SIDE-BY-SIDE SHARED CALENDARS

• US 20080178110A1
• Filed: 02/09/2008
• Published: 07/24/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Bjordahl, Hans, Hill, Brian
• Granted Patent: US 9,098,837 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/771
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/048 Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/06 using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for presenting a plurality of shared calendars in a single electronic display frame or window where each of the plurality of shared calendars is displayed in a common view mode relative to other displayed shared calendars. Users may select one or more shared calendars to be displayed in the same display frame or window as their own calendar. Upon selection of a shared calendar to be displayed alongside a first calendar, an aggregate view object is called to control and coordinate all shared calendars selected for display in the common window or frame. The aggregate view object determines the view data object, including view mode (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly) and other calendar display settings of the first or active calendar displayed in the common view of shared calendars.

Claims

1. A method for displaying shared electronic calendars, comprising:

launching a calendar software application;

selecting a plurality of calendars for displaying in a common display view frame;

obtaining a view data object for a first selected calendar;

calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously;

passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar;

passing to each selected calendar a position of display in the view frame;

passing to each selected calendar a size of display in the view frame; and

displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

2. The method of claim 1, in response to selecting a plurality of calendars, calling an aggregate view module for displaying the selected plurality of calendars.

3. The method of claim 1, prior to calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously, determining a size of the view frame available for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, calling each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, whereby passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes passing a view mode and display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

6. The method of claim 1, whereby passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

7. The method of claim 6, whereby if the display of a time bar is required, displaying a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby selection of a particular time position in the time bar displays the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1, prior to passing view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar.

9. The method of claim 8, whereby if the display of a scroll bar is required, providing a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby scrolling the scroll bar scrolls all displayed calendars simultaneously.

10. The method of claim 1, whereby displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation includes displaying data associated with each displayed calendar in a particular displayed calendar to which the data is associated.

11. The method of claim 1, whereby displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation includes displaying each selected calendar such that each date or time position of each displayed calendar is aligned with corresponding date or time positions of each other displayed calendar.

12. The method of claim 11, further comprising displaying a date selection control whereby selection of a date from the date selection control displays a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to the selected date simultaneously.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a calendar selection control for selecting one or more calendars for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

whereby in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

redisplaying all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a distinctive background display color for each displayed calendar to distinguish each displayed calendar from each other displayed calendar.

15. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to the displayed calendars.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar;

and

applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendars to all displayed calendars.

17. The method of claim 16, whereby applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendar to all displayed calendars includes communicating any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars.

18. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame.

19. The method of claim 18, whereby in response to deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar; and

redisplaying all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

20. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an all day banner appointment position across all displayed calendars.

21. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying a task pad for entering tasks applicable to the first selected calendar.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 1, further comprising

receiving a deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame;

in response to receiving the deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar; and

redisplaying all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

22. A system for displaying shared electronic calendars, comprising:

a calendar software application operative to call a frame object module for directing the display of a selected calendar view;

the frame object module operative to call an aggregate view object module for displaying a plurality of calendars in a common display view frame of the selected calendar view;

the aggregate view object module operative

to obtain a view data object for a first selected calendar;

to calculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying the first selected calendar and each of one or more additional selected calendars simultaneously;

to pass the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar;

to pass to each selected calendar a position of display in the view frame;

to pass to each selected calendar a size of display in the view frame; and

to display each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

23. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to display a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby selection of a particular time position in the time bar displays the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

24. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to display a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby scrolling the scroll bar scrolls all displayed calendars simultaneously.

25. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to display each selected calendar such that each date or time position of each displayed calendar is aligned with corresponding date or time positions of each other displayed calendar.

26. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to display a date selection control whereby selection of a date from the date selection control displays a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to the selected date simultaneously.

27. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative:

to display a calendar selection control for selecting one or more calendars for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

to recalculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus a selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control;

to pass the view data object of the first selected calendar to all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar;

to pass a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

to redisplay all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

28. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to provide a distinctive background display color for each displayed calendar to distinguish each displayed calendar from each other displayed calendar.

29. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to display a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to the displayed calendars.

30. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative to apply any view mode and display settings changes made to a selected active calendar to all displayed calendars, whereby selection of one of the plurality of displayed calendars establishes the selected one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar.

31. The system of claim 22, whereby the aggregate view object module is further operative:

to display a calendar selection control for deleting one or more calendars displayed in the view frame;

to recalculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar minus the deleted calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation in response to deletion of one or more calendars displayed in the view frame;

to pass the view data object of the first selected calendar to all presently displayed calendars minus the deleted calendar;

to pass a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars minus deleted calendar; and

to redisplay all presently displayed calendars minus the deleted calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

32. A computer readable medium containing instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for displaying shared electronic calendars, comprising:

launching a calendar software application;

obtaining a view data object for a first selected calendar;

calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each of a selected plurality of calendars simultaneously;

passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar of the plurality of calendars;

passing to each selected calendar a position of display in the view frame;

passing to each selected calendar a size of display in the view frame; and

displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, calling each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 32, whereby passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes passing a view mode and display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 32, whereby passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 35, whereby if the display of a time bar is required, displaying a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby selection of a particular time position in the time bar displays the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 32, prior to passing view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar,

determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar;

and

if the display of a scroll bar is required, providing a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, whereby scrolling the scroll bar scrolls all displayed calendars simultaneously.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 32, further comprising displaying a date selection control whereby selection of a date from the date selection control displays a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to the selected date simultaneously.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 32, further comprising:

displaying a calendar selection control for selecting one or more calendars for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

whereby in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

redisplaying all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 32, further comprising receiving a selection of one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar;

communicating any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars; and

applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendars to all displayed calendars.