Patent Publication Number: US-2006007785-A1

Title: Method and system for displaying appointments

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION  
      1. Field of the Invention  
      This invention relates in general to methods and systems for mobile communication devices in vehicles and more particularly, for alerting users of such devices.  
      2. Description of the Related Art  
      In recent years, electronic devices, such as cellular telephones and personal digital assistants, have become commonplace. Many of these electronic devices incorporate graphical user interfaces (GUIs) and can perform a variety of tasks and can execute numerous applications. Some of the applications enable users of these devices to manage scheduling and other related tasks. The application programs, for example, can include calendar and scheduling programs, which can permit a user to enter appointments into the electronic device for a later reminder. Most electronic devices include real-time clocks that provide time and date information. The real-time clocks are useful for providing current date and time information to these calendar and scheduling programs.  
      Checking for appointments that have been entered into electronic devices having such programs, however, can be tedious. For example, a user typically has to scroll through user interface menus and submenus and multiple screen displays every time they need to view his or her appointments and task deadlines in the calendar. A person endeavoring to complete work before a deadline often repeatedly has to access the user interface menus and submenus to keep track of tasks and appointments. Unfortunately, this process consumes precious time during time-critical events, as well as imposes significant inconvenience to users.  
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION  
      The present invention concerns a method for displaying appointments. The method includes the steps of—in an electronic device—displaying an analog clock face that is divisible into a plurality of time regions in which the plurality of time regions includes at least a portion of an ante meridiem section and a post meridiem section, associating a time region with an appointment, and marking the time region, including at least the portion of the ante meridiem section or the post meridiem section, to indicate visually that the appointment is associated with the time region. The method can also include the step of assigning an icon to the time region to indicate the type of appointment associated with the time region.  
      In one arrangement, the marking the time region step can include the steps of bounding the time region with at least a first segment and a second segment in which the first segment borders the temporal beginning of the time region and the second segment borders the temporal end of the time region and shading at least a portion of the time region between the first segment and the second segment. The shaded portion of the time region can include the portion of at least one of the ante meridiem section and the post meridiem section. The first segment, the second segment and the shaded portion can all be comprised of the same color.  
      In another arrangement, the method can further include the steps of associating a subsequent time region with a subsequent appointment and marking the subsequent time region, including the portion of the ante meridiem section or the post meridiem section, to indicate visually that the subsequent appointment is associated with the subsequent time region. As an example, the first segment, the second segment and the shaded portion of the subsequent time region can all be comprised of a color that is different from the color of the first segment, the second segment and the shaded portion of any other time regions.  
      As another example, the time regions can be minute regions or hour regions. The method can also include the step of demarking the time region once the time region expires. The method can further include the steps of entering information associated with the appointment into the electronic device and selecting the time region that is associated with the appointment to access information associated with the appointment.  
      In yet another embodiment, the analog clock face can have a series of numbers that are positioned along an edge of the analog clock face. In addition, the method can include the step of shifting towards the numbers the ante meridiem section or the post meridiem section based on the current time. The method can also include the steps of assigning a description to the time region, determining whether the time region is an upcoming time region, and displaying the description of the time region if the time region is an upcoming region.  
      The present invention also concerns a system for displaying appointments. The electronic device includes a user interface section and a processor coupled to the user interface section. The user interface section has at least a display for displaying an analog clock face that is divisible into a plurality of time regions. The plurality of time regions includes at least a portion of an ante meridiem section and a post meridiem section. The processor can be programmed to associate a time region with an appointment and to mark the time region, including at least the portion of the ante meridiem section or the post meridiem section, to indicate visually that the appointment is associated with the time region. The system can also include suitable software and/or circuitry to carry out the processes described above.  
      The present invention also concerns a machine readable storage having stored thereon a computer program having a plurality of code sections executable by a computing device. The code sections cause the computing device to perform the steps of displaying an analog clock face that is divisible into a plurality of time regions in which the plurality of time regions includes at least a portion of an ante meridiem section and a post meridiem section, associating a time region with an appointment and marking the time region, including at least the portion of the ante meridiem section or the post meridiem section, to indicate visually that the appointment is associated with the time region.  
