Source: http://www.google.com/patents/US6704606?ie=ISO-8859-1&dq=6,034,652
Timestamp: 2014-03-11 19:02:59
Document Index: 258601227

Matched Legal Cases: ['Application No. 10', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 11', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 13', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 13', 'art 12', 'art 12', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 14', 'art 12']

Patent US6704606 - Data entry apparatus for information device - Google PatentsSearch Images Maps Play YouTube News Gmail Drive More »Sign inAdvanced Patent SearchPatentsTo accomplish an easier date entry operation, a date entry system is provided to enter a date including a month and a day into an information device. The system basically comprises a date acquiring element for acquiring a current date and a date specifying element for specifying the date including the...http://www.google.com/patents/US6704606?utm_source=gb-gplus-sharePatent US6704606 - Data entry apparatus for information deviceAdvanced Patent SearchPublication numberUS6704606 B2Publication typeGrantApplication numberUS 10/373,028Publication dateMar 9, 2004Filing dateFeb 26, 2003Priority dateJun 26, 1998Fee statusLapsedAlso published asUS6553267, US20030139822Publication number10373028, 373028, US 6704606 B2, US 6704606B2, US-B2-6704606, US6704606 B2, US6704606B2InventorsMasakazu WatariOriginal AssigneeFujitsu LimitedExport CitationBiBTeX, EndNote, RefManPatent Citations (12), Non-Patent Citations (1), Referenced by (2), Classifications (11), Legal Events (4) External Links: USPTO, USPTO Assignment, EspacenetData entry apparatus for information deviceUS 6704606 B2Abstract To accomplish an easier date entry operation, a date entry system is provided to enter a date including a month and a day into an information device. The system basically comprises a date acquiring element for acquiring a current date and a date specifying element for specifying the date including the month and the day on the basis of data indicative of the day entered and the current date acquired. Preferably, the system further comprises a member storing a parameter for specifying a range of dates into which a user is allowed to set the date, and a date-range deciding element for deciding the range of dates on the parameter under the acquired current date being set as a reference day, wherein the date specifying element is configured so as to specify the date including the month and the day based on a date residing within the range of dates decided. For example, the date specifying element is configured to input the specified date into a program executed by the information device. Also a computer-readable medium into which a program providing the above functions is recorded is available.
What is claimed is: 1. A date entry apparatus for inputting a date into an information device, the apparatus comprising:
a date acquiring device acquiring a current date; and a date specifying device specifying a date including a month and a day based on data indicative of only a day entered and the current date acquired. 2. The apparatus of claim 1, further comprising
a parameter storing member storing a parameter specifying a range of dates into which a user is allowed to set a date, and a date-range deciding device deciding a range of dates of the parameter under the acquired current date being set as a reference day, wherein the date specifying device is configured so as to specify the date including the month and the day based on a date residing within the range of dates decided by the date-range deciding device. 3. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the parameter has a first parameter specifying a relative difference between a start day of the range of dates and the reference day and a second parameter specifying a length of the range of dates.
4. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein the date specifying device has a determining part determining whether or not the entered date exists within the range of dates decided by the deciding device and issuing an alarm to the user unless the entered date exists within the range of dates.
5. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the date specifying device is configured to input the specified date into a program executed by the information device.
6. A computer-readable medium into which a program is recorded which is executed by a computer connected with an input apparatus to which data indicative of a day are entered by a user, the program providing the functions of:
acquiring a current date; and specifying the date including a month and a day based on the data indicative of only the day entered and the current date acquired. 7. The medium of claim 6, wherein the program further provides the functions of:
storing a parameter in the computer specifying a relative range of dates into which the user is allowed to set the date, deciding the range of dates of the parameter under the acquired current date being set as a reference day, and specifying, as the date specifying functions, the date including the month and the day based on the date residing within the range of the dates decided. 8. The medium of claim 7, wherein the parameter has a first parameter specifying a relative difference between a start day of the range of dates and the reference day and a second parameter specifying a length of the range of dates.
9. The medium of claim 7, wherein the date specifying function includes determining whether or not the date including day indicated by the data entered exists within the range of dates decided and issuing an alarm to the user unless the date exists within the range of dates.
