Method and apparatus for controlling a location automation system via a calendar database

• US 8,812,136 B2
• Filed: 11/05/2009
• Issued: 08/19/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 11/05/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Martin-Cocher, Gaelle Christine, Scott, Sherryl Lee Lorraine
• Primary Examiner(s): Padmanabhan, Kavita
• Assistant Examiner(s): STEVENS, THOMAS H
• Application Number:
  US12/613,249
• Publication Number:
  US 20110106278A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,748 Days
• Field of Search: 700/16, 700/17, 705 718- 726
• US Class Current: 700/16
• 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

Abstract

A method and apparatus for controlling a location automation system via computing device having access to a calendar database is provided. Calendar data, from the calendar database, is processed to determine that at least one location automation event controlled by the location automation system is affected by the calendar data. The location automation setting data is updated, based on the calendar data, such that the at least one location automation event occurs according to the calendar data.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a location automation system via a computing device having access to a first calendar system, the method comprising:

processing first calendar data, from the first calendar system, to determine that at least one location automation event included in a second calendar system controlled by the location automation system is related to the first calendar data, the first calendar system stored at a memory of the computing device, the computing device being distinct and different from the location automation system, the first calendar system inaccessible by and distinct from the location automation system data, the first calendar system being distinct and different from the second calendar system;

determining that changes have occurred to the first calendar data;

determining whether the at least one location automation event related to the first calendar data is affected by the changes to the first calendar data;

in response to the determination that the at least one location automation event included in the second calendar system is affected by the changes to the first calendar data, causing location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated based on the changes to the first calendar data such that the at least one location automation event included in the second calendar system is rescheduled according to the changes to the first calendar data of the first calendar system that is stored at the memory of the computing device.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing the first calendar data occurs in response to a change to the first calendar data.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the processing the first calendar data comprises comparing at least a subset of the first calendar data to at least one of the location automation setting data and location automation rule data to determine if the at least one location automation event controlled by the location automation system, is affected by the first calendar data.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the location automation rule data comprises at least one rule for changing a setting in the location automation system.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein causing location automation setting data to be updated comprises at least one of:

notifying the location automation system of changes to the location automation system data;

receiving a request from the location automation system for the changes to the location automation system data; and

processing the location automation setting data to store the changes to the location automation system data.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising synchronizing the first calendar data with a plurality of calendar data such that the first calendar data comprises calendar data from the plurality of calendar data.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the causing the location automation setting data location to be updated is based on at least one of:

calendar data associated with a respective one of the plurality of calendar data; and

a priority of each of the plurality of calendar data.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining proximity of a device to a location controlled by the location automation system and causing the location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated based on the proximity.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein a plurality of devices are associated with the location automation system, such that the location automation setting data is updated based on at least one respective calendar system.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein one of the plurality of devices is designated as a master device having priority over others of the plurality of devices, such that the location automation setting data is updated first based on at least one of calendar data associated with and proximity of the master device to the location.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the computing device comprises a shared device associated with a plurality of calendar data, such that the location automation setting data is updated based on the plurality of calendar data.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein the first calendar data comprises at least one of a date of a meeting, a start time of a meeting, an end time of a meeting, a subject of a meeting, a location of a meeting, a category of a meeting, a recurrence indication, and invitees to a meeting.

13. A computing device for controlling a location automation system via a first calendar system, comprising:

a processing unit interconnected with a memory and a communications interface, the memory storing the first calendar system, the first calendar system being inaccessible by and distinct from the location automation system, the location automation system being distinct and different from the computing device, the processing unit configured to;

process first calendar data, from the first calendar system stored by the memory, to determine that at least one location automation event included in a second calendar system controlled by the location automation system, is related to the first calendar data, the first calendar system being distinct and different from the second calendar system;

determine that changes have occurred to the first calendar data;

determine whether the at least one location automation event related to the first calendar data is affected by the changes to the first calendar data;

in response to the determination that the at least one location automation event included in the second calendar system is affected by the changes to the first calendar data, cause the location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated, based on the changes to the first calendar data such that the at least one location automation event included in the second calendar system is rescheduled according to the changes to the first calendar data of the first calendar system that is stored by the memory.

14. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is further enabled to process the first calendar data in response to a change to the first calendar data.

15. The computing device of claim 13, wherein to process the first calendar data, the processing unit is further enabled to compare at least a subset of the first calendar data to at least one of the location automation setting data and location automation rule data to determine if the at least one location automation event controlled by the location automation system, is affected by the first calendar data.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein the location automation rule data comprises at least one rule for changing a setting in the location automation system.

17. The computing device of claim 13, wherein to cause location automation setting data to be updated, the processing unit is further enabled to at least one of:

notify the location automation system of changes to the location automation system data;

receive a request from the location automation system for the changes to the location automation system data; and

process the location automation setting data to store the changes to the location automation system data.

18. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is further enabled to synchronize the first calendar data with a plurality of calendar data such that the first calendar data comprises calendar data from the plurality of calendar data.

19. The computing device of claim 18, wherein the processing unit is further enabled to cause the location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated based on at least one of:

calendar data associated with a respective one of the plurality of calendar data; and

a priority of each of the plurality of calendar data.

20. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the processing unit is further enabled to determine proximity of a device to a location controlled by the location automation system and cause the location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated based on the proximity.

21. The computing device of claim 13, wherein a plurality of devices are associated with the location automation system, such that the location automation setting data is updated based on at least one respective calendar data.

22. The computing device of claim 21, wherein one of the plurality of devices is designated as a master device having priority over others of the plurality of devices, such that the location automation setting data is updated first based on at least one of calendar data associated with and proximity of the master device to the location.

23. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the computing device further comprises a shared device associated with a plurality of calendar data, such that the location automation setting data is updated based on the plurality of calendar data.

24. The computing device of claim 13, wherein the first calendar data comprises at least one of a date of a meeting, a start time of a meeting, an end time of a meeting, a subject of a meeting, a location of a meeting, a category of a meeting, a recurrence indication, and invitees to a meeting.

25. The computing apparatus of claim 13, wherein the computing apparatus is located at one of the location automation system and a location remote from the location automation system.

26. A computer program product, comprising a non-transitory computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for controlling a location automation system via computing device having access to a first calendar system, comprising:

processing first calendar data, from the first calendar system, to determine that at least one location automation event included in a second calendar system controlled by the location automation system, is related to the first calendar data, the first calendar system stored at a memory of the computing device, the computing device being distinct and different from the location automation system, the first calendar system inaccessible and distinct from the location automation system data, the first calendar system being distinct and different from the second calendar system;

determining that changes have occurred to the first calendar data;

determining whether the at least one location automation event related to the first calendar data is affected by the changes to the first calendar data;

in response to the determination that the at least one location automation event included in a second calendar system is affected by the changes to the first calendar data, causing location automation setting data, at the location automation system, to be updated, based on the changes to the first calendar data such that the at least one location automation event included in the second calendar system is rescheduled according to the changes to the first calendar data of the first calendar system that is stored at the memory of the computing device.