System, method and program product for scheduling meetings

• US 7,113,797 B2
• Filed: 11/06/2003
• Issued: 09/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 11/06/2003
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Kelley, Edward E., Wilbrink, Tijs I.
• Primary Examiner(s): Feild, Joseph
• Assistant Examiner(s): Nguyen, David Q.
• Application Number:
  US10/704,101
• Publication Number:
  US 20050101335A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,055 Days
• Field of Search: 455/456.3, 455/456.1, 455/456.2, 455/456.4, 455/456.5, 455/456.6, 455/457, 455/422.1, 455/403, 455/404.2, 455/432.3, 455/566, 455/414.1, 455/410, 455/411
• US Class Current: 455/456.2
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/02 Services making use of location information
• CPC Class Codes: H04W 4/029 Location-based management or tracking services

Abstract

System, method and program product for scheduling meetings. Two or more invitees for a meeting are identified. Each of the invitees has a wireless device with a GPS or other geographic locating unit. Locations of the wireless devices are tracked. When the wireless devices of the two or more invitees are within a specified proximity of each other or a specified proximity of a specified location, then an attempt is made to schedule a meeting with the two or more invitees. A user specifies the proximity. The user can specify a greater proximity if the meeting is not scheduled by a certain date to increase the chance that the meeting will be scheduled. Another system, method and program product for reminding a person. A business or residence containing an object of a reminder is identified. A wireless device of a person to be reminded of the object is identified. A location of the wireless device is tracked. When the wireless device is within a specified distance or specified proximity of the business or residence, then the reminder is sent to the wireless device. A user specifies the reminder to be sent to the wireless device. Also, the user specifies the proximity.

Claims

1. A method for scheduling meeting, said method comprising the steps of:

a person specifying to a scheduling program two or more invitees for a meeting, each of said invitees having a wireless device with a GPS unit or other geographic locating unit;

configuring said scheduling program such that if said two or more invite are within a first proximity of each other or a specified location by a predetermined date, the scheduling program automatically notifies said person that said two or more invitees re within said first proximity of each other or said specified location, and in response, enables said person to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees,

configuring said scheduling program such that if said two or more invitees are not within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, said scheduling program automatically notifies said person that said two or more invitees are not within said first proximity of each other or said specified location and said scheduling program automatically enables said person to specify a second, greater proximity between said two or more invitees or from said specified location; and

remotely tracking locations of said wireless devices based on geographic information wirelessly transmitted by said wireless devices and received by a computer which executes said scheduling program;

in response to said two or more invitees being within said second proximity of each other or from said specified location after said predetermined date, said scheduling program automatically notifying said person that said two or more invitees are within said second proximity of each other or from said specified location and in response, said person attempting to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees;

wherein either step of said person attempting to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees comprises the step of said scheduling program determining availability of said two or more invitees based on previously scheduled meetings or absences.

2. A method as set forth in claim 1 wherein after performance of either step of said person attempting to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees, said scheduling program sending meeting notices to the wireless devices of said two or more invitees.

3. A method as set forth in claim 2 wherein said meeting notices specify a date, time and purpose of said meeting.

4. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

configuring said scheduling program such that in response to said two or more invitees being within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, said scheduling program notifying said person as to a purpose of said meeting; and

configuring said scheduling program such that in response to said two or more invitees not being within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, but said two or more invitees subsequently being within said second proximity of each other or said specified location, said scheduling program notifying said person as to a purpose of said meeting.

5. A method as set forth in claim 4 further comprising the step of said person specifying said purpose of said meeting to said scheduling program in a same session as the step of said person specifying said two or more invitees.

6. A method as set forth in claim 1 further comprising the step of said person specifying said first proximity.

7. A method as set forth in claim 6 further comprising the step of said person specifying said second proximity.

8. A system for scheduling meetings, said system comprising:

means for enabling a person to specify two or more invitees for a meeting each of said invitees having a wireless device with a GPS unit or other geographic locating unit;

means for remotely tracking location of said wireless devices based on geographic information wirelessly transmitted by said wireless devices, and

means, responsive to said two or more invitees being within a first proximity of each other or a specified location by a predetermine date, for automatically notifying said person that said two or more invitees are within said first proximity of each other or said specified location, and in response, enabling said person to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees;

means, responsive to said two or more invitees not being within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, for automatically notifying said person that said two or more invitees are not within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date and automatically prompting said person to specify a second greater proximity between said two or more invitees or from said specified location, and

means, responsive to said two or more invitee subsequently being within said second proximity of each other or from said specified location, for automatically notifying said person that said two or more invitees are within said second proximity of each other or from said specified location, and enabling said person to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees;

wherein both means for enabling said person to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees comprise means for determining availability of said two or more invitees based on previously schedule meetings or absences.

9. A system as set forth in claim 8 wherein both of said means for enabling said person to schedule a meeting between said two or more invitees includes means, are responsive to said person scheduling a meeting between said two or more invitees, for sending meeting notices to the wireless devices of said two or more invitees.

10. A method as set forth in claim 9 wherein said meeting notices specify a date, time and purpose of said meeting.

11. A method as set forth in claim 8 further comprising:

means, responsive to said two or more invitees being within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, for notifying said person as to a purpose of said meeting; and

means, responsive to said two or more invitees not being within said first proximity of each other or said specified location by said predetermined date, but said two or more invitees subsequently being within said second proximity of each other or said specified location, for notifying said person as to a purpose of said meeting.

12. A system as set forth in claim 8 further comprising means for enabling said person to specify said purpose of said meeting to said scheduling program in a same session as said person specifies said two or more invitees.