Method, system, and program for providing information on users of wireless devices in a database to a personal information manager

• US 20030131023A1
• Filed: 01/08/2002
• Published: 07/10/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/08/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne, Bassett, Ronald W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,248,872 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/27 Replication, distribution or synchronisation of data between databases or within a distributed database system; Distributed database system architectures therefor

Abstract

Provided is a method, system, and program for providing information on users of wireless devices in a database to a personal information manager of one user wireless device. Records are maintained for users of wireless devices within the database. For at least one shadowed user, a list of others users tracking the shadowed user is maintained in the database. A determination is made, for each shadowed user, whether a modification was made to one database record for the shadowed user. For each user on the list of each shadowed user, information is transmitted to the wireless device of the user on the list indicating the shadowed user and the determined modification made with respect to the database record of the shadowed user. The transmitted information is displayed at the wireless device receiving the transmitted information.

Claims

1. A method for providing information on users of wireless devices in a database to a personal information manager of one user wireless device, comprising:

maintaining records for users of wireless devices within the database;

for at least one shadowed user, maintaining in the database a list of other users tracking the shadowed user;

determining, for each shadowed user, whether a modification was made to one database record for the shadowed user; and

for each user on the list of each shadowed user, transmitting information to the wireless device of the user on the list indicating the shadowed user and the determined modification made with respect to the database record of the shadowed user.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified further comprises determining whether one scheduled event record for the shadowed user was modified, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates modifications made to the scheduled event record of the shadowed user.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the information on the determined modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein the information on the determined modification further indicates a description of the modified scheduled event record.

5. The method of claim 2, wherein the transmitted information indicating the shadowed user and the modification to one shadowed user scheduled event record is further capable of being displayed in a calendar view at the wireless device.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating position records indicating a geographical location of wireless devices associated with users of the database and a time the geographical location was determined, wherein determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified further comprises determining whether a new position record was generated indicating a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates the geographical location and time in the new position record.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein determining whether a new position record was generated further comprises determining whether the geographical location of the wireless device of the shadowed user is different from the geographical location in a previously generated position record for the shadowed user, wherein the transmitted information indicates a geographical location different from the geographical location indicated in previously transmitted information on the shadowed user.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the shadowed users include an individual and wherein the database records for the individual shadowed user comprise personal information for the individual.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the shadowed users include an entity and wherein the database records provide information on an offering made by the entity shadowed user.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the information is transmitted according to an instant messaging protocol.

11. A method for rendering information transmitted from a database in a remote server in a personal information manager executing in a wireless device, wherein records are maintained in the database for users of wireless devices, comprising:

receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating a modification to one of the database records for one shadowed user of one other wireless device;

displaying a message window on the wireless device in response to receiving the transmitted information;

rendering the received information in the message window; and

rendering a calendar view in the wireless device to display calendar information maintained for the user of the wireless device in the database, wherein the calendar view displays information on the shadowed user.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating modifications to database records for additional shadowed users; and

rendering the received information for multiple shadowed users in the message window.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising:

displaying a log window; and

rendering in the log window the received information from the remote server including information on multiple modifications to the database records for one shadowed user.

14. The method of claim 12, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and information one a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for a wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

15. The method of claim 11, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the received and rendered information on the modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the received and rendered information on the modification further indicates a description of the modified scheduled event record.

18. The method of claim 15, wherein the calendar view displays information for scheduled events for the user of the wireless device and for the shadowed user in a manner such that a conflict signal is generated if scheduled event records for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times, and wherein the conflict signal is not generated if one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times

19. The method of claim 11, wherein the received and rendered information indicates a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the received and rendered geographical location information is different from previously received and rendered geographical location information for the other wireless device of the shadowed user.

21. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

rendering in the calendar view information rendered in the message window.

22. The method of claim 11, further comprising:

receiving selection of one shadowed user for which information is rendered in the message window; and

displaying information at the wireless device enabling communication with the selected shadowed user.

23. The method of claim 11, wherein the shadowed users include entities and individuals.

24. A system for providing information a personal information manager of one user wireless device, comprising:

a computer readable medium;

a database included in the computer readable medium including records of users of wireless devices;

means for maintaining in the database, for at least one shadowed user, a list of other users tracking the shadowed user;

means for determining, for each shadowed user, whether a modification was made to one database record for the shadowed user; and

means for transmitting, for each user on the list of each shadowed user, information to the wireless device of the user on the list indicating the shadowed user and the determined modification made with respect to the database record of the shadowed user.

25. The system of claim 24, wherein the means for determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified determines whether one scheduled event record for the shadowed user was modified, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates modifications made to the scheduled event record of the shadowed user.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the information on the determined modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

27. The system of claim 25, further comprising:

means for generating position records indicating a geographical location of wireless devices associated with users of the database and a time the geographical location was determined, wherein the means for determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified determines whether a new position record was generated indicating a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates the geographical location and time in the new position record.