10. A method of entering data indicative of a day, the method comprising:
acquiring a current date; and specifying a date including a month and a day based on data indicative of only the day entered by an input unit and the current date acquired. 11. The method of claim 10, further comprising:
storing a parameter in the computer specifying a relative range of dates into which the user is allowed to set the date; deciding the range of dates of the parameter under the acquired current date being set as a reference day; and specifying the date including the month and the day based on a date residing within the range of dates decided. 12. The method of claim 11, wherein the parameter has a first parameter specifying a relative difference between a start day of the range of dates and the reference day and a second parameter specifying a length of the range of dates.
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a Divisional Application of application Ser. No. 09/288,218, filed Apr. 8, 1999, now U.S. Pat. No. 6,553,267 now allowed.
This application claims the benefit of Japanese Application No. 10-179851, filed Jun. 26, 1998, in the Japanese Intellectual Property Office, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.
The present invention relates to a date entry system with which users can easily enter dates into an information device and also relates to a computer-readable medium storing program data which enables such date entry.
For making it easier for a user to enter dates, a conventional PIM program is provided with a graphical user interface which will be described below with reference to FIG. 1. When a �new entry� is selected by a user, a calendar screen for each month is displayed, as shown in FIG. 1., where the user uses a pointing device to point at any day on the calendar. Thus the device can recognize that the month (or week) displayed and the day pointed thereon have been entered.
In such date entry method, if a desired date to be entered exists in a month (or week) to which the current date belongs, the date entry operation becomes relatively easier. By contrast, unless a desired date to be entered exists in a month (or week) to which the current date belongs, a user should make the displayed calendar scroll until it becomes a month (or week) where the desired date exists, and point at the desired date on the scrolled calendar screen at last. In FIG. 1, for example, assume that a month to which the current date belongs is May and a desired date to be entered is June 1. A user is obliged to operate a pointing device to point at a �next month� button with a click, thereby the screen being changed to a June calendar. The user is required to point at the desired date on this screen for the first time. Users are terribly burdened with such scrolling operation for managing their schedules.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to solve the problem in the conventional date entry method, i.e., to provide a date entry system capable of easily entering a desired date without operation to scroll the screens.
As shown in FIG. 2, the present invention provides, as one aspect, a date entry system for entering a date into an information device. The system basically comprises date acquiring means 23 for acquiring a current date, and date specifying means 24 for specifying the date including a month and a day on the basis of data indicative of the day entered and the current date acquired.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Referring to FIGS. 3 to 5, an embodiment of the present invention will now be described. In the following explanation, the term �date� is defined as a �month and day,� the term �month� as simply a �month,� and the �day� as simply a �day.� Alternatively, it is possible to define those terms into another way, such as the �date� as an �year, month and day,� and the �month� as an �year and month.�
The input apparatus 4 consists of a keyboard or pointing device, such as a mouse or touch panel, which is arranged on a not-shown casing of the information device. The input apparatus 4 is operated by users to provide desired data for the CPU 2. Thus, using this input apparatus 4 permits users to entry information about a �day� for specifying objective dates to be entered.
The ROM 3 constitutes a computer-readable medium that stores an OS (operating system) including a date-entry control program and application programs such as a PIM program 15. By the CPU 2, the date-entry control program is developed on the RAM 1 and executed.
The parameter storing part 12 is a working area where an �entry range origin� and an �entry range�, which are pre-entered by an user, are stored. The �entry range origin� is a parameter indicative of a difference between the origin of a range of dates into which date entry is allowed and a current date (reference day). That is, this parameter composes a first parameter for specifying a relative difference between the origin of a range of dates for which the date entry is allowed and a reference day. For example, when the �entry range origin�=+3 is achieved, it means that possible dates to be entered starts three-days after from a current date and follows it. If the �entry range origin�=0, it means that possible dates to be entered are a current date or after. Further, if the �entry range origin�=−3, possible dates to be entered start three-days before to a current date and follows it. On one hand, the �entry range� is a parameter representing a relative range of dates for which the date entry is allowed, based on the �entry range origin� taken as an origin. This parameter constitutes a second parameter for specifying the length of a range of dates for which the date entry is allowed. For example, the �entry range�=30 means that possible dates to be entered are only 30 days from a date expressed by the �entry range origin.� By way of example, it is preferred that both the �entry range origin� and the �entry range� be customized by users using an editing program not-shown. It is also possible that the parameter storing part 12 be configured by one or more dedicated memories placed outside the RAM 1.
