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US5778346A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and methods for appointment reconcilation

Assignee: Intellisync LLC
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Filing: 1996-05-17
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Granted: 1998-07-07
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Expires: 2016-05-17
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Abstract

Abstract A system for processing multiple schedules, constructed in accordance with the principle of the present invention, includes an information processing system having a memory and a processor; an input device for entering user information; a display device for showing scheduling information; an interface for sending and/or receiving information from another source; and means for reconciling two schedules by building synchronized lists, from which the user may effect a reconciliation.

Inventors

  • 👤 Martin Frid-Nielsen
  • 👤 Richard Lee Schwartz
  • 👤 Steven Ray Boye

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-26 18:46
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06F; G06F3/00; G06F3/01; G06F3/048; G06F3/0487; G06F3/0489; G06F3/04897; G06F3/0481; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06311; G06Q10/06314; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109; G06Q10/1093

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 34
Claim 1
Independent Claim 156 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information said second set of scheduling information being received from a device other than said computer system; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; while displaying said first set of scheduling information, displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device, said computer system automatically adjusting display of said first and second sets so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets; receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; and responsive to said first and second inputs, transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 156 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information said second set of scheduling information being received from a device other than said computer system; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; while displaying said first set of scheduling information, displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device, said computer system automatically adjusting display of said first and second sets so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets; receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; and responsive to said first and second inputs, transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 15 words
The method of claim 1 wherein each set comprises time slots for storing appointment information.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 14 words
The method of claim 2, wherein each time slot stores a duration of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 3, wherein each time slot further stores information describing a particular event.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 2, wherein selected ones of said time slots are associated with an alarm.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 13 words
The method of claim 2, wherein each time slot stores a start time.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 6, wherein alignment between items of said first and second sets comprises aligning items by like start times.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: inserting said items in each set of scheduling information as needed, so that items of said first and second sets can be aligned by start time.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 33 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving first user input step comprises: receiving user input from a pointing device for selecting said particular item as it is displayed on said display device.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 40 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said receiving second user input step comprises: selecting an insertion arrow displayed on the display device with a pointing device, for indicating that said particular item is to be copied into the other set.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: automatically determining by the system a common granularity between said first and second sets; and automatically normalizing by the system each set as necessary to reflect said common granularity.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim 31 words
The method of claim 11, Wherein each set comprises a plurality of time slots and wherein said determining step comprises: determining a time interval common between said first and second sets.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 12, wherein said determined time interval comprises a time interval which is 15 minutes or a multiple thereof.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving third user input for editing a selected one of said items.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising: receiving third user input for deleting a selected one of said items.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 34 words
The method of claim 1, wherein said displaying said first set step and said displaying said second set step include: displaying said first and second steps each as a table comprising time interval slots.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 138 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information: displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device: displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device. so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets; receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; responsive to said first and second inputs transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set: and receiving additional user input for blocking certain items of one set from receiving information from the other set.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 138 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information: displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device: displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device. so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets; receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; responsive to said first and second inputs transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set: and receiving additional user input for blocking certain items of one set from receiving information from the other set.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 158 words
In a computer system having a display device a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets, receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; responsive to said first and second inputs transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set; and receiving additional user input for establishing a higher level of priority for at least some of the items, so that an item cannot be transferred to a corresponding location in the other set which has a higher priority.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 158 words
In a computer system having a display device a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising: receiving first and second sets of scheduling information; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets, receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set; responsive to said first and second inputs transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set; and receiving additional user input for establishing a higher level of priority for at least some of the items, so that an item cannot be transferred to a corresponding location in the other set which has a higher priority.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising; receiving first and second sets of scheduling information; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets: receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set: responsive to said first and second inputs, transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set; and generating a duplicate entry for an item in instances where each set has conflicting items.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim 135 words
In a computer system having a display device, a method for displaying an interface for processing scheduling information, the method comprising; receiving first and second sets of scheduling information; displaying said first set of scheduling information on the display device; displaying said second set of scheduling information on the display device so that items of said second set of scheduling information are aligned with like items of said first set; receiving first user input for selecting a particular item from one of the sets: receiving second user input for inserting the particular item into the other set: responsive to said first and second inputs, transferring a copy of said particular item from the one set to the other set; and generating a duplicate entry for an item in instances where each set has conflicting items.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a data processing system, a method for combining time schedules, the method comprising: receiving first and second time schedules, each time schedule comprising a plurality of time slots, each time slot having a start time, a time interval, and an event description, said second time schedule being received from a device other than said data processing system; automatically normalizing by the system said first and second time schedules by: (i) automatically determining a common time interval between said first and second time schedules, (ii) automatically adjusting the time slots of each time schedule to be equal to or a multiple of said common time interval, and (iii) automatically aligning by start time each slot of said first time schedule with a corresponding time slot of said second time schedule; and in response to user input, selectively transferring event descriptions from one time slot to its corresponding time slot in the other time schedule.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim 154 words
In a data processing system, a method for combining time schedules, the method comprising: receiving first and second time schedules, each time schedule comprising a plurality of time slots, each time slot having a start time, a time interval, and an event description, said second time schedule being received from a device other than said data processing system; automatically normalizing by the system said first and second time schedules by: (i) automatically determining a common time interval between said first and second time schedules, (ii) automatically adjusting the time slots of each time schedule to be equal to or a multiple of said common time interval, and (iii) automatically aligning by start time each slot of said first time schedule with a corresponding time slot of said second time schedule; and in response to user input, selectively transferring event descriptions from one time slot to its corresponding time slot in the other time schedule.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said aligning step includes: displaying each time schedule on a screen device such that time slots from the two time schedules which have identical start times are aligned on screen.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim 30 words
The method of claim 21, wherein said user input comprises a signal from a pointing device for selecting a particular time slot as it is displayed on the screen device.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim 29 words
The method of claim 20, wherein each event description of a time slot comprises textual information describing an event which occurs at the start time for the time slot.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim 16 words
The method of claim 23, wherein at least some of the event descriptions comprise appointment information.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim 38 words
The method of claim 20, wherein said aligning step includes: creating empty time slots for each time schedule so that each time slot of one time schedule has a corresponding time slot present in the other time schedule.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim 19 words
The method of claim 25, wherein each empty time slot stores an empty text string for its event description.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim 36 words
The method of claim 25, wherein each empty time slot includes a start time and a time interval equal to the start time and time interval of said corresponding time slot of the other time schedule.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim 17 words
The method of claim 25, wherein said common time interval comprises 15 minutes or a multiple thereof.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim 27 words
The method of claim 20, wherein each time slot further stores alarm information for notifying a user upon occurrence of the start time for the time slot.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US4769796A Cited
US4866611A Cited
US4977520A Cited
US4881179A Cited
US5113380A Cited
US5519606A Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2001-07-06 2002-01-05 2002-07-07 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2005-07-06 2006-01-05 2006-07-07 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2009-07-06 2010-01-05 2010-07-07 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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