Time indicators for calendars

• US 9,424,560 B2
• Filed: 03/25/2013
• Issued: 08/23/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 03/25/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Bomgardner, Jake, Jarzabek, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): PHANTANA ANGKOOL, DAVID
• Application Number:
  US13/850,258
• Publication Number:
  US 20140286134A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,247 Days
• Field of Search: 715/780
• 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 40/174 Form filling; Merging
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

In a multiday view of a calendar, a time indicator is shown adjacent to a graphical element for the current day. In the multiday view, such a time indicator accurately indicates the current time on the current day, but not on other days of the week. If the current day is not viewable, the time indicator is not shown. By being adjacent to the graphical element for the current day, the time indicator does not obscure information, such as events, for the current day.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented process, performed by a computer, of generating a graphical user interface for displaying a calendar on a computer, comprising:

receiving a selected range of time of two or more days into memory;

generating a calendar display object with a first axis representing days and a second axis representing time of day, for a range of time including at least the selected range of time, such that each day has a graphical representation with an extent along the first axis, and ranges of time within each day have a graphical representation with an extent along the second axis;

receiving data defining a current time;

determining if a current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object;

in response to a determination that the current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object, generating a time indicator display object, the time indicator including a time box comprising a graphical representation of a geometric object in which a numerical representation of the current time is displayed, and positioning the time indicator display object on the calendar display object at the current time along the second axis and overlaying at least in part the graphical representation of a day immediately previous to the current day and adjacent to the graphical representation of the current day.

2. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein the numerical representation of the current time includes hours and minutes, but not seconds.

3. The computer-implemented process of claim 2, wherein the time indicator further comprises a time bar, comprising a line displayed parallel with the first axis and within the extent of the graphical representation of the current day but not other days, and positioned at the current time on the second axis.

4. The computer-implemented process of claim 3, wherein when the current time is close to a boundary of the second axis, the time box is aligned with the boundary.

5. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein the time box is contiguous with an edge of the graphical representation of the current day, and the time box is displayed outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

6. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein the time box is displayed substantially outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

7. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the numerical representation of the current time includes hours and minutes, but not seconds.

8. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the time indicator further comprises a time bar, comprising a line displayed parallel with the first axis and within the extent of the graphical representation of the current day, and positioned at the current time on the second axis.

9. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein when the current time is close to a boundary of the second axis, the time box is aligned with the boundary.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein the time box is substantially centered on the current time along the second axis.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 8, wherein when the current time is close to a boundary of the second axis, the time box is aligned with the boundary.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 7, wherein the time indicator further comprises a time bar, comprising a line displayed parallel with the first axis and within the extent of the graphical representation of the current day, and positioned at the current time on the second axis.

13. The article of manufacture of claim 1, wherein the numerical representation of the current time includes hours and minutes, but not seconds.

14. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, further comprising:

in response to a determination that the current day is not within the range of time included in the calendar display object, not displaying the time indicator display object.

15. The computer-implemented process of claim 1, wherein, further in response to the determination that the current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object, displaying the calendar display object with the generated time indicator display object.

16. An article of manufacture comprising:

a computer storage medium;

computer program instructions stored on the computer storage medium which, when processed by a processing device, instruct the processing device to perform a process of generating a graphical user interface for displaying a calendar on a computer, comprising;

receiving a selected range of time of two or more days into memory;

generating a calendar display object with a first axis representing days and a second axis representing time of day, for a range of time including at least the selected range of time, such that each day has a graphical representation with an extent along the first axis, and ranges of time within each day have a graphical representation with an extent along the second axis;

receiving data defining a current time;

determining if a current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object;

in response to a determination that the current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object, generating a time indicator display object, the time indicator including a time box comprising a graphical representation of a geometric object in which a numerical representation of the current time is displayed, and positioning the time indicator display object on the calendar display object at the current time and adjacent to the current day.

17. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the time box is contiguous with an edge of the graphical representation of the current day, and the time box is displayed outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

18. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the time box is displayed substantially outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

19. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the time box is contiguous with an edge of the graphical representation of the current day, and the time box is displayed outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

20. The article of manufacture of claim 16, wherein the time box is displayed substantially outside the extent of the graphical representation of the current day.

21. A computer with a graphical user interface for displaying a calendar, comprising:

a display;

memory storing a selected range of time of two or more days, a current day and time;

a processor configured to;

generate a calendar display object with a first axis representing days and a second axis representing time of day, for a range of time including at least the selected range of time, such that each day has a graphical representation with an extent along the first axis, and ranges of time within each day have a graphical representation with an extent along the second axis;

determine if the current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object;

in response to a determination that the current day is within the range of time included in the calendar display object, generate a time indicator display object, the time indicator including a time box comprising a graphical representation of a geometric object in which a numerical representation of the current time is displayed, and positioning the time indicator display object on the calendar display object at the current time and adjacent to the current day.