Techniques for managing conference schedules using groups
First Claim
1. A method for scheduling a conference among multiple persons, comprising:
- receiving group data that indicates a plurality of groups that include a first plurality of persons in a first group and a second plurality of persons in a second group different from the first plurality of persons in the first group;
receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population plurality of persons that includes the first plurality of persons;
receiving quorum data that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group and includes a particular number of persons from the second group, whereby the first group is a representative group; and
determining, using a scheduling apparatus, a proposed time interval for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data, the proposed time interval being determined prior to an invitation for the particular conference is sent.
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Abstract
A method and apparatus for scheduling a conference among multiple persons includes receiving group data that indicates persons in a first group. Availability data is received from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population of persons that includes the persons from the first group. Quorum data is received that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group; thus the first group is a called a “representative group.” A proposed time interval that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data is determined for the particular conference.
63 Citations
50 Claims
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1. A method for scheduling a conference among multiple persons, comprising:
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receiving group data that indicates a plurality of groups that include a first plurality of persons in a first group and a second plurality of persons in a second group different from the first plurality of persons in the first group; receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population plurality of persons that includes the first plurality of persons; receiving quorum data that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group and includes a particular number of persons from the second group, whereby the first group is a representative group; and determining, using a scheduling apparatus, a proposed time interval for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data, the proposed time interval being determined prior to an invitation for the particular conference is sent. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. A non-transitory computer-readable medium carrying one or more sequences of instructions for scheduling a conference among multiple persons, wherein execution of the one or more sequences of instructions by one or more processors causes the one or more processors to perform the method of:
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receiving group data that indicates a plurality of groups that include a first plurality of persons in a first group and a second plurality of persons in a second group different from the plurality of persons in the first group; receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population plurality of persons that includes the first plurality of persons; receiving quorum data that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group and includes a particular number of persons from the second group, whereby the first group is a representative group; and determining, prior to an invitation for the particular conference is sent, a proposed time interval for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29)
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30. An apparatus for scheduling a conference among multiple persons, comprising:
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means for receiving group data that indicates a first plurality of persons in a first group; means for receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population plurality of persons that includes the first plurality of persons; means for receiving quorum data that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and any one or more persons in a second group, whereby the first group is a representative group; means for receiving limit data that indicates a limit for a property of the particular conference; and means for determining, prior to an invitation for the particular conference is sent, a proposed time interval for the particular conference that satisfies both the quorum and the limit based on the group data, the availability data, the limit data, and the quorum data. - View Dependent Claims (31)
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32. An apparatus for scheduling a conference among multiple persons, comprising:
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a network interface that is coupled to a network for communicating one or more packet flows therewith; one or more processors; and one or more stored sequences of instructions which, when executed by the one or more processors, causes the one or more processors to carry out; receiving group data that indicates a plurality of groups that include a first plurality of persons in a first group and a second plurality of persons in a second group different from the plurality of persons in the first group; receiving availability data from a shared database that includes information about availability for a conference of a population plurality of persons that includes the first plurality of persons; receiving quorum data that indicates that a quorum for a particular conference includes any one or more persons in the first group and less than all persons in the first group and a particular number of persons from the second group, whereby the first group is a representative group; and determining, prior to an invitation for the particular conference is sent, a proposed time interval for the particular conference that satisfies the quorum based on the group data, the availability data, and the quorum data. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50)
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Specification