The entry-date-range calculating part 13, which functions as date range deciding means, calculates an absolute range of dates (hereinafter, referred to as �entry date range�) for which the date entry is allowed, on the basis of the current date provided from the clock part 11 and the �entry range origin� and the �entry range� stored in the parameter storing part 12. The entry-date-range calculating part 13 notifies the date entry part 14 of the entry date range calculated.
The date entry part 14, which acts as date specifying means, determines if or not a corresponding date including a �day� entered via the input apparatus 4 exists within an entry date range notified by the entry-date-range calculating part 13. If such date including the entered �day� exists, the date is interpreted, and sent to the PIM program 15. By contrast, such date does not exist, an error message is presented by the display 15.
FIGS. 4 and 5 shows flowcharts that the CPU 2 executes as date-entry-control processing with use of modules 11 to 14 processed on the RAM 1. The processing shown in FIG. 4 starts in the course of executing the PIM program 15 in response to the selection of �new entry� by a user.
At the next step S02, the CPU 2 (functioning as the entry-date-range calculating part 13) calculates an entry date range on the basis of the current date acquired at step S01 and an �entry range origin� and an �entry range� stored in the parameter storing part 12. A subroutine for this entry-date-range calculating processing, which is executed at step S02, is shown in the form of a flowchart in FIG. 5.
Throughout this subroutine, the CPU 12 is configured to function as the entry-date-range calculating part 13. Specifically, at the first step S11, the CPU 2 separates the current date acquired at step S01 into a �month� and a �day,� and substitutes the �month� into a variable as well as the �day� into another variable D.
At step S12, the CPU 2 reads the �entry range� stored in the parameter storing part 12, and substitutes the read �entry range� into another variable R.
At step S13, the CPU 2 adds the �entry range origin� stored in the parameter storing part 12 to the current date. Practically the CPU 2 not merely substitutes the value of the variable M into a variable M1 indicative of a �month� to which a start day of the entry date range belongs but also substitutes the value of the variable D to which the �entry range origin� value has been added into another variable D1 indicative of a �day� to which the start day of the entry date range belongs.
At the next step S14, the CPU 2 determines whether or not the variable D1 value calculated at step S13 has become �0� or more. In the case that the variable D1 value has been �0� or more, the CPU 2 recognizes that both the start day of the entry date range and the current date belong to the same �month�, the processing being routed to step S16.
To the contrary, if the variable D1 value is less than �0�, the CPU 2 interprets that the start day of the entry date range belongs to the last month preceding a month to which the current date belongs. Thus, at step S15, the last month is obtained, and the total number of days of the obtained month is added to the variable D1. Specifically, the CPU 2 decrements the value of the variable M1, and adds to the value of the variable D1, the total number of days of a month indicated by the decremented variable M1. In decreasing the variable M1, if the value of M1 equals �1,� a new M1 value �12� is set. After this, the processing is passed to step S16.
At the next step S17, the CPU 2 calculates the number of remaining days in the current �month,� and reduces the number of the calculated remaining days from the entry date range. To be specific, the CPU 2 calculates the variable D1 value based on the total number of days belonging to a month indicated by the variable M1, and substitutes the calculated D1, value into a variable H. Then the CPU reduces the variable H value from the variable R value, substituting the reduced result into the variable D2.
At the next step S18, the CPU 2 again determines whether or not the value of the variables D2 which underwent the calculation at step S17 has become �0� or more. If the determination is that the value has become �0� or more, the CPU 2 gains recognition that an end day of the entry date range exists in the next month succeeding a month to which its start day belongs, obtaining the next month at step S19. Specifically, the CPU 2 increments the current value of the variable M1, and substitutes the incremented result into the variable M2. The CPU 2 then goes onto step S21.
In contrast, in cases where the value of the variable D1 is less than �0�, the CPU 2 recognizes that the end day of the entry date range reside within the same month in which the start day thereof exists. Thus it adds the value of the variable D2 to the number of remaining days in the current �month� at step S20. That is, the CPU 2 substitutes a current value of the variable M1 into the variable M2, adds a current value of the variable D2 to the total number of days in a month indicated by the variable M1, and substitutes the added result into the variable D2. Alternatively, the CPU 2 may add a current value of the variable D1 to the variable R, then substitutes the added result into the variable D2. The processing executed by the CPU 2 then proceeds to step S21.
At step S03 in the main routine shown in FIG. 3, the CPU 2 (functioning as the date entry part 14) inputs data representing �date� given by a user via the input apparatus 4 in order to specify an objective date to be entered.
