METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR PROVIDING CALENDAR CONFLICT WARNINGS

• US 20100192162A1
• Filed: 01/23/2009
• Published: 07/29/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 01/23/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Cisco Technology, Inc. (Cisco Systems, Inc.)
• Inventors: Upasak, Purva, Conner, Forest Mathew
• Application Number:
  US12/358,473
• Publication Number:
  US 20100192162A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 719/318
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

In one embodiment, a method includes obtaining a transmission sent by a first application and determining whether the transmission includes date/time information. If it is determined that the transmission includes date/time information, the date/time information is compared to information associated with at least a second application. A determination is made as to whether the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application, and if it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application, a conflict warning is provided.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

obtaining a transmission, the transmission being sent by a first application;

determining whether the transmission includes date/time information;

comparing the date/time information to information associated with at least a second application when it is determined that the transmission includes the date/time information;

determining if the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application; and

providing a conflict warning if it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application is a browser application.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the first application is associated with a first system, and wherein providing the conflict warning includes providing the conflict warning to the first system.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein the first system displays the conflict warning.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the second application is a calendar application, and wherein determining if the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the calendar application includes determining whether the date/time information conflicts with an event identified in the calendar application.

6. The method of claim 1 further including:

monitoring a communications channel associated with the first application, wherein obtaining the transmission includes obtaining the transmission from the communications channel.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein determining whether the transmission includes the date/time information includes parsing the transmission.

8. The method of claim 1 further including:

preventing the transmission from reaching a server when it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

9. Logic encoded in one or more tangible media for execution and when executed operable to:

obtain a transmission, the transmission being sent by a first application;

determine whether the transmission includes date/time information;

compare the date/time information to information associated with at least a second application when it is determined that the transmission includes the date/time information;

determine if the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application; and

provide a conflict warning if it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

10. The logic of claim 9 wherein the first application is a browser application.

11. The logic of claim 9 wherein the first application is associated with a first system, and wherein providing the conflict warning includes providing the conflict warning to the first system.

12. The logic of claim 11 wherein the first system displays the conflict warning.

13. The logic of claim 9 wherein the second application is a calendar application, and wherein the logic operable to determine if the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the calendar application is operable to determine whether the date/time information conflicts with an event identified in the calendar application.

14. The logic of claim 9 further operable to:

monitor a communications channel associated with the first application, wherein the logic operable to obtain the transmission is further operable to obtain the transmission from the communications channel.

15. The logic of claim 14 wherein the logic operable to determine whether the transmission includes the date/time information is further operable to parse the transmission.

16. The logic of claim 9 further operable to:

prevent the transmission from reaching a server when it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

17. An apparatus comprising:

means for obtaining a transmission, the transmission being sent by a first application;

means for determining whether the transmission includes date/time information;

means for comparing the date/time information to information associated with at least a second application when it is determined that the transmission includes the date/time information;

means for determining if the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application; and

means for providing a conflict warning if it is determined that the date/time information conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

18. An apparatus comprising:

an information monitor, the information monitor being arranged to monitor at least a first application to identify a transmission that includes a date/time indication, the transmission being associated with the first application;

a first conflict warning arrangement, the first conflict warning arrangement being arranged to access a second application and to compare the date/time indication with information associated with the second application to determine whether the date/time indication conflicts with the information associated with the second application; and

a second conflict warning arrangement, the second conflict warning arrangement being arranged to provide a conflict warning when it is determined that the date/time indication conflicts with the information associated with the second application.

19. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second conflict warning arrangement is arranged to provide the conflict warning to the first application.

20. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the second application is a calendar application and the information is associated with an event scheduled in the calendar application.

21. The apparatus of claim 19 wherein the first application is a browser application.

22. The apparatus of claim 18 wherein the first warning conflict arrangement is further arranged to access a third application and to compare the date/time indication with information associated with the third application to determine whether the date/time indication conflicts with the information associated with the third application.