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS  
      The features of the present invention, which are believed to be novel, are set forth with particularity in the appended claims. The invention, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in the several figures of which like reference numerals identify like elements, and in which:  
       FIG. 1  illustrates a system for displaying appointments in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements;  
       FIG. 2  illustrates a portion of a method for displaying appointments in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements;  
       FIG. 3  illustrates another portion of the method of  FIG. 2  for displaying appointments in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements; and  
       FIG. 4  illustrates an example of an analog clock face in accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements. 
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION  
      While the specification concludes with claims defining the features of the invention that are regarded as novel, it is believed that the invention will be better understood from a consideration of the following description in conjunction with the drawing figures, in which like reference numerals are carried forward.  
      As required, detailed embodiments of the present invention are disclosed herein; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the invention, which can be embodied in various forms. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a basis for the claims and as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention in virtually any appropriately detailed structure. Further, the terms and phrases used herein are not intended to be limiting but rather to provide an understandable description of the invention.  
      The terms a or an, as used herein, are defined as one or more than one. The term plurality, as used herein, is defined as two or more than two. The term another, as used herein, is defined as at least a second or more. The terms including and/or having, as used herein, are defined as comprising (i.e., open language). The term coupled, as used herein, is defined as connected, although not necessarily directly, and not necessarily mechanically. The terms program, software application, and the like as used herein, are defined as a sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system. A program, computer program, or software application may include a subroutine, a function, a procedure, an object method, an object implementation, an executable application, an applet, a servlet, a source code, an object code, a shared library/dynamic load library and/or other sequence of instructions designed for execution on a computer system.  
      This invention presents a method and system for displaying appointments. In one arrangement, an analog clock face can be displayed on a display of an electronic device. This analog clock face can be divisible into a plurality of time regions, which can include an ante meridiem (AM) section and a post meridiem (PM) section. An appointment can be associated with a time region, and the time region can be marked or hi-lighted to indicate visually that the appointment is associated with the time region. To help a user distinguish between AM and PM time regions, the appropriate AM section or PM section can be marked or hi-lighted, too.  
      Referring to  FIG. 1 , a system  100  for displaying appointments is shown. The system  100  can be part of an electronic device  110 , which can also be referred to as a computing device. Although examples will be presented in which the electronic device  110  is a mobile telecommunications unit (such as a cellular telephone, two way radio or personal digital assistant), it is understood that the invention is not so limited. Other devices can serve as the electronic device  110 , including—but not limited to—desktop computers and laptop computers.  
      In one arrangement, the system  100  can include a processor  112 , a transceiver section  114 , a user interface section  116 , a synchronization section  118  and a memory block  120 . The processor  112  can be loaded with a plurality of code sections that cause the processor  112  to perform steps in accordance with the inventive arrangements, which will be explained below.  
      The transceiver section  114  can include a transmitter  122 , a receiver  124 , a transmitter/receiver (TX/RX) switch  126  and an antenna  128 . The transmitter  122  and the receiver  124  can be coupled to both the processor  112  and the TX/RX switch  126 . The TX/RX switch  126  can also be coupled to the antenna  128 . As is known in the art, the transmitter  122 , the receiver  124 , the TX/RX switch  126  and the antenna  128  can permit the electronic device  110  to transmit and receive wireless communications signals. It is understood, however, that the transceiver section  114  is optional, and it is not required to practice the inventive arrangements.  
      In one embodiment, the user interface section  116  can include a keypad  130 , a keypad interface  132 , a display  134 , a display driver  136 , a speaker  138 , an audio driver  140  and a microphone  142 . The user interface section  116  can include other suitable peripherals, too. The keypad interface  132 , the display driver  136 , the audio driver  140  and the microphone  142  can all be coupled to the processor  112 . The keypad  130  can be used to enter information into the electronic device  110 . Specifically, the keypad interface  132  can receive input from the keypad  130  and can transfer this input information to the processor  112  for further processing.  
