the default data category to a selected data category;

if the default category is changed to the selected category, displaying only data categorized in the selected data category and hiding data categorized in any other category.

18. A computer implemented method of automating categorization of data for a portable electronic device, comprising the steps of:

determining a current time of day on a portable electronic device based on a real-time clock;

determining a day of a week;

referencing a time of day profile that correlates current time of day information and day of week information with data categories on said portable electronic device, wherein at least one data category is associated with a block of time corresponding to two or more days of said week;

setting a default data category which differentiates between business and personal hours based upon said current time of day, the day of the week, and said time of day profile wherein the default data category establishes differences between business and personal hours; and

performing actions only within said default data category in the handheld computer at that clock time of day.

19. The method of claim 18, wherein said actions is taken from a list consisting of:

creating a data entry;

editing a previously created data entry;

retrieving said previously created data entry;

displaying data in said previously created data entry; and

querying said default data category.

20. The method of claim 18, wherein said current time of day comprises:

current time information;

current day of the week information;

current month of the year information; and

current year information.

21. The method of claim 18, further comprising:

changing said default data category to another data category for performing actions only within said another data category.