Sun Microsystems, Inc.

International Business Machines Corporation

Chris S Kasso

Linda K Schneider

Yvonne Yuen-Yee Tso

Joseph F DiPol

Martin Arthur Knutson

Frank R Dawson

A method and apparatus for representing and storing the schedules of recurring events. The schedules are represented by recurrence rules generated according to a specific grammar. According to the grammar, each recurrence rule is composed of one or more recurrence commands. Each recurrence command corresponds to a cycle and includes a time interval indicator that specifies the duration of the cycle and a repeat quantity that determines the number of times the cycle is repeated in the schedule. Each recurrence command may also include an occurrence list that specifies at what times during a particular cycle the event occurs. The occurrence list may specify times in absolute or relative terms. Thus, the grammar supports recurrence rules for representing the schedule 'first and tenth of every month' as well as the schedule 'second Thursday and last Friday of every month'. To represent schedules that terminate before the last event in the last cycle is completed, a symbol may be inserted into the occurrence list to distinguish the events that are performed on the last cycle from the events that are not performed on the last cycle. Complex schedules that involve cycles repeated within cycles are represented by multiple-command recurrence rules. The stored recurrence rules may be parsed to determine when events will occur. The grammar may be applied to a variety of applications, including calendar programs, video cassette recorders and home automation devices.

Method and apparatus for representing recurring events

A method, apparatus, and computer program product for managing and configuring program properties of an application program by loading properties from several lists, applying a set of precedence rules to resolve conflicts among properties, and applying the properties to the application program. Properties are listed in a plurality of lists including a list of default property values, a list of host-specific property values, a list of user-specific property values, a list of application-specific property values, and final properties lists. Values in the final property lists override conflicting previously loaded property values. The default properties list is loaded, as is a host-specific properties list, but only values for the then-current host are loaded. The user-specific properties list is loaded. User-defined properties override conflicting default properties. The final system-wide properties list is loaded, its values override any conflicting user-selected property, and such final properties may not be over-ridden by any user-selected property. A final host-specific property list is loaded. Values in the final host-specific property list override any conflicting properties in the host-specific properties list, and a user may not override such final properties. Values are written into a merged property list which is applied to the application program. Users may be assigned to user groups. A set of property lists can be associated with each group so that consistent property values are applied to all users within a group. Property values can be defined for specific application programs by using a default system properties list for the application program, and an overriding system properties list for the application program.

Computer system for managing and configuring application properties and

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Sunnyvale, CA, United States of America

Chris S Kasso