Interactive calendar interface for defining and displaying date ranges

• US 7,379,889 B2
• Filed: 03/05/2002
• Issued: 05/27/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 03/05/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GetThere, Inc. (Sabre Corp.)
• Original Assignee: GetThere, Inc. (Sabre Corp.)
• Inventors: Pettinati, Lucas V., Ratzlaff, Cordell R.
• Primary Examiner(s): Doren; Beth Van
• Assistant Examiner(s): Choi; Peter H.
• Application Number:
  US10/087,809
• Publication Number:
  US 20030171965A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,275 Days
• Field of Search: 705/8
• US Class Current: 705/7.18
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/1093 Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups

Abstract

A method for designating dates in an interactive travel calendar including the steps of providing an interface for users to specify event ranges, each event range having a start date that chronologically precedes an end date, receiving a signal designating a first date associated with an event, receiving a signal designating a second date associated with an event, setting the first date or the second date as a start date for an event range based upon a chronological relationship between the first date and the second date, with the start date being the date earlier chronologically among the first and second date and the end date being the date chronologically later among the first and second date, and presenting information reflecting the event range.

Claims

1. A method for designating dates in an interactive travel calendar comprising:

providing an interface for users to select event ranges, each event range having a start date that chronologically precedes an end date;

receiving a signal designating a first date associated with an event;

receiving a signal designating a second date associated with an event;

comparing the first date and the second date after receiving the respective signals designating the first and second dates in order to automatically determine a chronological relationship between the first date and the second date;

automatically determining a start date for an event range based upon the chronological relationship between the first date and the second date, with the start date being the date earlier chronologically among the first and second date and the end date being the date chronologically later among the first and second date;

receiving a signal designating a new date associated with the event, wherein the new date is set as a new end date based on an automated determination that the new date falls chronologically within the event range, and the start date was selected before the end date, and wherein the new date is set as a new start date based on an automated determination that the new date falls chronologically within the event range, and the end date was selected before the start date; and

presenting information reflecting the event range.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the new date as a new end date based on an automated determination that the new date chronologically succeeds the end date for the event range to form a new event range.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

setting the new date as a new start date based on an automated determination that the new date chronologically precedes the start date for the event range to form a new event range.

4. A method for specifying an event range comprising:

providing an interface for users to specify event ranges, each event range comprising a start date that chronologically precedes an end date;

receiving a series of dates associated with an event;

comparing two of the dates in the series of dates after receiving the series of dates in order to automatically determine a chronological relationship between the two dates in the series of dates;

setting the two dates in the series of dates as a start date and an end date for an event range based on the chronological relationship between the two dates, with the date from the series set as the start date being chronologically earlier than the date from the series that is set as the end date;

setting a third date in the series as a new start date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date falls within the event range, and the current start date was received before the current end date, and setting the third date in the series as a new end date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date falls within the event range, and the current end date was received before the current start date; and

presenting information reflecting the event range.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

setting a third date in the series as a new start date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date precedes the start date of the event range.

6. The method of claim 4 further comprising:

setting a third date in the series as a new end date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date succeeds the end date of the event range.

7. A method for specifying an event range, comprising:

setting a first date and a second date as an initial start date and an initial end date for an event range based on a chronological relationship between the first date and second date;

presenting information reflecting the event range; and

enabling a user to modify the presented information by selecting a third date, wherein the third date is set as a new start date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date falls within the event range, and the initial start date was received before the initial end date, and wherein the third date is set as a new end date for the event range based on an automated determination that the third date falls within the event range and the initial end date was received before the initial start date.

8. A data processing system having computer-readable instructions stored therein for generating a graphical user interface for selecting dates in an interactive calendar, the computer-readable instructions, when executed, causing the data processing system to:

generate an initial view including a monthly calendar interface for users to select event ranges thereon, each event range having a start date that chronologically precedes an end date, wherein upon receiving a signal designating a first date and a second date associated with an event in response to a respective selection on the monthly calendar interface by the user, the first date or the second date is designated as a start date for an event range based upon a chronological relationship between the first date and the second date, with the one of the first and second date that is chronologically before the other set as the start date, and the other date set as the end date;

generate a new view including a monthly calendar interface presenting information reflecting the event range, wherein the new view further includes a range of selectable dates, and wherein upon receiving a signal designating a new date associated with the event in response to a selection on the monthly calendar interface by the user, the new date is set as a new end date based on an automated determination that the new date falls chronologically within the event range, and the start date was selected before the end date, to form a new event range, and the new date is set as a new start date based on an automated determination that the new date falls chronologically within the event range, and the end date was selected before the start date, to form a new event range; and

generate a third view including a monthly calendar interface presenting information reflecting the new event range.

9. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein:

the new date is set as a new end date based on an automated determination that the new date chronologically succeeds the end date for the event range, to form a new event range.

10. The data processing system of claim 8, wherein:

the new date is set as a new start date based on an automated determination that the new date chronologically precedes the start date for the event range, to form a new event range.