US6038542A — System for notifying an individual of a previousl…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 215 words

A system for communicating scheduling information to a user about a scheduled event, comprising: (a) a network; (b) a client computer that is connected to the network and that executes software that allows the user to perform scheduling tasks, (c) a storage area, accessible by the client computer, for storing the user's scheduling information; (d) a notification server that initiates communication with the user; (e) a server computer that is connected to the network and the notification server, wherein the server computer is programmed to: retrieve from the storage area the user's scheduling information, wherein the user's scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame, access the queued events, and activate the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event when the user is not near the client computer.

Claim 2

Independent Claim 215 words

A system for communicating scheduling information to a user about a scheduled event, comprising: (a) a network; (b) a client computer that is connected to the network and that executes software that allows the user to perform scheduling tasks, (c) a storage area, accessible by the client computer, for storing the user's scheduling information; (d) a notification server that initiates communication with the user; (e) a server computer that is connected to the network and the notification server, wherein the server computer is programmed to: retrieve from the storage area the user's scheduling information, wherein the user's scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame, access the queued events, and activate the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event when the user is not near the client computer.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the storage area is located at the client computer.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 15 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the storage area is located within the server computer.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 35 words

The system of claim 1, wherein the information about the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event applies to a subset of all events in the user's scheduling information.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 37 words

The system of claim 4, wherein the specified time frame includes a time frame beginning at the time the server retrieves from the storage area the user's scheduling information, and ending within twenty-four hours after such time.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the notification server places a wireless telephone call to the user.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 18 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the notification server sends a message by wireless pager to the user.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 46 words

The system of claim 5, wherein the server is further programmed to: activate a second notification server if the user has not been successfully informed of the scheduled event, wherein the second notification initiates communication with the user to inform the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 25 words

The system of claim 8, further comprising: (f) an administration client computer that is connected to the network and that carries out user administration tasks.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 17 words

The system of claim 9, wherein the administration client computer regulates access to the user's scheduling information.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 217 words

A computer that is connected to at least one notification server that is capable of communicating with a user, wherein the computer has access to scheduling information about a scheduled event for the user, the computer comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a queue that is accessible to the processor for storing queued events; (c) a network connection that is accessible to the processor; and (d) a program storage area accessible to the processor and having a program stored thereon, wherein the program is configured to cause the processor to: retrieve the user's scheduling information, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in the queue, access the queue to retrieve one or more queued events, and activate the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 217 words

A computer that is connected to at least one notification server that is capable of communicating with a user, wherein the computer has access to scheduling information about a scheduled event for the user, the computer comprising: (a) a processor; (b) a queue that is accessible to the processor for storing queued events; (c) a network connection that is accessible to the processor; and (d) a program storage area accessible to the processor and having a program stored thereon, wherein the program is configured to cause the processor to: retrieve the user's scheduling information, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in the queue, access the queue to retrieve one or more queued events, and activate the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 17 words

The computer of claim 11, wherein the notification server places a wireless telephone call to the user.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer of claim 11, wherein the notification server sends a message by wireless pager to the user.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 51 words

The computer of claim 11, wherein the program is further configured to cause the processor to: activate a second notification server if the user has not been successfully informed of the scheduled event, wherein the second notification server initiates communication with the user to inform the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 18 words

The computer of claim 14, wherein the scheduling information is retrieved from a remote location on the network.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 17 words

The computer of claim 14, wherein the scheduling information is retrieved from a location within the computer.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer of claim 14, wherein the information about the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event applies to a subset of all events in the user's scheduling information.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 33 words

The computer of claim 17, wherein the specified time frame includes a time frame beginning at the time the computer retrieves the user's scheduling information, and ending within eight hours after such time.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 35 words

The computer of claim 18, wherein the program is further configured to cause the processor to: retrieve a list of users from a maintenance module, wherein the maintenance module is periodically updated by an administrator.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 149 words

A data storage medium having a program stored on it, wherein the program is configured to cause a computer to: retrieve scheduling information for a user, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in a queue; access the queue to retrieve one or more queued events; and activate a notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 149 words

A data storage medium having a program stored on it, wherein the program is configured to cause a computer to: retrieve scheduling information for a user, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; analyze the user's scheduling information and queue events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in a queue; access the queue to retrieve one or more queued events; and activate a notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 24

Dependent Claim 52 words

The data storage medium of claim 20, wherein the program is further configured to cause a computer to: activate a second notification server if the user has not been successfully informed of the scheduled event, wherein the second notification initiates communication with the user to inform the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 25

Dependent Claim 29 words

The data storage medium of claim 21, wherein the program is further configured to cause a computer to retrieve the scheduling information from a remote location on a network.

Claim 26

Dependent Claim 28 words

The data storage medium of claim 21, wherein the program is further configured to cause a computer to retrieve the scheduling information from a location within the computer.

Claim 27

Dependent Claim 33 words

The data storage medium of claim 21, wherein the program is further configured to cause a computer to analyze the scheduling information to determine information about how the user is to be notified.

Claim 28

Dependent Claim 35 words

The data storage medium of claim 24, wherein the specified time frame includes a time frame beginning at the time the computer retrieves the user's scheduling information, and ending within forty-eight hours after such time.

Claim 29

Dependent Claim 37 words

The data storage medium of claim 25, wherein the program is further configured to cause a computer to: retrieve a list of users from a maintenance module, wherein the maintenance module is periodically updated by an administrator.

Claim 30

Dependent Claim 159 words

A computer that is connected to at least one notification server that is capable of communicating with a user, the computer comprising: means for retrieving a user's scheduling information, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; means for analyzing the user's scheduling information; means for queuing events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in a queue; means for accessing the queue to retrieve one or more queued events; and means for activating the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 31

Dependent Claim 159 words

A computer that is connected to at least one notification server that is capable of communicating with a user, the computer comprising: means for retrieving a user's scheduling information, wherein the scheduling information includes the manner in which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event and the time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event; means for analyzing the user's scheduling information; means for queuing events in the scheduling information that are within a specified time frame by storing them in a queue; means for accessing the queue to retrieve one or more queued events; and means for activating the notification server at or about the time that the queued event is to occur to thereby initiate communication with the user about the scheduled event in the manner in and time at which the user is to be notified of the scheduled event, thereby informing the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 32

Dependent Claim 24 words

The computer of claim 27, wherein the means for activating the notification server includes means for placing a wireless telephone call to the user.

Claim 33

Dependent Claim 25 words

The computer of claim 27, wherein the means for activating the notification server includes means for sending a message by wireless pager to the user.

Claim 34

Dependent Claim 23 words

The computer of claim 27, wherein the means for activating the notification server includes means for sending an email message to the user.

Claim 35

Dependent Claim 43 words

The computer of claim 27, further comprising: means for activating a second notification server if the user has not been successfully informed of the scheduled event, wherein the second notification initiates communication with the user to inform the user of the scheduled event.

Claim 36

Dependent Claim 27 words

The computer of claim 31, wherein the means for retrieving the user's scheduling information includes means for retrieving scheduling information from a remote location on the network.

Claim 37

Dependent Claim 26 words

The computer of claim 31, wherein the means for retrieving the user's scheduling information includes means for retrieving scheduling information from a location within the computer.

Claim 38

Dependent Claim 28 words

The computer of claim 31, further comprising: means for retrieving a list of users from a maintenance module, wherein the maintenance module is periodically updated by an administrator.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	2003-03-14	2003-09-13	2004-03-14	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	2007-03-14	2007-09-13	2008-03-14	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	2011-03-14	2011-09-13	2012-03-14	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

System for notifying an individual of a previously scheduled event

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