Dynamic alerts for calendar events

• US 9,619,787 B2
• Filed: 12/04/2015
• Issued: 04/11/2017
• 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:
  US14/960,255
• Publication Number:
  US 20160162843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 494 Days
• 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 for generating an alarm indication for a calendaring application of a computing device without a positioning system capability, the method comprising:

determining an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with a calendar entry of the calendaring application, wherein the default alarm time is configured to occur at a predetermined time prior to the event time;

storing an anticipated current location of the computing device based on at least one of a default address stored on the computing device, a location of the computing device based on travel associated with a previous calendar entry, or location data received by an auxiliary device;

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

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

replacing the default alarm time with the updated alarm time when it is determined that the updated alarm time occurs sooner than the default alarm time.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the positioning system comprises at least one of a global positioning receiver (GPS), a cellular network transceiver, or a wireless communications subsystem.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing a buffer period in the calendaring application, wherein the buffer period refers to a predetermined period of time that occurs prior to the estimated travel time.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the calendaring application is stored on the computing device and the updated alarm time is calculated by a second computing device.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the updated alarm time comprises determining current traffic information along a travel route between the anticipated current location of the computing device and the event location.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

providing an adaptive alarm time, wherein the adaptive alarm time occurs no later than the estimated travel time before the event time associated with the calendar entry.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the auxiliary device comprises at least one of a built-in global positioning receiver (GPS), a cellular network transceiver, or a wireless communications subsystem.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the updated alarm time is calculated by continuously recalculating the estimated travel time between the anticipated current location of the computing device and the event location associated with the calendar entry.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein calculating the estimated travel time is based at least in part on previously recorded travel information.

10. At least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium configured to store instructions that, when executed by at least one processor of a computing device, cause the computing device to perform steps that include:

determining an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with a calendar entry of a calendaring application, wherein the default alarm time is configured to occur at a predetermined time prior to the event time;

storing an anticipated current location of the computing device based on at least one of a default address stored on the computing device, a location of the computing device based on travel associated with a previous calendar entry, or location data received by an auxiliary device;

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

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

replacing the default alarm time with the updated alarm time when it is determined that the updated alarm time occurs sooner than the default alarm time.

11. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the steps further include:

notifying one or more participants associated with the calendar entry when there is a deviation in the estimated travel time.

12. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the steps further include:

providing a buffer period in the calendaring application, wherein the buffer period refers to a predetermined period of time that occurs prior to the estimated travel time.

13. The at least one non-transitory computer readable storage medium of claim 10, wherein the computing device is without at least one of an operable global positioning receiver (GPS), an operable cellular network transceiver, or an operable wireless communications subsystem.

14. A computing device configured to generate an alarm indication for a calendaring application executing on the computing device, the computing device comprising:

at least one processor; and

at least one memory configured to store instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the computing device to;

determine an event time, an event location, and a default alarm time associated with a calendar entry of the calendaring application, wherein the default alarm time is configured to occur at a predetermined time prior to the event time;

store an anticipated current location of the computing device based on at least one of a default address stored on the computing device, a location of the computing device based on travel associated with a previous calendar entry, or location data received by an auxiliary device;

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

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

replace the default alarm time with the updated alarm time when it is determined that the updated alarm time occurs sooner than the default alarm time.

15. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor further causes the computing device to:

provide a buffer period in the calendaring application, wherein the buffer period refers to a predetermined period of time that occurs prior to the estimated travel time.

16. The computing device of claim 14, wherein calculating the updated alarm time comprises determining current traffic information along a travel route between the anticipated current location of the computing device and the event location.

17. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the at least one processor further causes the computing device to:

provide an adaptive alarm time, wherein the adaptive alarm time occurs no later than the estimated travel time before the event time associated with the calendar entry.

18. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the auxiliary device comprises at least one of a built-in global positioning receiver (GPS), a cellular network transceiver, or a wireless communications subsystem.

19. The computing device of claim 14, wherein the updated alarm time is calculated by continuously recalculating the estimated travel time between the anticipated current location of the computing device and the event location associated with the calendar entry.

20. The computing device of claim 14, wherein calculating the estimated travel time is based at least in part on previously recorded travel information.