GRAPHICAL PLANNER

• US 20110004835A1
• Filed: 06/01/2010
• Published: 01/06/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 05/29/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Squnch, LLC
• Original Assignee: Georgia Elizabeth Yanchar, Jake Yanchar
• Inventors: Yanchar, Georgia, Yanchar, Jake
• Granted Patent: US 8,713,459 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/763
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04817 using icons graphical or visual programming using iconic symbols G06F8/34
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• 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

Abstract

A graphical planner allows a user to create or select, and then display, images that represent tasks and events to be completed by the user, as well as corresponding images that represent tasks and events that the user has already completed. The graphical planner allows a user to plan and schedule events and tasks by indicating an event or task in a non-textual (i.e., graphic or symbolic) manner. Completion of the events and tasks by the user can also be signaled or otherwise indicated in a non-textual (e.g., visual, audible) manner.

Claims

1. An apparatus for scheduling at least one of an event and a task to be completed by a user, the apparatus comprising:

a processing unit; and

a display,

wherein the processing unit includes scheduling logic for;

displaying a screen on the display, the screen including an interactive region;

detecting interaction between the user and the interactive region and displaying one or more graphic icons on the display in response thereto;

detecting selection of a specific graphic icon by the user for representing the event or task and displaying the specific graphic icon on the screen in response thereto; and

allowing the user to associate the specific graphic icon with at least one of a time and a date.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic allows the user to move the specific graphic icon from a first location on the screen to a second location on the screen.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic associates the screen with at least a portion of a day.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the plurality of graphic icons includes a generic bubble icon.

5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen includes a date region, and

wherein at least one of a current day, month, and year are displayed in the date region.

6. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic allows the user to navigate to a screen associated with a particular day, month, and year.

7. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen includes a first main screen and a second main screen,

wherein the first main screen corresponds to the twelve hours in a day immediately before and including noon,

wherein the second main screen corresponds to the twelve hours in a day immediately before and including midnight, and

wherein the scheduling logic only displays one of the first main screen and the second main screen at a time.

8. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the display is a touch screen.

9. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the apparatus is one of a smart phone and a tablet computer.

10. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic provides one or more audible indications in response to user input.

11. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic allows the user to input alphanumeric data, and

wherein the scheduling logic associates the alphanumeric data with a graphic icon.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the scheduling logic displays at least a portion of the alphanumeric data within the graphic icon.

13. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic displays an analog clock representing a plurality of hours in a day on the screen.

14. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the scheduling logic visually associates the specific graphic icon to an area of the analog clock chosen by the user.

15. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the screen includes one or more regions for displaying one or more graphic icons selected by the user to represent tasks.

16. The apparatus of claim 13, wherein the analog clock includes an hour hand and a minute hand associated with the analog clock, a position of the hour hand and the minute hand corresponding to the current time.

17. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the scheduling logic determines that the event or task has been completed.

18. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the scheduling logic ceases displaying the specific graphic icon once it is determined that the event or task has been completed.

19. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the scheduling logic replaces the specific graphic icon with a different graphic icon once it is determined that the event or task has been completed.

20. The apparatus of claim 17, wherein the scheduling logic provides an audible indication once it is determined that the task has been completed.

21. An apparatus for scheduling at least one of an event and a task to be completed by a user, the apparatus comprising:

a processing unit; and

a display,

wherein the processing unit includes scheduling logic for;

displaying a screen on the display, the screen comprising an analog clock and at least one graphic icon;

detecting selection of a graphic icon by the user; and

allowing the user to associate the graphic icon with a region on the screen corresponding to a portion of the analog clock.

22. The apparatus of claim 21 wherein the scheduling logic allows the user to associate the graphic icon with a region on the screen that does not correspond to a portion of the analog clock.