Method and apparatus for controlling a scheduler

• US 6,236,396 B1
• Filed: 08/31/1993
• Issued: 05/22/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/27/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Apple Inc.
• Original Assignee: Apple Computer Incorporated (Apple Inc.)
• Inventors: Tesler, Lawrence G., Jenson, Scott A.
• Primary Examiner(s): AU, AMELIA MEGAN
• Application Number:
  US08/114,979
• Time in Patent Office: 2,821 Days
• Field of Search: 345/145, 345/146, 345/115, 345/116, 345/157, 345/179, 345/173, 345/963, 345/349, 345/346, 345/339, 345/340, 345/351, 345/358, 345/350, 395/160, 395/147, 364/705.08
• US Class Current: 715/764
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/0266 for time management, e.g. calendars, diaries
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0488 using a touch-screen or digitiser, e.g. input of commands through traced gestures
• 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 for controlling a scheduler on a computer display including the steps of: a) dislaying a calendar in a calendar area on the computer display; b) choosing at least one date on the calendar; and c) displaying a schedule in a schedule area on the computer display for the chosen date or dates, where both the calendar and the schedule remain active and within a single window. In one embodiments, the method is implemented on a pen-based computer system, where a stylus can choose a desired date or dates on the calendar to automatically display the schedules for that date or dates.

Claims

1. A method for controlling a scheduler on a computer display of a pen-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a one-month calendar in a calendar area on the computer display of said pen-based computer system;

selecting at least one date on said calendar by engaging a stylus with said computer display over said at least one date to indicate at least one date to be displayed in a schedule;

indicating said selection of said at least one date by modifying the image of said calendar; and

displaying a schedule in a schedule area on said computer display for said at least one date in response to said selecting step, wherein the schedule area does not overlap the calendar area and both said calendar and said schedule remain receptive to immediate input and are concurrently displayed on said computer display, the calendar remaining receptive to the selection of another date and the schedule being receptive to handwritten input from said stylus.

2. A method for controlling a scheduler as recited in claim 1 wherein a current date is selected as a default date upon an initial display of said calendar.

3. A method for controlling a scheduler as recited in claim 1 wherein said step of indicating said selection comprises placing a boundary image around said selection on said computer display.

4. A method for controlling a scheduler as recited in claim 3 wherein said boundary image is substantially rectangular.

5. A method for controlling a scheduler on a display assembly of a pen-based computer system comprising the steps of:

displaying a calendar in a calendar area on a display assembly of a pen-based computer system;

selecting a plurality of dates on said calendar with a stylus by placing said stylus on the display assembly over a first date and moving said stylus to a last date without removing said stylus from said display assembly;

indicating on said calendar said selection of said plurality of dates; and

displaying a schedule in a schedule area on said display assembly for each of said plurality of dates in response to said selecting step, the schedule area being distinct from the calendar area; and

wherein both said calendar and said schedule remain receptive to immediate input and are concurrently displayed on said display assembly, the calendar remaining receptive to the selection of another date and the schedule being receptive to handwritten input from said stylus.

6. A method for controlling a scheduler as recited in claim 5 wherein said step of indicating comprises placing a boundary image around said selection on said display assembly.

7. A method for controlling a scheduler displayed on a computer display on a pen-based computer system comprising the steps of:

displaying a one month calendar in a calendar area on a computer display of a pen-based computer system;

selecting a plurality of dates on said calendar to indicate dates to be concurrently displayed in a schedule by engaging a stylus with said computer display over said plurality of dates;

indicating said selection of said plurality of dates by modifying the image of said calendar; and

concurrently displaying a plurality of daily schedules side-by-side corresponding to said selected plurality of dates in a schedule area on said computer display in response to said selecting step, such that the plurality of daily schedules are of approximately the same size and configuration, wherein both said calendar in the calendar area and said schedules in the schedule area remain receptive to immediate input, the calendar remaining receptive to the selection of another date and the schedules being receptive to handwritten input from said stylus, and said calendar and said schedules are concurrently displayed on said computer display.

8. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the plurality of dates selected is comprised of a plurality of consecutive days.

9. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the plurality of dates selected is comprised of a plurality of consecutive same days of the week.

10. A method as recited in claim 7 wherein the plurality of dates selected is comprised of non-consecutive days.

11. A scheduling apparatus comprising:

computation means;

display means coupled to said computation means;

means for displaying a calendar in a calendar area on said display means using a graphical user interface;

a pointer for inputting information into said computation mean;

means for choosing at least one date on said calendar using the pointer to indicate at least one date to be displayed in a schedule; and

means for displaying a schedule in a schedule area for said at least one date, wherein the schedule area is distinct from the calendar area and both said calendar and said schedule remain immediately receptive to inputs and are concurrently displayed on said display means.

12. A method for controlling a scheduler on a computer display of a pointer-based computer system, the method comprising the steps of:

displaying a one-month calendar in a calendar area on the computer display of said pointer-based computer system;

selecting at least one date on said calendar by pointing over said at least one date with a pointer to indicate at least one date to be displayed in a schedule;

indicating said selection of said at least one date by modifying the image of said calendar; and

displaying a schedule in a schedule area on said computer display for said at least one date in response to said selecting step, wherein both said calendar and said schedule remain receptive to immediate input and are concurrently displayed on said computer display, the calendar remaining receptive to the selection of another date and the schedule being receptive to input from said pointer.