      The display  134  can be used to display any suitable type of data, which can be received from the display driver  136 . In one arrangement and as is known in the art, the display  134  can be designed to permit a user to input information into the electronic device  110 , such as where the display  134  is a touch screen display. This input information can be transferred to the processor  112  through the display driver  136 . Audio can be broadcast from the electronic device  110  through the audio driver  140  and the speaker  138  and can be received at the microphone  142 .  
      As is known in the art, the memory block  120  can store instructions that the processor  112  executes for operation. In one arrangement, the memory block  120  can store an appointment application  121 . In addition, the synchronizing section  118  can include a wireless interface  144  and a port  146 , both of which can be coupled to the processor  112 . As an example, the wireless interface  144  can include suitable software and circuitry for enabling the electronic device  110  to wirelessly communicate with other electronic devices through any suitable low power, short distance wireless communications interface solution. Examples include Bluetooth and Wireless Fidelity. The port  146  can receive any suitable connector to permit the electronic device  110  to communicate with another electronic device. In either arrangement, data can be transferred between the electronic device  110  and another unit. This feature can permit applications stored in the electronic device  110 , such as the appointment application  121 , to be synchronized from external sources or applications.  
      In operation, a user can enter information into the electronic device  110  through the user interface section  116 . For example, the user can enter information through the keypad  132 , the display  134  or even the microphone  142 , if the electronic device  110  contains suitable voice recognition software and circuitry. As another example, the user can input the information from another electronic device through the synchronization section  118 . In one arrangement, the input information can concern a scheduled appointment or some other important reminder. Once it receives the input information, the processor  112  can update or synchronize the appointment application  121  stored in the memory block  120 .  
      Additionally, the processor  112 , through the display driver  136 , can cause an analog clock face (not shown in  FIG. 1 ) to be displayed on the display  134 . In accordance with the inventive arrangements, the time at which these appointments are to occur can be displayed on the analog clock face. In one particular arrangement, the analog clock face can be designed to indicate whether the appointment occurs in the AM or PM, as will be explained below. It must be noted that the invention is not limited to the system  100  shown in  FIG. 1 , as the invention can be practiced in other suitable systems or devices.  
      Referring to  FIGS. 2 and 3 , a method  200  for displaying appointments is shown. In addition, referring to  FIG. 4 , an example of an analog clock face  300  being displayed on the display  134  is illustrated. In describing the method  200 , reference will be made to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , although the method  200  can be practiced in other suitable systems, and the invention is not limited to the particular analog clock face design shown in  FIG. 4 . Moreover, the method  200  is not limited to the particular order in which the steps are shown in FIGS.  2  or  3 , and the inventive method can be practiced with additional steps or by skipping any of the steps that are shown.  
      At step  210 , the method  200  can begin. At step  212 , in an electronic device, an analog clock face that is divisible into a plurality of time regions can be displayed. The plurality of time regions can include at least a portion of an ante meridiem (AM) section and a post meridiem (PM) section. At step  214 , information associated with one or more appointments can be entered into the electronic device. One or more of the time regions can be associated with the appointment(s), as shown at step  216 . At step  218 , a description can be assigned to the time region, and an icon can be assigned to the time region to indicate the type of appointment associated with the time region, as shown at step  220 .  
      For example, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the processor  112  can signal the display driver  136  to cause an analog clock face  300  to be displayed on the display  134 . This analog clock face  300  can represent an image of a traditional analog clock, although the analog clock face  300  can incorporate any other suitable design. This analog clock face  300  can be used to indicate to a user of the electronic device  110  the current time. In accordance with an embodiment of the inventive arrangements, the analog clock face  300  can—also be used to indicate to the user when scheduled appointments are due to occur and their duration.  
      In one arrangement, a series of numbers  310  can be positioned along an edge  312  of the analog clock face  300 . To provide the current time, the analog clock face  300  can include a minute hand  314  and an hour hand  316 , which can correspond to the configuration of conventional analog clocks. As an example, the analog clock face  300  of  FIG. 4  reflects a time of roughly 2:00 pm. A feature for distinguishing when the current time is in PM or AM will be explained below.  
