System and method for matching entities utilizing an electronic calendaring system

• US 6,978,246 B1
• Filed: 04/24/2000
• Issued: 12/20/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 04/24/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kraft, Reiner, Edlund, Stefan B., Ruvolo, Joann, Ford, Daniel Alexander, Emens, Michael Lawrence
• Primary Examiner(s): MEINECKE DIAZ, SUSANNA M
• Application Number:
  US09/556,303
• Time in Patent Office: 2,066 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8, 705/9
• 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

The present invention provides for an integrated matching service and calendaring system. Calendar events are utilized as a bridge between an electronic calendaring system and a matching service. A calendar event represents an activity, e.g., job opening, tennis match, bicycle race, etc., the requirements to match the activity, the entity attributes, and any match results. An entity defines criteria and information for a matching activity which is stored as a calendar event in the electronic calendar system. Portions of the criteria and information are stored as attachments to the calendar event. The calendar events representing a matching activity and associated attachments are provided to a matching server which locates suitable matches for the activity based upon the criteria and information of the activity. If a suitable match is located, the matching server notifies the entities involved by listing the corresponding entities as attendees associated with the calendar event.

Claims

1. An electronic calendar event matching system, said system comprising:

a calendar stored retaining a plurality of calendars and events associated with said calendars,

a match server operatively connected to said calendar store by an electronic calendar application, said match server comprising;

a request handler operatively connected to an event handler, said request handler routing requests for calendar event functions to said event handler, said event handler allowing for the registration, modification, or deletion of an event that will occur, said event defined by a particular duration of time;

an event repository, said event repository cooperating with said event handler to store and update calendar event functions;

a response handler operatively notifying a requesting first entity that said calendar event has been registered, modified, or deleted, and

a match engine performing a search of said event repository to locate a match for registered events of said first entity with a registered event of at least one second entity, said match found based on said duration of time, where the event is to occur, event criteria, minimum matching requirements, and attributes of an activity or an entity,

a timer module for matching events on a regular interval according to a schedule of said timer module, and

wherein said response handler notifies said first entity and said second entity of said match.

2. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 1, wherein said calendar event functions comprise categories.

3. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 2, wherein said categories comprise at least one of:

meetings or activities.

4. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 2, wherein said categories comprise any of a commerce activity, service desired, or service offered.

5. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 4, wherein variable prices or rates are available during a time period for a commerce activity.

6. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 1, wherein said system may be implemented locally or remotely on one or more computer-based systems, across networks or existing communication mediums.

7. An electronic calendar event matching system, as per claim 6, wherein said across networks element comprises any of LANs, WANs, cellular, Internet or Web based networks.

8. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, said method comprising:

registering and storing said calendar events in an event repository of an electronic calendaring system, said calendar event elements comprising;

a particular duration of time, specific event criteria, event match requirements, and attributes,

notifying each event owner that said calendar event is registered,

searching said event repository to match registered events, said match considering said duration of time of said event that will occur, and matching at least said duration of time and said specific event criteria of said calendar event elements,

electronically updating said event to reflect a match by adding event owners as attendees, and

if said event match requirements and attributes are satisfied,

moving said matched events from an event repository to a match repository and notifying said attendees of said match,

else,

returning to said searching step until all calendar elements are fully satisfied,

said searching said event repository to match registered events is performed on a regular interval, and

notifying said attendees of said match.

9. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 8, wherein said calendar event elements are represented by one or more categories.

10. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 9, wherein said categories comprise at least one of meetings or activities.

11. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 8, wherein said method may be implemented locally or remotely on one or more computer-based systems, across networks or existing communication mediums.

12. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 10, wherein said across networks element comprises any of LANs, WANs, cellular, Internet or Web based networks.

13. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 8, wherein fully satisfied event matches initiate removing said matched calendar events from said event repository.

14. A method for determining a match for electronic calendar events, as per claim 8, wherein said matches are modified to remove, from the matched event, an attendee who deletes said matched event.

15. An article of manufacture comprising a computer user medium having computer readable program code embodied therein which provides a generic matching service utilizing an electronic calendar system including calendar events comprising:

computer readable program code for registering and storing said calendar events in an event repository, said calendar event elements comprising;

a particular duration of time, specific event criteria, event match requirements, and attributes,

computer readable program code for notifying each event owner that said calendar event is registered,

computer readable program code for searching said event repository to match registered events, said match considering said duration of time of said event that will occur, and matching at least said duration of time and said specific event criteria of said calendar event elements,

computer readable program code for updating said event to reflect a match by adding event owners as attendees,

computer readable program code to determine if said event match requirements and attributes are fully satisfied,

if fully satisfied,

said code moving said matched events from an event repository to a match repository and notifying said attendees of said match,

else,

said code returning to said searching step until all calendar elements are fully satisfied,

computer readable program code for searching said event repository to match registered events on a regular interval, and

computer readable program code for notifying said attendees of said match.