System and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event using electronic calendar system

• US 8,751,279 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2005
• Issued: 06/10/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/23/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Malikie Innovations Limited (Key Patent Innovations Limited)
• Original Assignee: Blackberry Limited
• Inventors: Burns, Anthony G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fleischer, Mark A
• Application Number:
  US11/135,119
• Publication Number:
  US 20060265263A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,305 Days
• Field of Search: 705/7.18, 705/7.19, 705/7.16
• US Class Current: 705/7.16
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/188 Electronic negotiation

Abstract

A system and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event includes an electronic calendar program having the capability of establishing a recurring event with a predetermined end date. A processor is operative for notifying an organizer of the event at a predetermined time of the end date for the recurring event and permitting the organizer to modify the end date of the recurring event if the event is to continue. The electronic calendar program and processor is operative in a mobile wireless communications device that includes a housing and radio frequency (RF) transceiver contained within the housing such that notifications of the new end date can be transmitted to and received by attendees of the event, including any changed meeting information.

Claims

1. A system for preventing the elapse of a recurring event comprising:

a memory containing a recurring event established with a predetermined end date;

a user interface; and

a processor connected to the memory and user interface and configured to cause presentation on the user interface of a notification regarding an impending lapse of the recurring event at a predetermined time of the predetermined end date for the recurring event, the processor being further configured to modify the end date of the recurring event according to an indication received by the processor from the user interface when the recurring event is to continue, wherein the user interface is further configured to;

present a reminder regarding the impending lapse at least one of before and during the predetermined end date, and prompt regarding prevention of the impending lapse of the recurring event upon a last recurrence of the recurring event, the indication to modify the end date being received by the processor from the user interface according to a user input relative to at least one of the reminder and the prompt.

2. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to modify event information.

3. A system according to claim 2, wherein the event information comprises one of time, duration or location of the event.

4. A system according to claim 1, and further comprising a radio transceiver connected with said processor for transmitting notifications to attendees indicating a new end date for the recurring event.

5. A system according to claim 1, wherein the processor is configured to notify a device associated with a user that established the recurring event when all recurrences of the event were done within a predetermined number of days of the last occurrence.

6. A wireless handheld communications device comprising:

a housing;

a radio frequency (RF) transceiver contained within the housing;

a user interface;

a memory containing a recurring event established with a predetermined end date;

a processor contained within the housing and operative with the RF transceiver, user interface and memory; and

said processor being configured to cause presentation on the user interface of a notification regarding an impending lapse of the recurring event at a predetermined time of the predetermined end date for the recurring event, the processor being further configured to modify the end date of the recurring event according to an indication received by the processor from the user interface when the recurring event is to continue, wherein the user interface is further configured to;

present a reminder regarding the impending lapse at least one of before and during the predetermined end date, and

prompt regarding prevention of the impending lapse of the recurring event upon a last recurrence of the recurring event, the indication to modify the end date being received by the processor from the user interface according to the user input relative to at least one of the reminder and the prompt.

7. A wireless handheld communications device according to claim 6, wherein the processor is configured to permit a device associated with a user that established the recurring event to modify event information comprising one of time, duration, or location of the event.

8. A wireless handheld communications device according to claim 7, wherein said processor is configured to notify a device associated with a user that established the event when all recurrences of the event were done within a predetermined number of days of the last occurrence.

9. A method for preventing the elapse of a recurring event, which comprises:

inputting data to a memory of a communications device about a recurring event established with a predetermined end date;

processing the data within a processor of the communications device to present on a user interface of the communications device a notification regarding an impending lapse of the recurring event at a predetermined time of the predetermined end date for the recurring event;

modifying data regarding the end date of the recurring event by inputting new data to the processor from the user interface when the recurring event is to continue;

presenting a reminder on the user interface regarding the impending lapse at least one of before and during the predetermined end date; and

displaying a prompt via the user interface regarding prevention of the upcoming lapse of the recurring event upon a last recurrence of the recurring event, the indication to modify the end date being received by the processor from the user interface according to the user input relative to at least one of the reminder and the prompt.

10. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises notifying a device associated with a user that established the recurring event when all recurrences of the event were done within a predetermined number of days of the last occurrence.

11. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises notifying attendees of a new end date for the recurring event.

12. A method according to claim 11, which further comprises wirelessly transmitting a notification to each attendee indicating a new end date for the recurring event.

13. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises establishing the recurring event by entering values into the user interface operative with the electronic calendar system.

14. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises notifying device associated with a user that established the recurring event and/or invitee of the end date by wirelessly transmitting a notification to a wireless, handheld communications device.

15. A method according to claim 9, which further comprises modifying the end date and changing meeting information if the recurring event is to continue with different meeting information.

16. A method according to claim 15, which further comprises notifying attendees of the new end date and different meeting information.

17. A method according to claim 16, which further comprises transmitting a notification to each attendee indicating a new end date and changed meeting information.

18. A method according to claim 15, wherein the step of changing meeting information includes changing one of the time, duration, or location of the meeting.