Simplified data entry

• US 9,286,935 B1
• Filed: 01/25/2008
• Issued: 03/15/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Eighty-Three Degrees Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Start Project, LLC
• Inventors: Wilder, Nicholas, Rocherolle, Narendra, Davidson Rocherolle, Julie
• Primary Examiner(s): Bhatia, Ajay
• Assistant Examiner(s): Jiang, Haimei
• Application Number:
  US12/011,314
• Time in Patent Office: 2,972 Days
• Field of Search: 715/825, 715/963
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0481 based on specific properties of the displayed interaction object or a metaphor-based environment, e.g. interaction with desktop elements like windows or icons, or assisted by a cursor's changing behaviour or appearance
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04847 Interaction techniques to control parameter settings, e.g. interaction with sliders or dials
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/211 Syntactic parsing, e.g. based on context-free grammar [CFG] or unification grammars
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/284 Lexical analysis, e.g. tokenisation or collocates
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G11B 20/1217 on discs

Abstract

Disclosed are embodiments of systems and methods that allow for the concise and efficient entry of information into an application, such as a calendaring application. In embodiments, an entry may be provided via a one box entry form. In embodiments, the present invention simplifies the creation of an event through parsing, fixed or suggested formats, reserved syntax, contextual information, display logic, or combinations thereof. Embodiments of the present invention may also simplify or streamline the entry process and provide greater functionality by enabling or triggering actions related to the event. Embodiments of the present inventions may include the creation of an event by traditional web post, ajax web post, email, SMS/text messaging, instant messaging (IM), and/or desktop or embedded widgets.

Claims

1. A method for simplifying the creation of a calendar event, the method comprising:

receiving from a user a string of non-structured data comprising calendar event information; and

generating a structured event data file by;

searching the string of non-structured data for readily-identified data;

responsive to identifying readily-identified data in the string of non-structured data, adding at least some of the readily-identified data to the structured event data file and removing the readily-identified data from the string of non-structured data;

parsing the remaining data in the string of non-structured data using natural language processing; and

responsive to extracting information using natural language processing, adding the extracted information to the structured event data file.

2. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying to a user an interface comprising a single area for data entry that receives from the user data comprising at least some of the string of non-structured data.

3. The method of claim 2 further comprising:

parsing the string of non-structured data to identify contextual triggers; and

responsive to identifying a contextual trigger, performing at least one action correlated to the identified contextual trigger.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the steps of

parsing the string of non-structured data to identify contextual triggers;

and

responsive to identifying a contextual trigger, performing at least one action correlated to the identified contextual trigger,

comprise the steps of;

parsing after each character entered into the single area for data entry;

responsive to identifying a contextual trigger, displaying a list of items to the user; and

responsive to the user selecting at least one item from the list of items, updating the string of non-structured data to include the selected at least one item.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising the step of performing at least one action correlated to an identified readily-identified data.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the at least one action comprises at least one of:

having an invitation sent an individual, generating a profile, notifying an invitee, setting a repeat, setting a reminder, adding an action/“

to do”

item, adding a hyperlink, accessing an application, adding a tag, setting a format, setting a display format, and setting a status indicator.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein accessing an application comprises at least one of:

accessing a messaging application, accessing a mapping service, accessing an information service, and accessing a website.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein the step of parsing the remaining data in the string of non-structured data using natural language processing comprises the steps of:

converting time-related text in the remaining data in the string of non-structured data to common formats;

identifying a last instance of a time-related text in the remaining data in the string of non-structured data; and

extracting event time data from a portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text demarcated by the last instance of a time-related text.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising:

searching the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text for a time span indicator; and

responsive to identifying a time span indicator;

dividing the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text into a first portion and a second portion demarcated by the time span indicator; and

checking the first and second portions for event time data.

10. The method of claim 8 wherein the step of extracting event time data from a portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text demarcated by the last instance of a time-related text comprises:

starting at the end of the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data, iteratively including an additional consecutive word from the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data until a valid time is not returned from a string-to-time conversion; and

using the last valid time returned from the string-to-time conversion.

11. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

updating a display to the user using at least some of the structured calendar event data.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein the string of non-structured data is received in a message.

13. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 1.

14. A method for simplifying entry of data, the method comprising:

providing to a user an interface for data entry comprising a single area for data entry;

responsive to entry by the user into the single area for data entry of a trigger, displaying a prompt correlated to the trigger that requests additional data from the user and responsive to the user providing additional data, updating the single area for data entry to include the additional data;

receiving from the user a string of non-structured data displayed in the single area for data entry; and

generating a structured data file by;

searching the string of non-structured data for readily-identified data;

responsive to identifying readily-identified data in the string of non-structured data, adding at least some of the readily-identified data to the structured event data file and removing the readily-identified data from the string of non-structured data;

parsing the remaining data in the string of non-structured data using natural language processing; and

responsive to extracting information using natural language processing, adding the extracted information to the structured data file.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising:

defining at least one set of readily-identifiable data, the at least one set of readily-identified data comprising at least one of the following;

a set triggers, each trigger from the set of triggers being correlated to a specific action; and

a set of syntax structures.

16. The method of claim 14 wherein a trigger comprises a character or set of characters.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein the step of:

responsive to entry by the user into the single area for data entry of a trigger, displaying a prompt correlated to the trigger that requests additional data from the user and responsive to the user providing additional data, updating the single area for data entry to include the additional data, comprises;

parsing the user'"'"'s data entry after each character entered into the single area for data entry to determine if a trigger has been entered.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of responsive to entry by the user into the single area for data entry of a trigger, displaying a prompt correlated to the trigger that requests additional data from the user and responsive to the user providing additional data, updating the single area for data entry to include the additional data comprises:

displaying a list of items to the user; and

responsive to the user selecting at least one item from the list, updating the data in the single area for data entry to include the selected at least one item.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising one or more sequences of instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to perform the method of claim 14.

20. A system for simplifying creation of a calendar event, the system comprising:

a data processor, coupled to receive from a user a string of non-structured data comprising calendar event information, the data processor generating a structured event data file by;

searching the string of non-structured data for readily-identified data;

responsive to identifying readily-identified data in the string of non-structured data, adding at least some of the readily-identified data to the structured event data file and removing the readily-identified data from the string of non-structured data;

parsing the remaining data in the string of non-structured data using natural language processing; and

responsive to extracting information using natural language processing, adding the extracted information to the structured event data file;

and

storage, coupled to receive the structured event data file, the storage storing the structured event data file.

21. The system of claim 20 wherein:

at least some of the readily-identified data are correlated to specific actions; and

the data processor initiates at least one action to be performed responsive to identification of a readily-identified data.

22. The system of claim 20 wherein the step of parsing the remaining data in the string of non-structured data using natural language processing comprises the steps of:

converting time-related text in the remaining data in the string of non-structured data to common formats;

identifying a last instance of a time-related text in the remaining data in the string of non-structured data; and

extracting event time data from a portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text demarcated by the last instance of a time-related text.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the data processor further performs the steps comprising:

searching the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text for a time span indicator; and

responsive to identifying a time span indicator;

dividing the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text into a first portion and a second portion demarcated by the time span indicator; and

checking the first and second portions for event time data.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the step of extracting event time data from a portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data text demarcated by the last instance of a time-related text comprises:

starting at the end of the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data, iteratively including an additional consecutive word from the portion of the remaining data in the string of non-structured data until a valid time is not returned from a string-to-time conversion; and

using the last valid time returned from the string-to-time conversion.