Patent ID: 8788309
Filing Date: 2014-07-22
Classification: G06Q

Abstract:
1. A method comprising: receiving, via a computing device, a plurality of calendar event parameters of a proposed calendar event from a user, wherein the plurality of calendar event parameters are one or more selected from a group comprising: an identity of each of one or more meeting invitees, locations of each of the one or more meeting invitees, a location of the proposed calendar event, travel required for each of the one or more meeting invitees to attend the proposed calendar event, a proposed time of the proposed calendar event, and whether the proposed calendar event is an in person event or a teleconference event; analyzing a calendar event schedule for an invitee of the one or more meeting invitees; determining, via the computing device, a cost metric associated with each of the one or more selected plurality of calendar event parameters of the proposed calendar event, wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes: an attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees including a lost opportunity cost resulting from an unavailability of the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees to perform other tasks, and wherein the attendance cost per invitee of the one or more meeting invitees varies for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a ranking in an organizational hierarchy for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees and an experience level for each invitee of the one or more meeting invitees, and wherein the cost metric associated with each of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters includes applying an objective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters and applying a subjective monetarily defined cost to the one or more of the selected plurality of calendar event parameters; analyzing the calendar event schedule for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees based upon a proximity of the calendar event schedule to an existing calendar event, wherein said proximity is selected from a group comprising of at least: a geographic proximity and a proximity in time; determining, via the computing device, a calendar event cost projection based upon, at least in part, the cost metric associated with each of the plurality of the calendar event parameters and when the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees has an existing calendar event scheduled proximate to the proposed calendar event, determining an add-on cost projection associated with scheduling the proposed calendar event adjacent to the existing calendar event, wherein a portion of the calendar event cost projection and the add-on cost projection for the invitee of the one or more meeting invitees is divided between the existing calendar event and the proposed calendar event; comparing, via the computing device, the calendar event cost projection to a calendar event budget, and in response to the comparing: providing, via the computing device, a warning when the calendar event cost projection exceeds the calendar event budget, and providing a recommendation to reduce the calendar event cost projection, wherein the recommendation includes implementing one or more options to change at least one of the plurality of calendar event parameters, the one or more options selected from a group comprising: a first option to remove at least one of the one or more meeting invitees, a second option to change the location of the proposed calendar event, and a third option to conduct a teleconference for the proposed calendar event; and scheduling, via the computing device, the proposed calendar event based upon, at least in part, implementing the selected one or more options reducing the calendar event cost projection from the user.