Method and apparatus for modifying a scheduling database

• US 8,396,902 B2
• Filed: 08/13/2009
• Issued: 03/12/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Pasquero, Jerome, Fyke, Steven, DeFazio, Michael Joseph
• Primary Examiner(s): FILIPCZYK, MARCIN R
• Application Number:
  US12/540,659
• Publication Number:
  US 20110040803A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,307 Days
• Field of Search: 345/1.1, 707/610, 707/802, 707/803, 707/805, 707/811, 715/728, 715/761, 715/864, 715/963
• US Class Current: 707/803
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2308 Concurrency control transaction processing G06F9/466
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/273 Asynchronous replication or reconciliation
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

A mobile electronic communications device and a method for modifying a scheduling database are provided. The scheduling database can be modified via the mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, when the mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device. Time slot data associated with an available time slot is retrieved from the scheduling database, via the mobile electronic communications device. The time slot data associated with the available time slot is transmitted, via the mobile electronic communications device, to the proximate electronic device to cause the proximate electronic device to display the time slot data associated with the available time slot at the display device. Input data is received at the mobile electronic communications device. If the input data is representative of a command to update the scheduling database, updating, via the mobile electronic communications device, an entry of the scheduling database based on the time slot data associated with the available time slot displayed at the display device.

Claims

1. A method for modifying a scheduling database via a mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, when said mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device, the method comprising:

retrieving, via said mobile electronic communications device, time slot data associated with an available time slot from said scheduling database;

transmitting, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to format and display said time slot data associated with said available time slot at said display device, wherein said retrieving said time slot data and said transmitting said time slot data occur automatically in response to actuation of an input device at said mobile electronic communications device; and

receiving input data at said mobile electronic communications device, and

when said input data is representative of a command to update said scheduling database,

updating, via said mobile electronic communications device, an entry of said scheduling database based on said time slot data associated with said available time slot displayed at said display device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said retrieving, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with an available time slot from said scheduling database comprises processing voice data received in said oral communications session and determining time slot data to retrieve based on said voice data.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if said input data is representative of a command to send time slot data associated with a next available time slot,

retrieving, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said next available time slot from said scheduling database; and

transmitting, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said next available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to display said time slot data associated with said next available time slot at said display device.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

if said input data is representative of a command to send time slot data associated with a previous available time slot,

retrieving, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot from said scheduling database; and

transmitting, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to display said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot at said display device.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising, prior to said retrieving, receiving input data at said mobile electronic communications device to trigger said retrieving.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving said input data at said mobile electronic communications device comprises receiving said input data from said proximate electronics device, said input data generated at said proximate electronics device.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein said input data is generated via an accelerometer at, at least one of said proximate electronic device and said mobile electronic communications device.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein said updating comprises:

determining, via said mobile electronic communications device, an identifier associated with said second communications device; and

updating, via said mobile electronic communications device, said entry with said identifier.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein said mobile device is wirelessly connected to said proximate electronic device.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein said mobile device is wirelessly connected to said proximate electronic device via Bluetooth.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein said proximate electronic device comprises at least one of a wearable computing device, a bracelet, a shoe, a necklace a watch, an appliance, a refrigerator, a microwave oven, an electronic device in an automobile, a cell phone, a personal computing device, an electronic device in an airplane, and a display in a public location.

12. A mobile electronic communications device for modifying a scheduling database comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a communication interface and an input device, said communication interface configured to communicate with a proximate electronic device when said mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device, said proximate electronic device comprising a display device, said processing unit configured to;

retrieve time slot data associated with an available time slot from said scheduling database;

transmit, via said communication interface, said time slot data associated with said available time slot to said proximate electronic device, to cause said proximate electronic device to format and display said time slot data associated with said available time slot at said display device, wherein said retrieve of said time slot data and said transmit said time slot data occur automatically in response to actuation of an input device at said mobile electronic communications device; and

when input data, received via said input device, is representative of a command to update said scheduling database, update an entry of said scheduling database based on said time slot data associated with said available time slot displayed at said display device.

13. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein to retrieve time slot data associated with an available time slot from a scheduling database said processing unit is further configured to:

process voice data received in said oral communications session; and

determine time slot data to retrieve based on said voice data.

14. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

if said input data is representative of a command to send time slot data associated with a next available time slot, retrieve, via said input device, said time slot data associated with said next available time slot from said scheduling database; and

transmit, via said communications interface, said time slot data associated with said next available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to display said time slot data associated with said next available time slot at said display device.

15. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to:

if said input data is representative of a command to send time slot data associated with a previous available time slot, retrieve, via said input device, said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot from said scheduling database; and

transmit, via said communications interface, said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to display said time slot data associated with said previous available time slot at said display device.

16. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said processing unit is further configured to, prior to retrieving said time slot data, receive input data at said mobile electronic communications device to trigger said retrieving.

17. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said mobile device further comprising an accelerometer interconnected with said processing unit, said processing unit further configured to generate said input data, via said accelerometer.

18. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein to update said scheduling database, said processing unit is further configured to:

determine an identifier associated with said second communications device; and

update said entry with said identifier.

19. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said communication interface is configured to wirelessly connect, via said communications interface, to said proximate electronic device.

20. The mobile electronic communications device of claim 12, wherein said communication interface is configured to wirelessly connect, via said communications interface, to said proximate electronic device via Bluetooth.

21. A system comprising:

a mobile electronic communications device for modifying a scheduling database and a proximate electronic device comprising a display device,

wherein the mobile electronic communications device is enabled to;

communicate with said proximate electronic device when said mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device;

retrieve time slot data associated with an available time slot from said scheduling database;

transmit said time slot data associated with said available time slot to said proximate electronic device, to cause said proximate electronic device to format and display said time slot data associated with said available time slot at said display device, wherein said retrieve of said time slot data and said transmit said time slot data occur automatically in response to actuation of an input device at said mobile electronic communications device; and

when input data, received via said input device, is representative of a command to update said scheduling database, update an entry of said scheduling database based on said time slot data associated with said available time slot displayed at said display device; and

,

wherein said proximate electronic device is enabled to;

communicate with said mobile electronic communications device;

respond to an actuation of an input device at said mobile electronic communications device by receiving said time slot data associated with said available time slot, from said mobile electronic communications device; and

format and display, at a respective display device of said proximate electronic device, said time slot data.

22. A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for modifying a scheduling database via a mobile electronic communications device in communication with a proximate electronic device comprising a display device, when said mobile electronic communications device is engaging in an oral communications session with a second communications device, the method comprising:

retrieving, via said mobile electronic communications device, time slot data associated with an available time slot from said scheduling database;

transmitting, via said mobile electronic communications device, said time slot data associated with said available time slot to said proximate electronic device to cause said proximate electronic device to format and display said time slot data associated with said available time slot at said display device, wherein said retrieving said time slot data and said transmitting said time slot data occur automatically in response to actuation of an input device at said mobile electronic communications device; and

receiving input data at said mobile electronic communications device, and

when said input data is representative of a command to update said scheduling database,

updating, via said mobile electronic communications device, an entry of said scheduling database based on said time slot data associated with said available time slot displayed at said display device.