      In one arrangement, the analog clock face  300  can be divisible into a plurality of time regions  318 . A time region  318  can be any suitable amount or block of time, such as a one-half hour or one hour block of time. As an example, these time regions  318  can be used to designate when an appointment is scheduled as well as its duration. Although the time regions  318  to be discussed here are shown as minute regions (e.g., one-half four) and hour regions (one hour), it is understood that the time regions  318  can include other suitable time blocks, including second blocks or day-long or week-long blocks.  
      In one particular arrangement, the time regions  318  can include at least a portion of an AM section  320  and a PM section  322 . The AM section  320  and the PM section  322  can give an indication as to which part of the day an appointment is scheduled, such as in the morning or at night. Although the AM section  320  and the PM section  322  are shown as a pair of concentric circles, it is understood that many other suitable methods to indicate to a user of the electronic device  110  which part of the day an appointment occurs can be implemented into the analog clock face  300 .  
      Several examples of displaying appointments will now be presented. If a user has an appointment that is scheduled to start at 4:00 pm on a particular day and to end one hour later at 5:00 pm, the user can enter this information into the electronic device  110 . Specifically, the user can enter appointment information into the electronic device  110  through any suitable component of the user interface section  116 , such as the keypad  130 , the display  134  and the microphone  142 . Appointment information can include the start time, the duration (or end time), the location and any participants. For further appointment information, the user can select from any suitable menu a short description of the appointment and/or an icon that represents the general nature of the appointment. Additionally, the appointment information can be received from another electronic device, such as a desktop computer. As mentioned earlier, this appointment information can be received at the synchronization section  118 .  
      Of course, the invention is not limited to these examples, as other types of information or data can be considered appointment information and any other suitable way to enter the information can be performed. For purposes of the invention, the term appointment can include any scheduled meeting or conference or any reminder for an individual. Without limitation, suitable examples include medical or dental appointments, office meetings, scheduled automobile maintenance or social events.  
      Once this information is entered into the electronic device  110 , the processor  112  can transfer the information to be stored in the memory block  120 . In one arrangement, on the day that an appointment is scheduled to be held, for example, the processor  120 —using the appointment application  121 —can associate a time region  318  with the appointment. The processor  112  can then instruct the display driver  136  to cause the time region  318  associated with the appointment to be displayed. Depending on the time of day for which the appointment is scheduled, the AM section  320  or the PM section  322  can also be displayed. For example, for the appointment scheduled from 4:00 to 5:00 pm, a time region  318 , including a portion of the PM section  322 , can be displayed in which the time region  318  corresponds to the appropriate numbers  310  on the analog clock face  300 . In this manner, the user can determine that the appointment is scheduled to occur from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, instead of from 4:00 am to 5:00 am.  
      As shown in  FIG. 4 , another exemplary appointment can be scheduled from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm, with the appropriate time region  318  and portion of the PM section  322  being displayed. Yet another exemplary appointment can be scheduled from 8:00 am to 9:00 am. As the user is aware of the current time, 2:00 pm in this case, the user can realize that the appointment is scheduled for the next morning.  
      If the user has selected an icon and/or a description, the processor  112  can assign the icon or the description to the relevant time region  318 , each of which can indicate the type of appointment associated with the time region  318 . As an example, the appointment scheduled from 4:00 to 5:00 pm can be a dental appointment, and an icon  324  representing a tooth can be displayed in the appropriate time region  318  or at any other suitable location of the display  134 . Additionally, a short description  326  of the appointment can be displayed in a description block  328  or any other suitable location of the display  134 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that the icon  324  and the short description  326  can take any form that suitably corresponds to the type of appointment scheduled for the relevant time region  318 . In addition, other forms of identifying the type of appointment for a particular time region  318 , other than icons or short descriptions, can be employed in the invention. Additional steps concerning the display of the description  326  will be presented later.  
