Side-by-side shared calendars

• US 9,715,678 B2
• Filed: 06/26/2003
• Issued: 07/25/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 06/26/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Hill, Brian, Bjordahl, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): Chow, Doon
• Assistant Examiner(s): NGUYEN, LE V
• Application Number:
  US10/607,020
• Publication Number:
  US 20040268270A1
• Time in Patent Office: 5,143 Days
• Field of Search: 715752, 715963
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2203/048 Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/01 Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer G06F3/16 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/06 using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/109 Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting
• CPC Class Codes: G09G 5/14 Display of multiple viewports

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for presenting a plurality of shared calendars in a single electronic display frame or window where each of the plurality of shared calendars is displayed in a common view mode relative to other displayed shared calendars. Users may select one or more shared calendars to be displayed in the same display frame or window as their own calendar. Upon selection of a shared calendar to be displayed alongside a first calendar, an aggregate view object is called to control and coordinate all shared calendars selected for display in the common window or frame. The aggregate view object determines the view data object, including view mode (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly) and other calendar display settings of the first or active calendar displayed in the common view of shared calendars.

Claims

1. A method for displaying shared electronic calendars, the method comprising:

launching a calendar software application;

selecting a plurality of calendars for displaying in a common display view frame,

wherein selecting the plurality of calendars for displaying in the common display view frame comprises selecting at least one shared calendar;

obtaining a view data object for a first selected calendar, the first selected calendar being associated with a first user;

calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously, each selected calendar being associated with at least one second user;

passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, the view data object indicating a view mode corresponding to the first selected calendar, the view mode comprising at least one of the following;

a position and a size of display associated with the first selected calendar;

displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation and in the view mode indicated by the passed view data object, wherein displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously comprises;

displaying data associated with each displayed calendar in a particular displayed calendar to which the data is associated, wherein the data comprises textual information and a plurality of icons wherein each one of the plurality icons represents at least one action associated with a calendar event,

displaying the first selected calendar at the indicated view mode with each selected shared calendar being aligned at the same indicated view mode as the first selected calendar after a first vertical scrolling of the first selected calendar, and

manipulating the display of each selected calendar in response to a change in the view mode of the first selected calendar, the change in the view mode of the first selected calendar corresponding to a change in the position of display of the first selected calendar, wherein manipulating the display of each selected calendar comprises adjusting the alignment of each selected calendar so as to correspond to the changed position of display of the first selected calendar and;

displaying a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to specified displayed calendars.

2. The method of claim 1, further comprising, in response to selecting a plurality of calendars, calling an aggregate view module for displaying the selected plurality of calendars.

3. The method of claim 1, prior to calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously, determining a size of the view frame available for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, calling each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes passing display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising, if the display of a time bar is required, displaying a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars the time bar being configured to cause, upon selection of a particular time position in the time bar, a display of the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar.

9. The method of claim 8, further comprising, if the display of a scroll bar is required, providing a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

displaying a calendar selection control for selecting the at least one shared calendar for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

redisplaying all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising providing a distinctive background display color for each displayed calendar to distinguish each displayed calendar from each other displayed calendar.

12. The method of claim 1, further comprising selecting one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar;

and

applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendar to all displayed calendars.

13. The method of claim 12, wherein applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendar to all displayed calendars includes communicating any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars.

14. The method of claim 1, further comprising deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame.

15. The method of claim 14, further comprising, in response to deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar; and

redisplaying all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

16. The method of claim 1, further comprising displaying an all day banner appointment position across all displayed calendars.

17. The method of claim 1, wherein displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation includes displaying each selected calendar such that one of:

each date and each time position of each displayed calendar is aligned with corresponding one of;

each date and each time positions of each other displayed calendar.

18. The method of claim 17, further comprising displaying a date selection control configured to, upon selection of a date from the date selection control, cause a display of a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to a selected date simultaneously.

19. A computer readable system memory containing instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for displaying shared electronic calendars, the method executed by the instructions comprising:

launching a calendar software application;

obtaining a view data object for a first selected calendar, the first selected calendar being associated with a first user;

calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each of a selected plurality of calendars simultaneously, the selected plurality of calendars being associated with at least one second user;

passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar of the plurality of calendars, the view data object indicating a view mode corresponding to the first selected calendar;

displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation and in the view mode indicated by the passed view data object, wherein displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously comprises;

displaying data associated with each displayed calendar in a particular displayed calendar to which the data is associated, wherein the data comprises textual information and a plurality of icons wherein each one of the plurality icons represents at least one action associated with a calendar event,

displaying the first selected calendar associated with the first user at the same position of display as each selected shared calendar associated with the at least one second user after a first vertical scrolling of the first selected calendar, wherein displaying each selected calendar at the same position of display comprises displaying each selected calendar at one of the following;

a common time position and a common date position, and

aligning the display of each selected shared calendar in response to a change in the view mode of the first selected calendar, the change in the view mode of the first selected calendar corresponding to a change in the position of display of the first selected calendar, wherein aligning the display of each selected calendar comprises adjusting an alignment of each selected calendar so as to correspond to the changed position of display of the first selected calendar; and

displaying a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to specified displayed calendars.

20. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, calling each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

21. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes passing display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

22. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

23. The computer readable system memory of claim 22, further comprising, if the display of a time bar is required, displaying a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars, the time bar being configured to, upon selection of a particular time position in the time bar, cause a display of the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

24. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar,

determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar;

and

if the display of a scroll bar is required, providing a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars.

25. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, further comprising displaying a date selection control configured to cause, upon a selection of a date from the date selection control, a display of a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to the selected date simultaneously.

26. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, further comprising:

displaying a calendar selection control for selecting the at least one calendars for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

redisplaying all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

27. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, further comprising receiving a selection of one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar;

communicating any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars; and

applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendars to all displayed calendars.

28. The computer readable system memory of claim 19, further comprising:

receiving a deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame;

in response to receiving the deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame,

recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

passing a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar; and

redisplaying all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

29. A system for displaying shared electronic calendars, the system comprising:

a memory storage; and

a processing unit coupled to the memory storage, wherein the processing unit is operative to;

launch a calendar software application;

obtain a view data object for a first selected calendar, the first selected calendar corresponding to a first user of the calendar software application;

calculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each of a selected plurality of calendars simultaneously, the selected plurality of calendars corresponding to a plurality of additional users;

pass the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar of the plurality of calendars after a first vertical scrolling of the first selected calendar, the view data object indicating a view mode corresponding to the first selected calendar, the view mode comprising at least one of the following;

a position and a size of display associated with the first selected calendar;

pass to each selected calendar the position of display in the view frame;

pass to each selected calendar the size of display in the view frame;

display each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation and in the view mode indicated by the passed view data object, wherein the processing unit being operative to display each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously comprises the processing unit being operative to;

display appointments associated with each user of each selected calendar in a separately displayed calendar;

display data associated with each appointment, wherein the data comprises textual information and a plurality of icons wherein each one of the plurality icons represents at least one action associated with the appointment;

display the first selected calendar at the indicated view mode with each selected shared calendar being aligned at the same indicated view mode as the first selected calendar, the view mode indicating the position of display within the calendar, and

adjust the display of each selected calendar so as to correspond to a changed position of display of the first selected calendar in response to a change in the view mode of the first selected calendar, the change in the view mode of the first selected calendar corresponding to a change in the position of display of the first selected calendar, wherein the processing unit being operative to adjust the display of each selected calendar comprises the processing unit being operative to change a position of display for each selected calendar such that the separately displayed calendars remain in a side-by-side orientation with each separately displayed calendar displaying only its corresponding user'"'"'s appointments; and

display a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to specified displayed calendars.

30. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is operative to call each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

31. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is operative to pass the view data object for the first selected calendar comprises the processing unit being operative to pass display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

32. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is operative to pass the view data object for the first selected calendar comprises the processing unit being operative to determine whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

33. The system of claim 32, wherein the processing unit is operative to display a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars when the display of a time bar is required, the time bar being configure to, upon selection of a particular time position in the time bar, cause a display of the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

34. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is operative to, prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar,

determine whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar;

and

provide a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars.

35. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is operative to display a date selection control configured to, upon selection of a date from the date selection control, cause a display of a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to the selected date simultaneously.

36. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

display a calendar selection control for selecting at least one calendar for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;

in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;

pass the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;

pass a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and

redisplay all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

37. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

receive a selection of one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar;

communicate any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars; and

apply any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendars to all displayed calendars.

38. The system of claim 29, wherein the processing unit is further operative to:

receive a deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame;

in response to receiving the deletion of a displayed calendar from the view frame, recalculate an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

pass the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;

pass a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendars; and

redisplay all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

39. A computer readable memory containing instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for displaying shared electronic calendars, the method executed by the instructions comprising:

launching a calendar software application;

displaying a first calendar;

receiving an indication of a calendar associated with a second user;

determining an amount of space of a view frame for displaying a second calendar;

obtaining a view data object for the first calendar and passing the view data object to the second calendar, the view data object indicating a view mode;

displaying the second calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation with the first calendar and in the view mode indicated by the passed view data object;

displaying data associated with each displayed calendar in a particular displayed calendar to which the data is associated, wherein the data comprises textual information and a plurality of icons wherein each one of the plurality icons represents at least one action associated with a calendar event;

displaying the first calendar at the view mode with the second calendar being aligned at the same view mode as the first calendar after a first vertical scrolling of the first calendar;

manipulating the display of the second calendar in response to a change in the view mode of the first selected calendar, the change in the view mode of the first calendar corresponding to a change in the position of display of the first calendar, wherein manipulating the display of each selected calendar comprises adjusting the alignment of each selected calendar so as to correspond to the changed position of display of the first selected calendar; and

displaying a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to specified displayed calendars.

40. The computer readable memory of claim 39, further comprising:

receiving a selection of a date;

simultaneously displaying the first calendar and the second calendar at the selected date in the side-by-side orientation.