28. A wireless device for rendering information transmitted from a database in a remote server, wherein records are maintained in the database for users of wireless devices, comprising:

means for receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating a modification to one of the database records for one shadowed user of one other wireless device;

means for displaying a message window on the wireless device in response to receiving the transmitted information;

means for rendering the received information in the message window; and

means for rendering a calendar view in the wireless device to display calendar information maintained for the user of the wireless device in the database, wherein the calendar view displays information on the shadowed user.

29. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating modifications to database records for additional shadowed users; and

means for rendering the received information for multiple shadowed users in the message window.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and information one a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for a wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

31. The system of claim 28, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user.

32. The system of claim 31, wherein the received and rendered information on the modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

33. The system of claim 31, wherein the calendar view displays information for scheduled events for the user of the wireless device and for the shadowed user in a manner such that a conflict signal is generated if scheduled event records for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times, and wherein the conflict signal is not generated if one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times

34. The system of claim 28, wherein the received and rendered information indicates a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

35. The system of claim 28, further comprising:

means for receiving selection of one shadowed user for which information is rendered in the message window; and

means for displaying information at the wireless device enabling communication with the selected shadowed user.

36. An article of manufacture including code for providing information on users of wireless devices in a database to a personal information manager of one user wireless device, wherein the code causes operations to be performed comprising:

maintaining records for users of wireless devices within the database;

for at least one shadowed user, maintaining in the database a list of other users tracking the shadowed user;

determining, for each shadowed user, whether a modification was made to one database record for the shadowed user; and

for each user on the list of each shadowed user, transmitting information to the wireless device of the user on the list indicating the shadowed user and the determined modification made with respect to the database record of the shadowed user.

37. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified further comprises determining whether one scheduled event record for the shadowed user was modified, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates modifications made to the scheduled event record of the shadowed user.

38. The article of manufacture of claim 37, wherein the information on the determined modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

39. The article of manufacture of claim 38, wherein the information on the determined modification further indicates a description of the modified scheduled event record.

40. The article of manufacture of claim 37, wherein the transmitted information indicating the shadowed user and the modification to one shadowed user scheduled event record is further capable of being displayed in a calendar view at the wireless device.

41. The article of manufacture of claim 36, further comprising:

generating position records indicating a geographical location of wireless devices associated with users of the database and a time the geographical location was determined, wherein determining whether one database record for the shadowed user was modified further comprises determining whether a new position record was generated indicating a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user, and wherein the transmitted information further indicates the geographical location and time in the new position record.

42. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein determining whether a new position record was generated further comprises determining whether the geographical location of the wireless device of the shadowed user is different from the geographical location in a previously generated position record for the shadowed user, wherein the transmitted information indicates a geographical location different from the geographical location indicated in previously transmitted information on the shadowed user.

43. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the shadowed users include an individual and wherein the database records for the individual shadowed user comprise personal information for the individual.

44. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the shadowed users include an entity and wherein the database records provide information on an offering made by the entity shadowed user.

45. The article of manufacture of claim 36, wherein the information is transmitted according to an instant messaging protocol.

46. An article of manufacture including code for rendering information transmitted from a database in a remote server in a personal information manager executing in a wireless device, wherein records are maintained in the database for users of wireless devices, and wherein the code causes operations to be performed comprising:

receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating a modification to one of the database records for one shadowed user of one other wireless device;

displaying a message window on the wireless device in response to receiving the transmitted information;

rendering the received information in the message window; and

rendering a calendar view in the wireless device to display calendar information maintained for the user of the wireless device in the database, wherein the calendar view displays information on the shadowed user.

47. The article of manufacture of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving information transmitted from the remote server indicating modifications to database records for additional shadowed users; and

rendering the received information for multiple shadowed users in the message window.

48. The article of manufacture of claim 47, further comprising:

displaying a log window; and

rendering in the log window the received information from the remote server including information on multiple modifications to the database records for one shadowed user.

49. The article of manufacture of claim 47, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and information one a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for a wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

50. The article of manufacture of claim 46, wherein the received and rendered information includes information on modifications made to one scheduled event record for the shadowed user.

51. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein the received and rendered information on the modification further indicates whether the modified scheduled event record was added, modified or deleted from the shadowed user'"'"'s scheduled event records in the database.

52. The article of manufacture of claim 51, wherein the received and rendered information on the modification further indicates a description of the modified scheduled event record.

53. The article of manufacture of claim 50, wherein the calendar view displays information for scheduled events for the user of the wireless device and for the shadowed user in a manner such that a conflict signal is generated if scheduled event records for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times, and wherein the conflict signal is not generated if one scheduled event record for the shadowed user and for the user of the wireless device are scheduled for overlapping calendar times

54. The article of manufacture of claim 46, wherein the received and rendered information indicates a geographical location and time the geographical location was determined for the wireless device associated with the shadowed user.

55. The article of manufacture of claim 54, wherein the received and rendered geographical location information is different from previously received and rendered geographical location information for the other wireless device of the shadowed user.

56. The article of manufacture of claim 46, further comprising:

rendering in the calendar view information rendered in the message window.

57. The article of manufacture of claim 46, further comprising:

receiving selection of one shadowed user for which information is rendered in the message window; and

displaying information at the wireless device enabling communication with the selected shadowed user.

58. The article of manufacture of claim 46, wherein the shadowed users include entities and individuals.