Systems and methods for generating and transmitting event information and follow-up event coordination information

• US 6,732,103 B1
• Filed: 05/08/2001
• Issued: 05/04/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Rakuten, Inc. (Rakuten Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: WorldCom, Inc. (Verizon Communications Inc.)
• Inventors: Gibbins, Brian, Bann, James W., Cope, Vernon M., Strick, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): HOMERE, JEAN RAYMOND
• Application Number:
  US09/851,006
• Time in Patent Office: 1,092 Days
• Field of Search: 707/10, 707/102, 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 705/8, 705/9, 708/112
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting

Abstract

Systems and methods for managing logistics associated with an event or meeting enable a user to enter event-related information using a graphical user interface. The event-related information may include a list of invitees and a location and time for the planned event. The system then automatically transmits invitation messages to the desired invitees, re-invites those invitees that fail to respond to the invitation and sends reminder messages to those invitees that indicate that they will attend the event. The system also automatically generates a status report relating to the event based on the received responses and lack of responses.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for managing an event, comprising:

receiving event information, the event information including information indicating when to transmit an invitation message and when to transmit a re-invitation message;

generating an invitation message relating to the event;

transmitting the invitation message to a plurality of event invitees;

receiving at least one response from at least one of the invitees;

determining whether the response indicates a positive or negative response to the invitation;

recording the positive or negative response associated with the invitee;

identifying a first group of invitees without a recorded response;

transmitting the re-invitation message to the first group of invitees and not to a second group of invitees with recorded responses; and

generating a status report based on the responses.

2. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the receiving event information comprises:

receiving information identifying the plurality of event invitees, and

receiving at least one of time information and location information relating to the event.

3. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the receiving event information includes:

receiving information-indicating when to transmit a reminder message relating to the event, the reminder message being transmitted to invitees associated with positive responses.

4. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein receiving event information includes:

receiving information indicating when to stop transmitting the re-invitation message.

5. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

generating a reminder message based on the received event information; and

transmitting the reminder message to invitees associated with positive responses.

6. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the transmitting the invitation message includes:

sending the invitation message via a network.

7. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, further comprising:

transmitting a reminder message to an invitee associated with a positive response.

8. The computer-implemented method of claim 1, wherein the generating a status report includes:

associating an invitee with a corresponding response,

updating at least one of an accepted category and a declined category based on the response, and

displaying a list of the invitees and their corresponding responses.

9. A system for managing an event, comprising:

a memory configured to store a plurality of user interface screens; and

a processor coupled to the memory and configured to;

receive information entered via at least one of the user interface screens, the information relating to the event,

generate an invitation message relating to the event,

transmit the invitation message to a plurality of event invitees,

receive responses from the invitees,

identify a first group of invitees that have not responded,

transmit a re-invitation message to the first group of invitees at a predetermined time and not to a second group of invitees that have responded, and

generate a status report based on the responses.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein the received information includes a list of invitees and at least one of time information and location information relating to the event.

11. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

generate a reminder message, and

transmit the reminder message to each invitee associated with a positive response.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit the invitation message to the plurality of invitees at a predetermined time based on the received information.

13. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

update the first group of invitees when responses are received; and

determine when to stop transmitting re-invitation messages.

14. The system of claim 9, wherein the plurality of user interface screens include at least one of a messages screen for receiving message information relating to the event and a scheduling screen for receiving information relating to when to transmit at least one of the invitation, the re-invitation and a reminder message.

15. The system of claim 9, wherein when generating a status report, the processor is configured to:

associate an invitee with a corresponding response, and

determine a number of invitees corresponding to an accepted category, a declined category and a not responding category.

16. The system of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to:

transmit a reminder message to invitees that have accepted the invitation, the reminder message being transmitted a predetermined time before the event; and

transmit the re-invitation to invitees that have not responded to the invitation, the re-invitation being transmitted a predetermined time before the event.

17. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions, said instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause said processor to:

provide a user interface for entering event information;

receive event information via the user interface;

generate an invitation message relating to the event;

transmit the invitation message to a plurality of event invitees;

receive at least one response from at least one of the invitees;

determine whether the received at least one response indicates a positive or negative response to the invitation;

record the positive or negative responses associated with the plurality of invitees;

identify invitees without a recorded response;

transmit a re-invitation message to the identified invitees without a recorded response and not to invitees with a recorded response; and

generate a status report based on the responses.

18. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the event information includes a list of invitees and time and location information relating to the event, and the invitation and re-invitation messages each include time and location information, wherein the instructions further said processor to:

generate a reminder message relating to the event.

19. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, including instructions for further causing said processor to:

transmit the invitation message to the plurality of event invitees at a predetermined time based on the received event information.

20. The computer-readable medium of claim 18, including instructions for further causing said processor to:

transmit the re-invitation message at a predetermined time.

21. The computer-readable medium of claim 20, further including instructions for causing said processor to:

determine when to stop transmitting re-invitation messages.

22. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, including instructions for further causing said processor to:

transmit the reminder message to invitees associated with positive responses.

23. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein the user interface includes at least one of a messages screen for receiving message information relating to the event and a scheduling screen for receiving information relating to when to transmit at least one of the invitation, the re-invitation and a reminder message.

24. The computer-readable medium of claim 17, wherein when generating a status report, the instructions cause said processor to:

associate an invitee with a corresponding response, and

determine a number of invitees corresponding to an accepted category, a declined category and a not responding category.

25. The computer-readable medium of claim 24, wherein the instructions further cause said processor to:

transmit a reminder message to invitees that have accepted the invitation, the reminder message being transmitted a predetermined time before the event; and

transmit the re-invitation a predetermined time before the event.

26. A method for tracking responses to a questionnaire, comprising:

transmitting the questionnaire to a plurality of recipients;

receiving responses to the questionnaire from at least one of the recipients;

transmitting reminder notices to non-responding recipients and not to the at least one responding recipient; and

generating a status report based on the responses.

27. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions, said instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause said processor to:

receive event scheduling information;

send a first electronic notification regarding the event to a plurality of recipients;

receive a response from at least one of the plurality of recipients;

identify non-responding recipients; and

send at least a second notification to the identified non-responding recipients prior to the event and not to the at least one of the plurality of recipients that have responded.

28. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon a plurality of sequences of instructions, said instructions including sequences of instructions which, when executed by at least one processor, cause said processor to:

transmit a message to a plurality of parties;

receive responses to the message from at least one of the parties;

record the responses to generate a status report;

output the status report to a display device, wherein the display device displays the status of each of the plurality of parties in a single user interface screen;

update the status report as additional responses are received; and

transmit a reminder message to a first group of the plurality of parties without recorded responses and not to a second group of the plurality of parties with recorded responses.

29. A computer readable medium containing instructions for controlling at least one processor to perform a method for notifying desired attendees for a scheduled event, the method comprising:

receiving information relating to when to transmit a notification message, a renotification message and a reminder message to the desired attendees;

transmitting the notification message to the desired attendees;

receiving responses from at least a portion of the desired attendees;

identifying a first group of the desired attendees that have not responded to the notification message;

transmitting the renotification message to the first group and not to a second group of the desired attendees that have responded to the notification message;

transmitting the reminder message to a portion of the second group who have responded that they will attend the scheduled event; and

preparing a status report relating to the responses of the desired attendees.