      Referring back to the method  200  of  FIG. 2 , at step  222 , the time region, including at least the portion of the AM section and the PM section, can be marked to indicate visually that the appointment is associated with the time region. As an example, at option step  224 , the time region can be bounded with at least a first segment and a second segment. The first segment can border the temporal beginning of the time region, and the second segment can border the temporal end of the time region. Continuing with the example, referring to  FIG. 3 , at option step  226  (through jump circle A), at least a portion of the time region between the first segment and the second segment can be shaded. This shaded portion of the time region can include at least a portion of the AM section and the PM section.  
      For example, referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the time regions  318  can be bounded with a first segment  330  and a second segment  332 . The first segment  330  can indicate when the appointment associated with the time region  318  is scheduled to begin. The second segment  332  can indicate when the appointment is scheduled to end. In addition, the portion of the time region  318  in between the first segment  330  and the second segment  332 , including at least a portion of the AM section  320  or the PM section  322 , can be shaded. This portion of the time region  318  can be referred to as a shaded portion  334 .  
      There are various ways to shade the time region  318 , including for both color and monochrome displays. For example, the appointment associated with the time region  318  that runs from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm can be shaded with diagonal lines or any other suitable pattern. If the display  134  is a color display, then the first segment  330 , the second segment  332  and the shading portion  334 —in this case, the diagonal lines—can all be of the same color, for example.  
      This shading process can help a user quickly locate scheduled appointments on the analog clock face  300 . Although the portion of the time region  318  that is bounded and shaded (i.e., marked) is equal to the relevant AM section  320  or PM section  322 , as shown in  FIG. 4 , it is understood that the area of the time region  318  may extend beyond the relevant AM section  320  or PM section  322 . This extended portion of the time region  318  may also be marked in accordance with the inventive arrangements.  
      It is understood that the invention is in no way limited to the shading example described above, as any other suitable process can be employed to mark the time regions  318  and the AM sections  320  and PM sections  322 . In fact, the step of shading is completely optional and can be skipped altogether. For purposes of the invention, the term marking can mean any step, process or act that enables a user to distinguish a particular time region  318  from any other time region  318  or any other portion of the analog clock face  300  or any other portion of the display  134 . The term shading can mean any process used to emphasize or accentuate the area of the time region  318  between the first segment  330  and the second segment  332 .  
      Referring back to  FIG. 3 , at step  228 , a subsequent time region can be associated with a subsequent appointment. At step  230 , the subsequent time region, including at least a portion of the AM section or the PM section, can be marked to indicate visually that the subsequent appointment is associated with the subsequent time region. In one arrangement, the first segment, the second segment and the shaded portion of the subsequent time region can all be comprised of a color that is different from the color of the first segment, the second segment and the shaded portion of any other time regions.  
      Once again referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , a user may enter information about another, i.e., subsequent, appointment into the electronic device  110 . A subsequent appointment can be the most recent appointment entered into the electronic device  110 . As an example, in accordance with the above description, a time region  318 , including a portion of the PM section  322 , can be generated and displayed in accordance with the above description in which the time region  318  corresponds to the time period from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm. The color for the first segment  330 , the second segment  332  and the shaded portion  334  of this time period  318  can have a color that is different from the first segment  330 , the second segment  332  and the shaded portion  334  of any other time region  318 .  
      In addition, any pattern that is used to complete the shaded portion  334  of the subsequent time region  318  can be different from any other time region  318 . Examples are shown in  FIG. 4  in which the shaded portion  334  of the time regions  318  from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm, from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm and from 8:00 am to 9:00 am each have different patterns. The above processes, while optional, can help a user better distinguish between different appointments that are reflected on the analog clock face  300 .  
      As noted earlier, a description  326  of an appointment can be displayed on the display  134 . Certain criteria can be considered in deciding when to display a description  326 . Referring back to  FIG. 3 , at decision block  232 , it can be determined whether the time region is an upcoming region. If it is not, the method  200  can resume at step  236 . If it is, at step  234 , the description of the time region can be displayed.  
