International Business Machines Corporation

Harinder S Singh

Keith J Scully

Charles M Cree

Grady J Landry

A method of exchanging date and time slot usage between calendar users. A date and time map structure is configured in a common way to allow the accessing of the map information using an algorithm and then responding to the provided information. The response would normally be to create a composite calendar for purposes of determining which time slots are not used for selected calendars to assist when establishing a group meeting. The structure supports specifying calendar categories, time span and granularity for the times represented by the used time slots in the map.

Method of exchanging entries from a plurality of different electronic

A method of exchanging entries on calendars being maintained by a first and a second calendar users. An event is automatically scheduled on a second calendar if a classification which is associated with the event is higher than any previous scheduled event for the same time slot. A reply is prepared and transmitted to the first calendar user which requested the scheduling of the vent regarding the status of the second user in regards to the scheduled event. Subsequently, if the status of the second user changes in regards to the event, a subsequent reply is prepared and transmitted to the first user setting forth the changed status.

System for exchanging electronic calendars based on entries and

The present invention relates to methods of automatically generating a data stream in which a calendar owner can request the status of a plurality of calenders maintained by an electronic calendaring system. A first data structure is generated by the system in response to the entry of calendar information by the calendar owner. The first data structure includes a plurality of predetermined fields for storing the calendar information. Each of the plurality of fields are compared to equivalent fields in identified ones of the plurality of calendars. A second data structure is then generated for each of the identified ones of the plurality of calendars which sets forth the status of calendaring an event thereon. The second data structure is transmitted to the calendar owner to confirm the status of each of the identified ones of the plurality of calendars.

Methods for handling calendar information in a data processing system

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system in which calendar entries that have been made for the same time span independently on two different copies of the calendar can be automatically and interactively reconciled. The method permits a calendar owner to obtain a machine readable transportable copy of his calendar on a diskette, to update that copy when the master copy is not available to him because of a business trip, for example, and upon his return to automatically and interactively reconcile the updated entries that have been made to both copies so that at least one of them reflects the correct status of calendered events for that owner.

Method for automatically reconciling entries on two copies of

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system that has a plurality of interactive type work stations connected directly or indirectly to a host processing unit. The method assists a calendar owner to request the system to develop and display a composite calender comprising entries from a plurality of calendars within a specified time span which have been selected by criteria entered interactively into the system by the calender owner. The criteria entered are not limited to 'free periods' nor system established terminology but can include terms established by the calendar owner community.

Method for concurrently displaying entries from a plurality of different

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system has a plurality of workstations, each of which is assigned to a different individual who maintains an electronic calendar on the system. The method establishes a plurality of data structures for storing data that is entered into the system interactively by the calendar owner during the process of calendaring an event which involves a number of other calendar owners e.g. a meeting. A Trigger data structured is included to store data at the time an event is being calandered that provides a reminder to the meeting originator or calendar owner. The type of reminder may be selected by the meeting originator provided the system hardware supports the underlying technology. The reminder may be just a visual message on the display, an audio tone, an audio message or any combination. The official ID of the event that is to be triggered is included in the Trigger data structure. The method allows the Trigger to 'float' with the identified event so that the Trigger established by the meeting originator may be automatically employed by the other calendar owners who received a notice on the system inviting them to the meeting. If the meeting is changed or cancelled, the other invitees' triggers are changed automatically as is the originators' merely by changing the meeting notice. The method also permits a calendar owner to start a process (application program) that can be run on the system by use of the Trigger data structure.

Electronic calendaring method to establish calendar floating triggers

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system that has a plurality of interactive type work stations (terminals or personal computers) connected directly or indirectly to a host processor. The method assists a calendar owner who receives a notice at his work station requesting his involvement in a future event that is being calendared by another calendar owner on the system, to manually or automatically designate in the reply a temporary alternate to attend the meeting being calendared or a permenant alternate to attend all future meetings without affecting his status in the system as a receipient of the meeting notice.

Electronic calendaring method which provides for automatic assignment of

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system having a plurality of interactive type workstations connected to a host processing unit in which the event calendaring process permits the availability of requested event resources to be confirmed automatically during the calendaring of certain events such as meetings which involve participation of a plurality of other calendar owners that are designated in a 'Names List' unique to that meeting.

Electronic calendaring method for confirmation of resource availability

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system that has a plurality of interactive type work stations (terminals or personal computers) connected directly or indirectly to a host processor. The method assists a calendar owner who receives a notice at his work station requesting his involvement in a future event that is being calendared by another calendar owner on the system, to develop different responses to the requests automatically based on criteria that are pre-established by the invitee/owner and data that is included in the invitation. The criteria may include such items as the name of the event originator, a specific ID of the event, a subject for the meeting, the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting or various combinations of the above. Responses which are automatically returned may include a confirmation, a rejection, or some qualified form of either, such as a tentative confirmation.

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Boca Raton, FL, United States of America

Harinder S Singh