Method, system, and program for accessing calendar information for shadowed users from a database

• US 7,725,480 B2
• Filed: 06/22/2007
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/25/2001
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bassett, Ronald W., Dutta, Rabindranath, Paolini, Michael A., Brown, Michael Wayne
• Primary Examiner(s): Robinson; Greta L
• Assistant Examiner(s): Chang; Jeffrey
• Application Number:
  US11/767,455
• Publication Number:
  US 20070294304A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,068 Days
• Field of Search: 707/201, 701/207, 701/208
• US Class Current: 707/758
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/52 specially adapted for the location of the user terminal
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 1/72451 according to schedules, e.g. using calendar applications
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 715/963 Calendar or scheduling

Abstract

Provided is a method, system, and program for accessing calendar information of users in a database for presentation by a personal information manager. Scheduled event records for users are maintained within the database. Further maintained in the database is information on a current location of wireless devices of users in the database, wherein one user is associated with each wireless device. Scheduled event records and the current location of a wireless device for a shadowed user are provided from the database to a device operated by a shadower user in the database.

Claims

1. A method for generating, updating, and providing access to electronically generated and stored calendar information in a networked communication system, said method comprising:

maintaining scheduled event records associated with respective users within the database, wherein each of the scheduled event records includes a date field specifying a calendar date on which a corresponding event is scheduled, a time field specifying a time period over which the corresponding event is scheduled, and an event description field specifying a description of the corresponding event;

generating filtered position records for a portable personal information manager (PIM) device, wherein the portable PIM device is associated with a specified user, said generating filtered position records for the portable PIM device comprising;

generating multiple measured position records each including a date field specifying a date on which a corresponding position was measured, a time field specifying a point in time at which the corresponding position was measured, a position coordinate field specifying the corresponding measured position, and a location description field specifying a description of the corresponding measured position; and

for each measured position record;

determining whether the measured position is located within a specified location boundary; and

responsive to determining that the measured position is located within a specified location boundary, adding location description information associated with the specified location boundary to the location description field; and

scanning the multiple measured position records to identify ranges of consecutive measured position records having the same location description spanning a time period exceeding a specified minimum period;

for each identified range of records, generating a filtered position record; and

responsive to a request for calendar information for a specified time interval for a user, retrieving from the database scheduled event records and filtered position records associated with said user within the specified time interval.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining, for a specified user, a tracking list that specifies the identities of requestors that are authorized to receive scheduled event records and filtered position records associated within the database with said specified user.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

responsive to the request for calendar information, transmitting contact information indicating a communication channel to use to access the shadowed user to one tracking user device enabling the tracking user to access the portable PIM device.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

maintaining in the database fixed location information of fixed transmitters, wherein the fixed transmitter includes a communication device;

determining proximate fixed transmitters whose fixed location includes the current location of the portable PIM device; and

transmitting contact information to a calendar information requestor device enabling the requestor device to access the communication device of the fixed transmitter.

5. A system for generating, updating, and providing access to electronically generated and stored calendar information in a networked communication system, said system comprising:

a computer database that maintains

scheduled event records associated with respective users within the database, wherein each of the scheduled event records includes a date field specifying a calendar date on which a corresponding event is scheduled, a time field specifying a time period over which the corresponding event is scheduled, and an event description field specifying a description of the corresponding event; and

a personal information management server maintaining said computer database, wherein said personal information management server further;

generates filtered position records for a portable personal information manager (PIM) device, wherein the portable PIM device is associated with a specified user, said generating filtered position records for the portable PIM device comprising;

generating multiple measured position records each including a date field specifying a date on which a corresponding position was measured, a time field specifying a point in time at which the corresponding position was measured, a position coordinate field specifying the corresponding measured position, and a location description field specifying a description of the corresponding measured position; and

for each measured position record;

determining whether the measured position is located within a specified location boundary; and

responsive to determining that the measured position is located within a specified location boundary, adding location description information associated with the specified location boundary to the location description field; and

scanning the multiple measured position records to identify ranges of consecutive measured position records having the same location description spanning a time period exceeding a specified minimum period;

for each identified range of records, generating a filtered position record; and

responsive to a request for calendar information for a specified time interval for a user, retrieves from the database scheduled event records and filtered position records associated with said user within the specified time interval.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein said personal information management server further

maintains, for a specified user, a tracking list that specifies the identities of requestors that are authorized to receive scheduled event records and filtered position records associated within the database with said specified user.

7. The system of claim 5, wherein said personal information management server further,

responsive to the request for calendar information, transmits contact information indicating a communication channel to use to access the shadowed user to one tracking user device enabling the tracking user to access the portable PIM device.

8. The system of claim 5, wherein said personal information management server further:

maintains in the database fixed location information of fixed transmitters, wherein the fixed transmitter includes a communication device;

determines proximate fixed transmitters whose fixed location includes the current location of the portable PIM device; and

transmits contact information to a calendar information requestor device enabling the requestor device to access the communication device of the fixed transmitter.

9. An article of manufacture including code for generating, updating, and providing access to electronically generated and stored calendar information in a networked communication system by:

maintaining scheduled event records associated with respective users within the database, wherein each of the scheduled event records includes a date field specifying a calendar date on which a corresponding event is scheduled, a time field specifying a time period over which the corresponding event is scheduled, and an event description field specifying a description of the corresponding event;

generating filtered position records for a portable personal information manager (PIM) device, wherein the portable PIM device is associated with a specified user, said generating filtered position records for the portable PIM device comprising;

generating multiple measured position records each including a date field specifying a date on which a corresponding position was measured, a time field specifying a point in time at which the corresponding position was measured, a position coordinate field specifying the corresponding measured position, and a location description field specifying a description of the corresponding measured position; and

for each measured position record;

determining whether the measured position is located within a specified location boundary; and

responsive to determining that the measured position is located within a specified location boundary, adding location description information associated with the specified location boundary to the location description field; and

scanning the multiple measured position records to identify ranges of consecutive measured position records having the same location description spanning a time period exceeding a specified minimum period;

for each identified range of records, generating a filtered position record; and

responsive to a request for calendar information for a specified time interval for a user, retrieving from the database scheduled event records and filtered position records associated with said user within the specified time interval.

10. The article of manufacture of claim 9, further comprising:

maintaining, for a specified user, a tracking list that specifies the identities of requesters that are authorized to receive scheduled event records and filtered position records associated within the database with said specified user.

11. The article of manufacture of claim 9, further comprising:

responsive to the request for calendar information, transmitting contact information indicating a communication channel to use to access the shadowed user to one tracking user device enabling the tracking user to access the portable PIM device.

12. The article of manufacture of claim 9, further comprising:

maintaining in the database fixed location information of fixed transmitters, wherein the fixed transmitter includes a communication device;

determining proximate fixed transmitters whose fixed location includes the current location of the portable PIM device; and

transmitting contact information to a calendar information requestor device enabling the requestor device to access the communication device of the fixed transmitter.