      For example, referring to  FIGS. 1 and 4  again, in this example, the current time as displayed on the analog clock face  300  is about 2:00 pm. The appointment that is the next scheduled appointment is the dental appointment that is associated with the time region  318  that runs from 4:00 pm to 5:00 pm. This time region  318  can be referred to as an upcoming time region, or a time region  318  that is the next scheduled time region  318  based on the current time displayed by the analog clock face  300 . As such, the description  326  that is assigned to the upcoming time region  318  can be displayed in the description block  328  or any other suitable location of the display  134 .  
      Once the current time passes the upcoming time region  318 , the next time region  318  can be designated as the upcoming time region  318 . Thus, the description  326  for the new upcoming time region  318  can be displayed in the description block  328 . For example, if the current time, as shown on the analog clock face  300 , moves past 5:00 pm, the time region  318  that runs from 7:00 pm to 7:30 pm can be considered the upcoming time region  318 . The description  326  relating to this appointment can be displayed in the description block  328 . Of course, the invention is not so limited, as the description  326  or any other suitable information associated with any suitable number of time regions  318  can be displayed at other suitable times and locations on the display.  
      Referring back to  FIG. 3 , at step  236 , the time region that is associated with the appointment can be selected to access the information that is associated with the appointment. At step  238 , either the AM section or the PM section can be shifted towards the numbers, and this shift can be based on the current time. Moreover, once the time region expires, the time region can be demarked. Finally, the method  200  can end at step  242 .  
      For example, referring back to  FIGS. 1 and 4 , the user can select any one of the time regions  318  to obtain information concerning the appointment that is associated with the selected time region  318 . Those of skill in the art will appreciate that any suitable method can be used to allow a user to select the desired time region  318 . Suitable examples include pressing one or more keys on the keypad  130 , touching the position on the display  134  where the time region  318  sits or using some other suitable user interface. Once selected, the processor  112  can cause any information associated with the appointment to be displayed on the display  134 , such as the location, the participants, the subject matter, etc. In another arrangement, all or a portion of this information can be continuously displayed on the display  134 , if so desired, which can eliminate the need to access the information.  
      As mentioned above, the AM section or the PM section can be shifted based on the current time. For example, if the current time, as reflected on the analog clock face  300 , is at or after noon but before midnight, the PM section  322  can be positioned on the outside of the AM section  320 . That is, the PM section  322  can be positioned closer to the numbers  310  on the edge  312  of the analog clock face  300 , a scenario that is pictured in  FIG. 4 . When the current time reaches or moves past midnight, the processor  112  can signal the display driver  136  to cause the AM section  320  and the PM section  322  to be shifted on the display  134  such that the AM section  320  is positioned outside the PM section  322 . As a result, the AM section  320 , during the time from midnight until noon, can be positioned closer to the numbers  310 . When the current time reaches midnight again, the processor  112  can cause the PM section  322  and the AM section  320  to once again be shifted such that the PM section  322  is outside the AM section  320  on the display  134 .  
      This process can keep the marked time sections  318  closer to the numbers  310  during the twelve hour shift when the appointment is supposed to occur. Thus, a user can better determine when an appointment is supposed to begin and end. Also, the shifting feature can permit a user to ascertain in which part of the day, AM or PM, the current time is situated. This step may be useful to a user who is groggy or in a building that keeps the user out of contact with the outside environment.  
      As also noted above, once a time region  318  expires, that time region  318  can be demarked. For example, once the current time moves past the scheduled end time of an appointment that is associated with a particular time region  318 , the processor  112  can cause the marking that was added to the time region  318  to be removed by signaling the display driver  136 . That is, any combination of the first segment  330 , the second segment  332  or the shaded portion  334  can be removed from the display  134 . Alternatively, the processor  112  can cause the color of the first segment  330 , the second segment  332  or the shaded portion  334  to be changed. As another example, the processor  112  can cause a symbol to be displayed over or near the time region  318 , such as an “X,” to indicate that the appointment has expired. In fact, the term demarking can mean any process taken to indicate to a user that the time region  318  has expired, i.e., that the scheduled time for the appointment has passed.  
      While the preferred embodiments of the invention have been illustrated and described, it will be clear that the invention is not so limited. Numerous modifications, changes, variations, substitutions and equivalents will occur to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention as defined by the appended claims.