Patent ID: 8296310

Claim:
A method for managing time-related data with a unified timeline, comprising: (a) retrieving a first entity record from a first plurality of entity records such that the retrieved first entity record has a valid time period that includes a particular time, wherein respective entity records in the first plurality of entity records are of a first data type and have an associated valid time period; (b) retrieving a second entity record from a second plurality of entity records such that the retrieved second entity record has a valid time period that includes the particular time, wherein respective entity records in the second plurality of entity records are of a second data type and have an associated valid time period, the second data type being different from the first data type; (c) displaying a first data group view such that the first data group view includes data from the retrieved first entity record; (d) displaying a second data group view such that second data group view includes data from the retrieved second entity record; (e) receiving an input from a user to alter the particular time; in response to receipt of the input: (f) retrieving a third entity record from the first plurality of entity records such that the retrieved third entity record has a valid time period that includes the altered particular time; (g) retrieving a fourth entity record from the second plurality of entity records such that the retrieved fourth entity record has a valid time period that includes the altered particular time; (h) altering the first data group view to display data from the retrieved third entity record; and (i) altering the second data group view to display data from the retrieved fourth entity record.