Proximity-dependent events

• US 8,285,206 B2
• Filed: 06/01/2007
• Issued: 10/09/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 06/01/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Research In Motion Limited (Blackberry Limited)
• Inventors: Martin, Daryl, Hassan, Ahmed E., O'Keefe, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Maung, Nay A
• Assistant Examiner(s): Perez, Angelica
• Application Number:
  US11/756,675
• Publication Number:
  US 20080301567A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,957 Days
• Field of Search: 455/41.2, 455/550.1, 455/404.2, 455/441, 455/456.1, 715/751
• US Class Current: 455/41.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72412 using two-way short-range wireless interfaces
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72454 according to context-related or environment-related conditions
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/02 including a Bluetooth interface
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2250/10 including a GPS signal receiver
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 76/10 Connection setup

Abstract

A calendar application for use with a first portable electronic device includes time-dependent events having a start time and an end time and proximity-dependent events having a specified device ID that corresponds to a second portable electronic device. Both the time-dependent events and the proximity-dependent events are stored in the calendar application and the proximity-dependent event is convertible into a time-dependent event. A proximity reminder is generated when the second portable electronic device is in short range radio frequency communication range of the first portable electronic device.

Claims

1. A method for generating time-dependent events based on proximity-dependent events in a calendar application of a portable electronic device, said method comprising:

providing a proximity-dependent event generated using said calendar application, said proximity-dependent event including a name field and a subject field;

detecting at the portable electronic device that the portable electronic device is in proximity to a second portable electronic device associated with the name field;

prompting a user to select a type of time-dependent event that said proximity-dependent event is to be converted into;

opening a new time-dependent event having said type of time-dependent event, said new time-dependent event being separate from said proximity-dependent event; and

copying said name field and said subject field from said proximity-dependent event into corresponding fields in said new time-dependent event;

wherein said proximity-dependent event is deleted following population of said corresponding fields in said new time-dependent event.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said type of time-dependent event is a meeting request.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising receiving an input, at the portable electronic device, to populate the meeting request.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising sending the meeting request, by the portable electronic device, to the second portable electronic device.

5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said type of time-dependent event is an appointment.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device uses a short-range radio signal to detect when the portable electronic device is in proximity to the second portable electronic device.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein the short-range radio signal includes one of infrared wireless and ultra wideband.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising the portable electronic device receiving a reminder from a server prior to the providing the proximity-dependent event.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein the portable electronic device receives a unique signature of the second portable electronic device.

10. A portable electronic device comprising:

a processor configured to;

provide a proximity-dependent event generated using an application, the proximity-dependent event including at least one field;

detect that the portable electronic device is in proximity to a second portable electronic device associated with the at least one field;

provide a prompt to select a type of time-dependent event that said proximity-dependent event is to be converted into;

open a new time-dependent event having the type of time dependent event, said new time-dependent event being separate from said proximity-dependent event; and

copy at least one of the at least one field from the proximity-dependent event into corresponding fields in the new time-dependent event;

wherein the proximity-dependent event is deleted following population of said corresponding fields in said new time-dependent event.

11. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to use a short-range radio signal to detect when the portable electronic device is in proximity to the second portable electronic device.

12. The portable electronic device of claim 11, wherein the short-range radio signal includes one of infrared wireless and ultra wideband.

13. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein the processor is configured to provide the proximity-dependent event after the portable electronic device receives a reminder from a server.

14. The portable electronic device of claim 10 wherein the portable electronic device is in proximity to a second portable electronic device when the portable electronic device receives a unique signature of the second portable electronic device, said unique signature associated with said at least one field.

15. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein said type of time-dependent event is a meeting request.

16. The portable electronic device of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to receive input to populate the meeting request.

17. The method of claim 15, wherein the processor is further configured to send the meeting request to the second portable electronic device.

18. The portable electronic device of claim 10, wherein said type of time-dependent event is an appointment.

19. A calendar application for use with a first portable electronic device, said calendar application comprising:

a time-dependent event having a start time and an end time, said time dependent event being stored in said calendar application;

a proximity-dependent event generated using said calendar application and stored in said calendar application, said proximity-dependent event including a name field, a subject field, a specified device ID, said specified device ID corresponding to a second portable electronic device, said name field and said subject field configured to be copied into corresponding fields in said time-dependent event;

a proximity reminder generated when said second portable electronic device associated with the name field is detected in short range radio frequency communication range of said first portable electronic device; and

wherein said proximity-dependent event is convertible into said time-dependent event having a selected type by copying said name field and said subject field from said proximity-dependent event into corresponding fields in said time-dependent event, said time-dependent event being separate from said proximity-dependent event, and said proximity-dependent event being deleted following population of said corresponding fields in said time-dependent event.

20. A calendar application as claimed in claim 19, wherein said time-dependent event is a meeting request.

21. A calendar application as claimed in claim 19, wherein said time-dependent event is an appointment.

22. A portable electronic device comprising:

a calendar application operable by a processor, said calendar application comprising;

a time-dependent event having a start time and an end time, said time dependent event being stored in said calendar application;

a proximity-dependent event generated using said calendar application and stored in said calendar application, said proximity-dependent event including a name field, a subject field, a specified device ID, said specified device ID corresponding to a second portable electronic device, said name field and said subject field configured to be copied into corresponding fields in said time-dependent event;

a proximity reminder generated when said second portable electronic device associated with the name field is detected in short range radio frequency communication range of said first portable electronic device; and

wherein said proximity-dependent event is convertible into said time-dependent event having a selected type by copying said name field and said subject field from said proximity-dependent event into corresponding fields in said time-dependent event, said time-dependent event being separate from said proximity-dependent event, and said proximity-dependent event being deleted following population of said corresponding fields in said time-dependent event.