Device and method for tracking time zone changes in communications devices
First Claim
1. A portable processing device comprising:
- a time-of-day clock;
memory having stored information indicative of calendar activities that include at least one of reminders and alarms, said memory further including a travel schedule that includes departure and arrival information; and
processing means in communication with said memory for automatically updating said calendar activities and said time-of-day clock based upon determinations that said travel schedule identifies travel that includes at least two time zones, said processing means being configured to initiate said updating as direct automated responses to accessing said departure and arrival information stored in said memory.
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0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A portable processing device, such as a laptop computer, includes a time-of-day clock that is dynamically adjusted based upon occurrences of travel among different time zones. An itinerary is stored as a travel schedule of departure and arrival information and is used to identify anticipated multi-zone travel. When there is a coincidence between the clock and the occurrence of an anticipated multi-zone trip, the clock is automatically adjusted. The itinerary may be input via a user interface mechanism, such as a keyboard, may be entered by means of synchronization with a compatible program of a second device, or may be input via a network, such as the Internet. The determination of the relevant time zones preferably utilizes a database and most preferably utilizes an internal database of cities and time differentials among the cities. The dynamic adjustments of the time-of-day clock occur en route, without accessing externally generated signals or external devices.
200 Citations
18 Claims
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1. A portable processing device comprising:
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a time-of-day clock;
memory having stored information indicative of calendar activities that include at least one of reminders and alarms, said memory further including a travel schedule that includes departure and arrival information; and
processing means in communication with said memory for automatically updating said calendar activities and said time-of-day clock based upon determinations that said travel schedule identifies travel that includes at least two time zones, said processing means being configured to initiate said updating as direct automated responses to accessing said departure and arrival information stored in said memory. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9)
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10. A method of automatically updating a clock and a calendar program containing calendar activities that include time-specific appointments of a portable device comprising steps of:
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storing travel information specific to anticipated travel of said portable device;
identifying occasions on which said anticipated travel includes travel among time zones; and
automatically changing said clock and said calendar activities in response to detecting that a time indicated by said clock has at least reached timing of one of said occasions, including varying said clock and said calendar activities based upon occurrences of said anticipated travel. - View Dependent Claims (11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method of automatically updating a clock and a calendar program having calendar activities of a portable device comprising steps of:
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maintaining an internal time-of-day clock;
maintaining a calendar program to include time sensitive reminders and alarms and information indicative of geographical locations in which said portable device is anticipated to be as of specific dates;
automatically adjusting said time-of-day clock based upon said information of said calendar program, including changing said time-of-day clock in response to detecting that a specific date has been reached on which a change in said geographical location of said portable device results in a change in time zones; and
displaying both said automatically adjusted time-of-day clock and an unadjusted reference time-of-day clock that is indicative of time that is tracked in isolation of said step of automatically adjusting. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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Specification