Apparatus, system, and method for organizing information by time and place

• US 8,994,731 B2
• Filed: 12/19/2008
• Issued: 03/31/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/19/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Temporal LLC
• Original Assignee: Temporal LLC
• Inventors: Nevins, David C.
• Primary Examiner(s): Richer, Aaron M
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, ANH TUAN V
• Application Number:
  US12/340,453
• Publication Number:
  US 20090164439A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,293 Days
• Field of Search: None
• US Class Current: 345/440
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/2477 Temporal data queries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/29 Geographical information databases

Abstract

An apparatus and method for capturing and organizing information spatio-temporally utilizes a standardized time reference and geographical locations to associate a time and a place to each event that is captured. These events are placed in a coordinate system according to the associated times and places. The apparatus and method may use a meridial clock. A series of related events forms an event path that progresses chronologically. Plural event paths are illustrated in a coordinate system based image of a user interface. Events from different event paths are synchronized so that events that occur in a particular moment are placed in the same time plane. As time progresses, the events emit from the plane into a region representing the past, and a relationship of events with their times and places is illustrated. A map in the plane of the image may facilitate visualization of places and times with events.

Claims

1. A computing system for presenting information, the computing system comprising:

one or more hardware computer processors;

one or more storage devices storing software code configured for execution by the one or more hardware computer processors in order to cause the computing system to;

receive event data from a plurality of sources, wherein the event data include a plurality of data items including one or more of a text data item indicating a text message received or sent by an individual, an image data item comprising a photograph taken by the individual or depicting the individual, and a phone data item indicating a phone call received or sent by the individual, and wherein the event data further include a first time and a first location associated with each data item;

receive future event data from one or more sources, wherein the future event data include at least a first future event comprising a first future event identifier, a first future event time and a first future event location, and a second future event comprising a second future event identifier, a second future event time and a second future event location, and wherein the first future event and the second future event have one or more common data items;

generate a user interface including;

a vertical time scale depicting a chronological time period beginning with a past date at a bottom of the vertical time scale and a future date at a top of the vertical time scale;

a geographical map including areas associated with at least the first future event location and the second future event location, wherein the geographical map is positioned at a location associated with the current time on the vertical time scale; and

an event path parallel to the vertical time scale and moving horizontally at respective locations such that at a first location of the vertical time scale indicating the first future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with the first future event location on the geographical map and at a second location of the vertical time scale indicating the second future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with the second future event location on the geographical map;

in response to passage of time, plot movement of the event path, wherein the event path automatically moves downward and is plotted at the first future event location on the geographical map when the first future event time reaches the current time;

in response to the event path reaching the first future event location on the geographical map collect additional event data associated with the first future event and store the first future event as a first historical event; and

display the first historical event below the geographical map.

2. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the user interface includes a three dimensional space wherein the geographical map is represented as a horizontal plane at the current time on the vertical time scale.

3. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the event path extending below the geographical map is depicted as a solid line and the event path extending above the geographical map is depicted as a broken line.

4. The computing system of claim 2, wherein the horizontal plane is selectable by a user of the computing device to move the geographical map up or down with reference to the vertical time scale.

5. The computing system of claim 1, wherein the horizontal plane is selectable by a user of the computing device to move the geographical map up or down with reference to the vertical time scale.

6. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing software instructions configured to cause a computing system to:

receive event data from a plurality of sources, wherein the event data include a plurality of data items including one or more of a text data item indicating a text message received or sent by an individual, an image data item comprising a photograph taken by the individual or depicting the individual, and a phone data item indicating a phone call received or sent by the individual, and wherein the event data further include a first time and a first location associated with each data item;

receive future event data from one or more sources, wherein the future event data include at least a first future event comprising a first future event identifier, a first future event time and a first future event location, and a second future event comprising a second future event identifier, a second future event time and a second future event location, and wherein the first future event and the second future event have one or more common data items;

generate a user interface including;

a vertical time scale depicting a chronological time period beginning with a past date at a bottom of the vertical time scale and a future date at a top of the vertical time scale;

a geographical map including areas associated with at least the first future event location and the second future event location, wherein the geographical map is positioned at a location associated with the current time on the vertical time scale; and

an event path parallel to the vertical time scale and moving horizontally at respective locations such that at a first location of the vertical time scale indicating the first future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with the first future event location on the geographical map and at a second location of the vertical time scale indicating the second future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with the second future event location on the geographical map;

in response to passage of time, plot movement of the event path, wherein the event path automatically moves downward and is plotted at the first future event location on the geographical map when the first future event time reaches the current time;

in response to the event path reaching the first future event location on the geographical map, collect additional event data associated with the first future event and store the first future event as a first historical event; and

display the first historical event below the geographical map.

7. A method comprising:

receiving, by a computing system having one or more hardware processors and a non-transitory storage device, event data from a plurality of sources, event data from a plurality of sources, wherein the event data include a plurality of data items including one or more of a text data item indicating a text message received or sent by an individual, an image data item comprising a photograph taken by the individual or depicting the individual, and a phone data item indicating a phone call received or sent by the individual, and wherein the event data further include a first time and a first location associated with each data item;

receiving, by the computing system, future event data from one or more sources, wherein the future event data include at least a first future event comprising a first future event identifier, a first future event time and a first future event location, and a second future event comprising a second future event identifier, a second future event time and a second future event location, and wherein the first future event and the second future event have one or more common data items;

generating, by the computing system, a user interface including;

a vertical time scale depicting a chronological time period beginning with a past date at a bottom of the vertical time scale and a future date at a top of the vertical time scale;

a geographical map including areas associated with at least the first future event location and the second future event location, wherein the geographical map is positioned at a location associated with the current time on the vertical time scale; and

an event path parallel to the vertical time scale and moving horizontally at respective locations such that at a first location of the vertical time scale indicating the first future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with the first future event location on the geographical map and at a second location of the vertical time scale indicating the second future event time, the event path is vertically aligned with second future event location on the geographical map;

in response to passage of time, plotting movement of the event path, wherein the event path automatically moves downward and is plotted at the first future event location on the geographical map when the first future event time reaches the current time;

in response to the event path reaching the first future event location on the geographical map, collecting additional event data associated with the first future event and storing the first future event as a first historical event; and

displaying the first historical event below the geographical map.