Meeting facilitation tool

Claim 3

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to programmatically update availability data for each attendee to indicate the new meeting during the time frame.

Claim 4

The device of claim 1 , wherein the respective shared meeting computer program object is further configured to store an aggregation of multiple types of meeting related information, wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to store the meeting related information for the new meeting in the respective shared meeting computer program object.

Claim 5

The device of claim 1 , wherein, in programmatically determining availability information, the meeting facilitation tool is configured to programmatically obtain availability information from availability data for each of the meeting invitees.

Claim 6

The device of claim 4 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to obtain the availability information for one or more of the invitees from an availability framework configured to maintain and supply aggregated availability information for a plurality of users.

Claim 7

The device of claim 4 , wherein, in programmatically obtaining availability information, the meeting facilitation tool is configured to load availability information for one or more of the invitees from a respective calendar information database for each of the one or more of the invitees.

Claim 8

The device of claim 4 , wherein, in programmatically obtaining availability information, the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to load calendar data for one or more of the invitees from a distributed calendar database, wherein the distributed calendar database maintains calendar data for a plurality of users across a plurality of computing nodes.

Claim 9

The device of claim 4 , wherein, in programmatically obtaining availability information, the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to load calendar data for the one or more of the invitees from a central calendar database, wherein the central calendar database maintains calendar information for a plurality of users.

Claim 10

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to: display one or more other user interface elements indicating the availability information for one or more of the one or more meeting invitees; and wherein, in programmatically determining a time frame for the new meeting, the meeting facilitation tool is configured to receive user input specifying the time frame based upon the indicated availability information.

Claim 11

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to display one or more user interface elements indicating meeting related information for one or more other meetings related to the new meeting.

Claim 12

The device of claim 10 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to include meeting related information for one or more of the other meetings in the meeting related information for the new meeting.

Claim 13

The device of claim 11 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to include one or more meeting attendees for one or more of the other meetings in the meeting related information for the new meeting.

Claim 14

The device of claim 11 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to include one or more documents indicated in the meeting related information for one or more of the other meetings in the meeting related information for the new meeting.

Claim 15

The device of claim 11 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to include one or more email messages indicated in the meeting related information for one or more of the other meetings in the meeting related information for the new meeting.

Claim 16

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting related information indicates one or more documents for the meeting.

Claim 17

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting related information indicates one or more emails related to the new meeting.

Claim 18

The device of claim 1 , wherein, in programmatically determining availability information, the meeting facilitation tool is configured to programmatically query one or more of the one or more meeting invitees for their respective availability information.

Claim 19

The device of claim 17 , wherein, in programmatically querying, the meeting facilitation tool is configured to send an email message to the one or more queried meeting invitees.

Claim 20

The device of claim 18 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to receive a respective response from one or more of the one or more queried meeting invitees, wherein each response includes availability information for the corresponding queried meeting invitee.

Claim 21

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting related information comprises one or more action items for the new meeting to be performed in a pre-meeting phase of the new meeting.

Claim 22

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to electronically send a meeting reminder message to each of the meeting invitees prior to a start of the new meeting.

Claim 23

The device of claim 1 , wherein the meeting facilitation tool is further configured to: receive user input modifying the meeting related information regarding the new meeting; and electronically send a message to each meeting invitee indicating the modified meeting related information.

Claim 26

The method of claim 23 , further comprising using the computer to perform storing the meeting related information for the new meeting in the respective shared meeting computer program object, wherein the respective shared meeting computer program object is configured to store an aggregation of multiple types of meeting related information.

Claim 27

The method of claim 23 , wherein said programmatically determining availability information comprises obtaining availability information from availability data for each of the meeting invitees.

Claim 28

A computer readable storage medium, storing program instructions executable to implement: a meeting facilitation tool receiving user input specifying information regarding a new meeting, wherein the information comprises one or more meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool programmatically determining available information for each of the meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool determining a time frame for the new meeting based on availability information for each of the meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool electronically sending a meeting invitation messages to each of the meeting invitees; and the meeting facilitation tool storing an indication of a current meeting state of the new meeting in a respective one of one or more shared meeting computer program objects configured to transition among a plurality of meeting states; wherein each of the one or more shared meeting computer program objects stores meeting state information for a single, distinct meeting, and is accessible by two or more meeting-aware applications or instances thereof to determine the current meeting state; and wherein each of the plurality of meeting states corresponds to a distinct phase of the new meeting during which one or more meeting related activities are to be performed for the new meeting, and wherein the plurality of meeting states comprises two or more of: a pre-meeting state, an in-meeting state, and a post-meeting state.

Claim 29

A computer readable storage medium, storing program instructions executable to implement: a meeting facilitation tool receiving user input specifying information regarding a new meeting, wherein the information comprises one or more meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool programmatically determining available information for each of the meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool determining a time frame for the new meeting based on availability information for each of the meeting invitees; the meeting facilitation tool electronically sending a meeting invitation messages to each of the meeting invitees; and the meeting facilitation tool storing an indication of a current meeting state of the new meeting in a respective one of one or more shared meeting computer program objects configured to transition among a plurality of meeting states; wherein each of the one or more shared meeting computer program objects stores meeting state information for a single, distinct meeting, and is accessible by two or more meeting-aware applications or instances thereof to determine the current meeting state; and wherein each of the plurality of meeting states corresponds to a distinct phase of the new meeting during which one or more meeting related activities are to be performed for the new meeting, and wherein the plurality of meeting states comprises two or more of: a pre-meeting state, an in-meeting state, and a post-meeting state.

Claim 30

The computer accessible medium of claim 26 , wherein the program instructions are further configured to implement the meeting facilitation tool storing the meeting related information for the new meeting in the respective shared meeting computer program object, and wherein the respective shared meeting computer program object is configured to store an aggregation of multiple types of meeting related information.

Claim 31

The computer accessible medium of claim 26 , wherein in programmatically determining availability information, the program instructions are further configured to implement the meeting facilitation tool programmatically obtaining availability information from availability data for each of the meeting invitees.