Patent ID: 8073725
Filing Date: 2011-12-06
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. An appointment scheduling method comprising representing an appointment as an actionable data collection said method further comprising: generating user interactive abstract representations of available timeslots using a computer; distributing a set of invitations to schedule appointments; wherein said actionable data collection comprises a set of data members and interacting with said set of data members; utilizing said actionable data collections to encapsulate said invitations to schedule appointments, wherein said invitations are non-selectively distributed; utilizing said actionable data collections to configure complex scheduling systems; utilizing in a computer said actionable data collections to encapsulate said set of invitations to schedule appointments, wherein said encapsulation comprises initiating scheduling an appointment, wherein said scheduling an appointment is contained within a set of selectively distributed invitations to schedule appointments; wherein said generating abstract representations of available timeslots comprises: allowing users to select units of time for availability to select appointments; ensuring that a set of appointment time availability slots are not generated in instances wherein said appointment time availability slots extend beyond of user defined fixed invitation acceptance times and in instances wherein said appointment time availability slots extend beyond recurring user defined appointment time availability slots; ensuring that a set of subsequently generated appointment time availability slots are not generated beyond a user selected recurrence end period; allowing for a contingency that said set of generated appointment time availability slots are not generated when prior commitments of the inviter conflict with said units of time for availability to select appointments; ensuring that said set of generated appointment time availability slots are not generated for the current day; ensuring that said set of generated appointment time availability slots are not generated beyond a selected number of time units into the future; and ensuring that only a maximum number of generated appointment time availability slots are generated for a given unit of time.