System and methods for scheduling and tracking events across multiple time zones

Patent 5845257 Issued on December 1, 1998. Estimated Expiration Date:

February 29, 2016. Estimated Expiration Date is calculated based on simple USPTO term provisions. It does not account for terminal disclaimers, term adjustments, failure to pay maintenance fees, or other factors which might affect the term of a patent.

Abstract Claims Description Full Text

Patent References

World timepiece
Patent #: 5007033
Issued on: 04/09/1991
Inventor: Kubota, et al.

Electronic world clock device for indicating times for various spots in the world
Patent #: 5448532
Issued on: 09/05/1995
Inventor: Kataoka, et al.

System and methods for appointment reconciliation Patent #: 5519606
Issued on: 05/21/1996
Inventor: Frid-Nielsen, et al.

Inventors

Application

No. 609983 filed on 02/29/1996

US Classes:

705/8, Allocating resources or scheduling for an administrative function368/21, PLURAL TIME ZONES368/28WITH CALENDAR INDICATOR

Examiners

Primary: Teska, Kevin J.
Assistant: Dalziel, Raymond H.

Attorney, Agent or Firm

Smart; John A.

International Class

G06F 017/60

Abstract

An electronic Personal Information Manager (PIM) including a calendar/scheduling system with an EarthTime™ module is described. In operation, the system tracks different types of times: "local" time, "home" time, and "remote" time. Home time is the time zone of where the user typically spends most of his or her time; this is usually the time zone for the user's home office. Local time is the time for the locality where the user is located physically at any particular instance in time. "Remote" time represents the time zones of the other individuals (i.e., other than the user). The system may show events and appointments in the user's own "local" time (or other user-selected type of time), regardless of where the user is presently located. Using these three types of time (i.e., "local" time, "home" time, and "remote" time), the system provides improved interface and methods for scheduling and managing activities, such a phone conference, across multiple time zones.

Other References

Earth Time: A global clock for Windows (Earth Time User Guide), Datech Network Systems, Inc., 1993, pp. i-iii, 1-46. (textbook)
Lowerre, D.T., Map Projections in C++, C/C++ Users Journal, Jun. 1995, pp. 45-5