US5813013A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Representing recurring events
Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC
•
Filing: 1996-06-06
•
Granted: 1998-09-22
•
Expires: 2016-06-06
Abstract
Abstract A series of recurring events is represented using a computer system that includes a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor. The series is represented by storing on the storage medium a pattern that represents dates on which events in the series of recurring events occur. The pattern includes a first entry that may identify days of a week on which an event in the series of recurring events may occur, a second entry that may provide a measure of a number of days between events in the series of recurring events, and a third entry that may provide a measure of a number of months between events in the series of recurring events. Indicators that indicate whether each of the first, second or third entries are to be considered in extracting occurrences of the series of recurring events from the pattern are also stored on the storage medium. The indicators may be stored within the entries.
Inventors
- 👤 Darren Arthur Shakib
- 👤 Sridhar Sundararaman
- 👤 David Joseph Robert Cornfield
- 👤 Salim Alam
- 👤 David Charles Whitney
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 01:32
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109; Y; Y10; Y10S; Y10S707/00; Y10S707/99941; Y10S707/99943; Y10S707/99944; Y10S707/99945
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 29
Claim 1
Independent Claim
209 words
In a computer system having a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor, a method of storing a representation of a series of events that reoccur according to a defined pattern and for displaying the series of recurring events to a user of the computer system, the method comprising the steps of: storing on the storage medium a pattern format that defines dates on which a plurality of events in the series of events occur, the pattern format comprising any combination of: a first entry that identifies any combination of either the day of the week an event reoccurs, the day of the month an event reoccurs, or the month of the year an event reoccurs, and a second entry that identifies a time interval between events comprising any combination of either the number of days between events, the number of weeks between events, the number of months between events, or the number of years between events, storing on the storage medium a recurrence type indicator that identifies which combination of said entries is stored; and examining said recurrence type indicator, and based on said recurrence type indicator using the stored combination of said entries to reconstruct the series of recurring events for display to the user.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
209 words
In a computer system having a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor, a method of storing a representation of a series of events that reoccur according to a defined pattern and for displaying the series of recurring events to a user of the computer system, the method comprising the steps of: storing on the storage medium a pattern format that defines dates on which a plurality of events in the series of events occur, the pattern format comprising any combination of: a first entry that identifies any combination of either the day of the week an event reoccurs, the day of the month an event reoccurs, or the month of the year an event reoccurs, and a second entry that identifies a time interval between events comprising any combination of either the number of days between events, the number of weeks between events, the number of months between events, or the number of years between events, storing on the storage medium a recurrence type indicator that identifies which combination of said entries is stored; and examining said recurrence type indicator, and based on said recurrence type indicator using the stored combination of said entries to reconstruct the series of recurring events for display to the user.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the steps of: storing on the storage medium a time associated with the events in the series of recurring events; and storing on the storage medium information identifying a time zone with which the series of recurring events is associated.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
26 words
The method of claim 2, further comprising the step of extracting occurrences of the series of recurring events from the pattern stored on the storage medium.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
54 words
The method of claim 3, wherein the extracting step comprises extracting the occurrences in a time zone having a first offset from an absolute time value that differs from a second offset from the absolute time value that is a property of the time zone with which the series of recurring events is associated.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
47 words
The method of claim 4, wherein the extracting step further comprises modifying the time associated with the events in the series of recurring events based on a difference between the first and second offsets to produce a time associated with an occurrence of the series of events.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
22 words
The method of claim 4, further comprising storing a table that represents offsets from the absolute time value for all time zones.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the time is a starting time for each event in the series of recurring events.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
24 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the step of storing a pattern format comprises storing a starting date for the series of recurring events.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality of days of a month on which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality of weeks of a month on which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
41 words
The method of claim 10, wherein a particular value stored in the first entry indicates that events in the series of recurring events may occur only on the last occurrence in a month of any day identified in the first entry.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
29 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality of months of a year in which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing an indicator that indicates a day on which weeks begin.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
21 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising the step of storing on the storage medium information identifying exceptions to the pattern.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a computer system having a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor, a computer program product for storing a representation of a series of events that reoccur according to a defined pattern and for reconstructing the series of events comprising: a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, said computer-executable instructions comprising: means for storing on the storage medium a pattern format that defines dates on which a plurality of events in the series of events occur, the pattern format comprising any combination of: a first entry that identifies any combination of either the day of the week an event reoccurs, the day of the month an event reoccurs, or the month of the year an event reoccurs, and a second entry that identifies a time interval between events comprising any combination of either the number of days between events, the number of weeks between events, the number of months between events, or the number of years between events, means for storing on the storage medium a recurrence type indicator that identifies which combination of said entries is stored; and means for examining said recurrence type indicator, and based on said recurrence type indicator using the stored combination of said entries to reconstruct the series of recurring events.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
212 words
In a computer system having a processor and a storage medium readable by the processor, a computer program product for storing a representation of a series of events that reoccur according to a defined pattern and for reconstructing the series of events comprising: a computer readable medium having computer-executable instructions embodied thereon, said computer-executable instructions comprising: means for storing on the storage medium a pattern format that defines dates on which a plurality of events in the series of events occur, the pattern format comprising any combination of: a first entry that identifies any combination of either the day of the week an event reoccurs, the day of the month an event reoccurs, or the month of the year an event reoccurs, and a second entry that identifies a time interval between events comprising any combination of either the number of days between events, the number of weeks between events, the number of months between events, or the number of years between events, means for storing on the storage medium a recurrence type indicator that identifies which combination of said entries is stored; and means for examining said recurrence type indicator, and based on said recurrence type indicator using the stored combination of said entries to reconstruct the series of recurring events.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
53 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise: means for storing on the storage medium a time associated with the events in the series of recurring events; and means for storing on the storage medium information identifying a time zone with which the series of recurring events is associated.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the instructions further comprise means for extracting the occurrences in a time zone having a first offset from an absolute time value that differs from a second offset from the absolute time value that is a property of the time zone with which the series of recurring events is associated.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
50 words
The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise means for modifying the time associated with the events in the series of recurring events based on a difference between the first and second offsets to produce a time associated with an occurrence of the series of events.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
29 words
The computer program product of claim 17, wherein the instructions further comprise means for storing a table that represents offsets from the absolute time value for all time zones.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
23 words
The computer program product of claim 16, wherein the time is a starting time for each event in the series of recurring events.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
24 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise means for storing a starting date for the series of recurring events.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality of days of a month on which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
30 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality weeks of a month in which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
43 words
The computer program product of claim 23, wherein a particular value stored in the first entry indicates that events in the series of recurring events may occur only on the last occurrence in a month of any day identified in the first entry.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
31 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the first entry may identify a plurality of months of a year in which an event in the series of recurring events occurs.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
25 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise means for storing an indicator that indicates a day on which weeks begin.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
21 words
The computer program product of claim 15, wherein the instructions further comprise means for storing information identifying exceptions to the pattern.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US4862357A
Cited
US4866611A
Cited
US5006985A
Cited
US5247676A
Cited
US5218699A
Cited
US5191523A
Cited
US5283856A
Cited
US5649117A
Cited
US5570283A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 2001-09-21 | 2002-03-23 | 2002-09-22 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 2005-09-21 | 2006-03-23 | 2006-09-22 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2009-09-21 | 2010-03-23 | 2010-09-22 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |