Dynamic alerts for calendar events

• US 9,207,084 B2
• Filed: 02/12/2014
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 06/27/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Inventors: Stahl, Geoffrey G., Lee, Teck Yang
• Primary Examiner(s): HOLLOWAY, JASON R
• Application Number:
  US14/179,435
• Publication Number:
  US 20140163882A1
• Time in Patent Office: 664 Days
• Field of Search: 701/411, 701413-416, 701/418, 701423-426, 701/430, 701450-454, 701/457, 701/465, 701/467, 701/484, 701/485, 701/522, 701/540, 701/541, 340/944, 340/995.19, 340/995.27
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/26 specially adapted for navigation in a road network
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/343 Calculating itineraries, i.e. routes leading from a starting point to a series of categorical destinations using a global route restraint, round trips, touristic trips travelling salesman problem G06Q10/04; optimisation of routes G06Q10/047
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/3492 employing speed data or traffic data, e.g. real-time or historical traffic control systems for road vehicles involving transmission of navigation instructions to the vehicle G08G1/0968
• CPC Class Codes: G01C 21/362 received from an external device or application, e.g. PDA, mobile phone or calendar application
• CPC Class Codes: G04B 19/24 Clocks or watches with date or week-day indicators , i.e. calendar clocks or watches; Clockwork calendars
• CPC Class Codes: G04G 21/00 Input or output devices integrated in time-pieces
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/047 Optimisation of routes or paths, e.g. travelling salesman problem
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

A computing device can access a calendar entry having an associated time and an associated location, in a calendar application. The computing device can dynamically determine an estimated travel time to the location associated with the calendar entry. The computing device can provide an alarm indication for the calendar entry at a time based on the estimated travel time.

Claims

1. A method of generating an alarm indication for a calendaring application of a computing device, the method comprising:

at the computing device;

accessing a calendar entry of the calendaring application;

determining an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with the calendar entry, wherein the default alarm time is set to occur a predetermined period of time before the event time;

calculating an estimated travel time from a current location of the computing device to the event location using route travel information;

determining an updated alarm time based at least in part on the estimated travel time;

replacing the default alarm time with the updated alarm time;

generating the alarm indication for the calendar entry at the updated alarm time;

comparing the updated alarm time to the default alarm time; and

when the updated alarm time is sooner than the default alarm time;

recalculating the estimated travel time to generate a new estimated travel time, wherein the updated alarm time is determined based on the new estimated travel time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the estimated travel time comprises:

determining one or more historical travel times associated with a route to or near to the event location; and

evaluating the route travel information along with the one or more historical travel times to calculate the estimated travel time.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the route travel information includes current traffic information along a route from the current location of the computing device to the event location.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the route travel information is determined based on the current location of the computing device relative to the event location; and

when the current location of the computing device changes, updating the route travel information to account for a change in the route travel information.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

when the updated alarm time is later than the default alarm time, providing the alarm indication at the default alarm time.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising altering the updated alarm time to account for a buffer alert period, wherein the buffer alert period corresponds to a fixed period of time that allows a user of the computing device to adjust their travel plans.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein generating the alarm indication further comprises generating a buffered alarm indication for the calendar entry at the updated alarm time that has been altered to account for the buffer alert period.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising presenting the alarm indication at the computing device by displaying the alarm indication on a display of the computing device, playing the alarm indication as an audible alarm, or generating a tactile alarm as the alarm indication.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

performing an evaluation of a current time, the estimated travel time, and the event time; and

determining, based on the evaluation, when a user of the computing device is expected to be late for an event associated with the calendar entry.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising sending a message including an indication of the estimated travel time to another computing device when it is determined that the user of the computing device is expected to be late for the event.

11. A computing device, comprising:

one or more processors;

a positioning system; and

a storage device storing executable instructions that, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing device to;

access a calendar entry of a calendaring application;

determine an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with the calendar entry, wherein the default alarm time is set to occur a predetermined period of time before the event time;

determine a current location of the computing device using the positioning system;

calculate an estimated travel time from the current location of the computing device to the event location;

replace the default alarm time with an updated alarm time that is determined based at least in part on the estimated travel time;

generate an alarm indication for the calendar entry at the updated alarm time;

compare the updated alarm time to the default alarm time; and

when the updated alarm time is sooner than the default alarm time;

recalculate the estimated travel time to generate a new estimated travel time, wherein the updated alarm time is determined based on the new estimated travel time.

12. The computing device of claim 11, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the one or more processors further causes the computing device to:

determine one or more historical travel times associated with a route to or near to the event location; and

evaluate route travel information along with the one or more historical travel times to calculate the estimated travel time.

13. The computing device of claim 12, wherein the route travel information includes current traffic information along a route from the current location of the computing device to the event location.

14. The computing device of claim 12, wherein:

the route travel information is determined based on the current location of the computing device relative to the event location; and

when the current location of the computing device changes, the route travel information is updated to account for a change in the route travel information.

15. The computing device of claim 11, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the one or more processors further causes the computing device to:

alter the updated alarm time to account for a buffer alert period, wherein the buffer alert period corresponds to a fixed period of time that allows a user of the computing device to adjust their travel plans.

16. The computing device of claim 15, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the one or more processors further causes the computing device to:

generate a buffered alarm indication for the calendar entry at the updated alarm time that has been altered to account for the buffer alert period.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium storing executable instructions that, when executed by one or more processors of a computing device, cause the computing device to:

access a calendar entry of a calendaring application;

determine an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with the calendar entry, wherein the default alarm time is set to occur a predetermined period of time before the event time;

calculate an estimated travel time from a current location of the computing device to the event location;

determine an updated alarm time based at least in part on the estimated travel time;

replace the default alarm time with the updated alarm time;

generate an alarm indication for the calendar entry at the updated alarm time;

compare the updated alarm time to the default alarm time; and

when the updated alarm time is sooner than the default alarm time;

recalculate the estimated travel time to generate a new estimated travel time, wherein the updated alarm time is determined based on the new estimated travel time.

18. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the one or more processors further causes the computing device to:

determine one or more historical travel times associated with a route to or near to the event location; and

evaluate route travel information along with the one or more historical travel times to calculate the estimated travel time.

19. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the route travel information includes current traffic information along a route from the current location of the computing device to the event location.

20. The non-transitory computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein execution of the executable instructions by the one or more processors further causes the computing device to:

alter the updated alarm time to account for a buffer alert period, wherein the buffer alert period corresponds to a fixed period of time that allows a user of the computing device to adjust their travel plans.