Then at step S04, the CPU 2 (functioning as the date entry part 14) determines whether or not a date including the �month� entered at step S03 exists within the entry date range defined by the variables M1, D1, M2 and D2. Specifically, in the case that the variable M1 is smaller in value than the variable M2, whether or not the �day� entered at step S03 exists between the variables M1 and M2. When the variable M1 is larger in value than M2, it is further determined that the �day� entered at step S03 is not less than the value of the variable M1 or not more than the value of the variable M2.
When it was determined at step S04 that the �day� entered at step S03 is not within the entry date range, the CPU 2 (functioning as the date entry part 14) issues an error message at step S05, before returning the processing to step S03 to receive another �day� newly entered by a user.
On the other hand, when it was determined at step S04 that the �day� entered at step S03 is within the entry date range, the CPU 2 (functioning as the date entry part 14) sends to the PIM program 15 the �day� entered at step S03 and a value of the variable M1 or M2 corresponding to the day, as the objective date to be entered.
The information device thus-configured in this embodiment provides an operation according to entry control, which will be below. A precondition is that values of an �entry range� and an �entry range origin� are customized according to usage and stored into the parameter storing part 12 by a user. For example, a current date is Mar. 20, 1998, and the �entry range�=30 and the �entry range origin�=0 are set. In this situation, performing the date-entry control program described in FIG. 4 allows the entry date range to be set as a range from Mar. 20, 1998 to Apr. 19, 1998 at step S02. When the user enters �10 (day)� in response to the obtained entry date range at step S03, a date of Apr. 10, 1998 is inputted into the PIM program 15 as an objective date to be entered. Likewise, if the user enters �31 (day)� as step S03, another date of Mar. 31, 1998 is inputted into the PIM program 15 as an objective date to be entered. To the contrary, an error message will be issued as step S05 when the user inputs some day which does not exist within the range (for example, Feb. 20).
Patent CitationsCited PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS4214433 *Mar 23, 1978Jul 29, 1980Casio Computer Co., Ltd.Calendar display apparatusUS5530684 *Mar 9, 1992Jun 25, 1996Sharp Kabushiki KaishaElectronic device with calendar functionUS5644722 *Jun 5, 1995Jul 1, 1997Sharp Kabushiki KaishaSchedule-managing apparatus being capable of moving or copying a schedule of a date to another dateUS5689687 *Apr 24, 1996Nov 18, 1997Sharp Kabushiki KaishaElectronic deviceUS5732399 *Jun 7, 1995Mar 24, 1998Sun Microsystems, Inc.Method and apparatus for associating calendar events with contextual information and other calendar eventsUS5734597 *Nov 24, 1995Mar 31, 1998International Business Machines CorporationGraphical user interface interaction between time and date controlsUS6236396 *Aug 31, 1993May 22, 2001Apple Computer, Inc.Method and apparatus for controlling a schedulerUS6323883Aug 28, 1996Nov 27, 2001International Business Machines Corp.Method and apparatus of displaying a calendarJPH0652169A * Title not availableJPH04100137A * Title not availableJPH11265408A Title not availableJPS55135964A * Title not available* Cited by examinerNon-Patent CitationsReference1U.S. patent application Ser. No. 09/288,218, Watari, filed Apr. 8, 1999.Referenced byCiting PatentFiling datePublication dateApplicantTitleUS7133693 *Sep 5, 2003Nov 7, 2006Fujitsu LimitedInformation processing device, schedule inputting method and program for use in information processing deviceUS7457642Jun 1, 2006Nov 25, 2008Fujitsu LimitedInformation processing device, schedule inputting method and program for use in information processing device* Cited by examinerClassifications U.S. Classification700/17, 700/14, 715/963International ClassificationG06F3/048, G05B19/042Cooperative ClassificationY10S715/963, G05B2219/23397, G05B2219/23399, G05B2219/23165, G05B19/0426European ClassificationG05B19/042PLegal EventsDateCodeEventDescriptionMay 1, 2012FPExpired due to failure to pay maintenance feeEffective date: 20120309Mar 9, 2012LAPSLapse for failure to pay maintenance feesOct 24, 2011REMIMaintenance fee reminder mailedAug 17, 2007FPAYFee paymentYear of fee payment: 4RotateOriginal ImageGoogle Home - Sitemap - USPTO Bulk Downloads - Privacy Policy - Terms of Service - About Google Patents - Send FeedbackData provided by IFI CLAIMS Patent Services©2012 Google