Automatic scheduling and formation of a virtual meeting over a computer network

• US 6,363,352 B1
• Filed: 11/13/1998
• Issued: 03/26/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Silverberg, Steven M., Bookspan, Matthew D., Hakala, Troy A., Yaacovi, Yoram, Dailey, Jane L.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hafiz, Tariq R.
• Assistant Examiner(s): NORMAN, MARC E
• Application Number:
  US09/191,626
• Time in Patent Office: 1,229 Days
• Field of Search: 705/1, 705/5, 705/6, 705/7, 705/8, 705/9, 345/330, 345/331, 345/332, 707/530, 707/531
• US Class Current: 705/7.19
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1095 Meeting or appointment

Abstract

A method and system for scheduling a virtual meeting and automatically making the required connections near the time the virtual meeting is scheduled to take place between a meeting host'"'"'s computer and at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer. The virtual meeting is scheduled by sending a meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer over a communication network to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer. The meeting request is stored on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer that accepts the meeting request. A personal information manager component on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer activates a virtual meeting utility component near the time of the virtual meeting based on the time and date of the virtual meeting contained in the virtual meeting request. The virtual meeting is hosted on the meeting host'"'"'s computer and each meeting participant'"'"'s computers joins the virtual meeting automatically using information contained in the virtual meeting request. If an electronic document is specified in the virtual meeting request for collaborative editing during the virtual meeting, the personal information manager component on the meeting host'"'"'s computer activates a document editing application associated with the electronic document and loads the electronic document into the document editing application.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet protocol (IP) address.

4. The method of claim 2, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the method further comprising:

opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising:

interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

6. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder.

7. The method of claim 6, wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

9. The method of claim 7, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the method further comprising:

opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising:

interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

11. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

associating the meeting host email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;

registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;

retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;

requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and

connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the communications network is the Internet, the directory server is an ILS server and the network address is an Internet protocol (IP) address.

13. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

14. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

15. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participants computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.

16. A computer-implemented method for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the method comprising:

providing a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specific in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.

17. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the executable component further comprising:

opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further comprising:

interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

22. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 22, wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 23, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the executable component further comprising:

opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

26. The computer-readable medium of claim 25, further comprising:

interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

27. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and including a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

associating the meeting host email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;

registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;

retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;

requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and

connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address.

28. The computer-readable medium of claim 27, wherein the communications network is the Internet, the directory server is an ILS server and the network address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

29. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

30. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

31. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.

32. A computer-readable medium having a computer executable component for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, wherein the computer executable component schedules a virtual meeting by:

providing access to a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.

33. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

means for providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

means for providing an option to activate the host virtual meeting utility from the host meeting reminder.

34. The system of claim 33 wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

36. The system of claim 34, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the system further comprising:

means for opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the means for opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

means for retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

means for activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

means for loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

means for receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

37. The system of claim 36, further comprising:

means for interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

means for accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

38. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

means for providing a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

means for providing an option to activate the meeting participant virtual meeting utility from the meeting participant meeting reminder.

39. The system of claim 38, wherein the scheduled meeting request includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

41. The system of claim 39, wherein the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies an electronic document as a meeting topic for the virtual meeting, the system further comprising:

means for opening an electronic document specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at a third predetermined time near the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the opening of the electronic document being performed automatically by the host personal information manager, the means for opening of the electronic document by the host personal information manager, comprising;

means for retrieving a reference to the electronic document from the virtual meeting request stored by the host personal information manager;

means for activating an electronic document editing application associated with the electronic document; and

means for loading the electronic document into the electronic document editing application; and

means for receiving a command input from the meeting host'"'"'s computer, the command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document.

42. The system of claim 41, further comprising:

means for interfacing the electronic document editing application with the host virtual meeting utility for the receipt of a virtual command input from each meeting participant'"'"'s computer during the virtual meeting, the virtual command input including instructions to the electronic document editing software for the editing of the electronic document; and

means for accepting as the command input for the electronic document editing application.

43. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting and includes a reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer that is used by the meeting participant virtual meeting utility to automatically connect to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network, wherein the reference to a network address of the meeting host'"'"'s computer is a meeting host'"'"'s email address;

a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for associating the meeting host'"'"'s email address with a network address for the meeting host'"'"'s computer;

means for means for registering the meeting host'"'"'s email address together with the associated network address with a directory server, the directory server being connected to the communication network; and

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information editor automatically connecting to the host virtual meeting utility through the communication network by;

retrieving the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the scheduled meeting request stored by the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager;

requesting the network address associated with the meeting host'"'"'s email address from the directory server; and

connecting to the meeting host'"'"'s virtual meeting utility using the network address.

44. The system of claim 43, wherein the communications network is the Internet, the directory server is an ILS server and the network address is an Internet Protocol (IP) address.

45. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

means for providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

46. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for invoking the host virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the host virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the host meeting reminder is generated; and

means for automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the host meeting reminder.

47. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

means for the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

means for providing an option to join a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.

48. A system for scheduling a virtual meeting between a meeting host and at least one meeting participant, the system comprising:

a meeting host'"'"'s computer having a host virtual meeting utility and a host personal information manager application, the host personal information manager application having a facility for creating and sending a scheduled virtual meeting request over a communication network to at least one meeting participant'"'"'s computer;

means for sending the scheduled virtual meeting request from the meeting host'"'"'s computer to each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the scheduled virtual meeting request specifying a date and time of a virtual meeting;

a meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application on each meeting participant'"'"'s computer, the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager having a facility for receiving the scheduled virtual meeting request and storing the scheduled virtual meeting request until the date and time of the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager program invoking the host virtual meeting utility at a first predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the host virtual meeting utility being invoked to host the virtual meeting;

the host personal information manager generating a host meeting reminder on the meeting host'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

the meeting participant'"'"'s personal information manager application invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility at a second predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting that is specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request, the participant virtual meeting utility being invoked to join the virtual meeting;

means for generating a meeting participant meeting reminder on the meeting participant'"'"'s computer at the predetermined time before the time and date of the virtual meeting specified in the scheduled virtual meeting request;

means for invoking the meeting participant virtual meeting utility only if the scheduled virtual meeting request specifies that the meeting participant virtual meeting utility should be started at the time the meeting participant meeting reminder is generated; and

means for automatically joining a virtual meeting specified in the participant meeting reminder.