Computerized calendar showing scheduled events which may be edited, magnified, or scrolled within a monthly view

• US 5,936,625 A
• Filed: 05/26/1994
• Issued: 08/10/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 12/16/1991
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Raymond E., Kahl, Daryl J., Torres, Robert J.
• Primary Examiner(s): FETTING, ANTON W
• Application Number:
  US08/250,302
• Time in Patent Office: 1,902 Days
• Field of Search: 395/155, 395/161, 364/705.06, 364/705.07, 364/705.08, 364/710.01, 368/28, 368/41, 345/351
• US Class Current: 715/775
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/04805 Virtual magnifying lens, i.e. window or frame movable on top of displayed information to enlarge it for better reading or selection
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

A method of providing a monthly calendar view in a computer system uses either textual information or vertically stacked busy bars. If the textual information is utilized, the textual information includes a start time and a brief description of the event. The textual information is interactive allowing quick and easy additions or editing. If the vertically stacked busy bars are utilized, the bars may each represent a predetermined time frame. The presence of a bar indicates an event is scheduled during that time frame. Whichever method is utilized, an enlarged full text description of the event is directly selectable by placing an icon over the event and selecting the event.

Claims

1. A method of presenting a monthly calendar view of an electronic calendar in a computer system having a display screen, comprising the steps of:

displaying a two dimensional pictorial representation of a monthly scheduling calendar in which a first dimension segments time by weeks of a month and a second dimension which segments time by days of a week, said representation displayed on a single display screen panel in order to allow a user to see all days in a month simultaneously;

displaying textual information comprising at least a start time and an event summary for any event scheduled on any day on said monthly scheduling calendar; and

interactively editing said information directly on said monthly scheduling calendar without opening any other display screen panels.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of:

providing an indicator to indicate existence of additional events for which there is insufficient display space on said monthly scheduling calendar.

3. The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of:

selecting said indicator to allow viewing of said additional events.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying texual information further comprises:

selecting by any appropriate means said texual information to display an enlarged full text version of said texual information directly on said monthly calendar.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said step of displaying textual information further comprises:

displaying said textual information as a synopsis of said any event; and

positioning a magnifying icon over said synopsis to display an expanded full text version of said textual information directly on said monthly scheduling calendar.

6. A computer system for presenting a monthly calendar view of an electronic calendar on a display screen of a computer, comprising:

means for displaying a two dimensional pictorial representation of a monthly scheduling calendar in which a first dimension segments time by weeks of a month and a second dimension which segments time by days of a week, said representation being displayed on a single display screen panel in order to allow a user to see all days in a month simultaneously;

means for displaying interactive textual information comprising at least a start time and an event summary for any event scheduled on any day on said monthly scheduling calendar; and

means for interactively editing said information directly on said monthly scheduling calendar without opening any other display screen panels.

7. The computer system of claim 6, further comprising:

means for providing an indicator to indicate existence of additional events for which there is insufficient display space on said monthly scheduling calendar.

8. The computer system of claim 7, further comprising:

means for selecting said indicator to allow viewing of said additional events.

9. The computer system of claim 6, wherein said means for displaying texual information further comprises:

means for selecting by any appropriate means said texual information to display an enlarged full text version of said texual information directly on said monthly calendar.

10. The computer system of claim 6, wherein said means for displaying interactive textual information further comprises:

means for diplaying said interactive textual information as a synopsis of said any event; and

means for positioning a magnifying icon over said synopsis to display an expanded full text version of said interactive textual information directly on said monthly scheduling calendar.

11. A computer implemented method of presenting a monthly calendar view of an electronic calendar on a monitor of a computer system, comprising the steps of:

displaying a two dimensional pictorial representation of a monthly scheduling calendar in which a first dimension segments time by weeks of a month and a second dimension which segments time by days of a month, said representation displayed on a single display screen panel on the monitor in order to allow a user to see all days in a month simultaneously; and

displaying any events scheduled on any day of said calendar on said single display screen panel as vertically stacked busy bars.