U.S. patent application number 12/785479 was filed with the patent office on 2010-09-16 for time based profile management on palmtop computer.
This patent application is currently assigned to PALMSOURCE, INC.. Invention is credited to Yoon Kean Wong.
Application Number | 20100235358 12/785479 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 42184350 |
Filed Date | 2010-09-16 |
United States Patent
Application |
20100235358 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wong; Yoon Kean |
September 16, 2010 |
TIME BASED PROFILE MANAGEMENT ON PALMTOP COMPUTER
Abstract
A personal information manager or other software program,
preferably residing within a palmtop computer, uses a time of day
profile to establish a default data category. When the user wishes
to enter or edit data or retrieve data, the personal information
manager or other software program inspects a real-time clock to
determine the time of day. The personal information manager or
other software program then establishes a default category based
upon the time of day profile established by the user. The user is
given the opportunity to modify the default category at any time.
In this manner, for example, the user can establish a default
business category during business times in days and a personal
category during personal times in days. This provides the advantage
of correctly categorizing data in an automated manner under most
circumstances.
Inventors: |
Wong; Yoon Kean; (Sunnyvale,
CA) |
Correspondence
Address: |
BERRY & ASSOCIATES P.C.
9229 SUNSET BOULEVARD, SUITE 630
LOS ANGELES
CA
90069
US
|
Assignee: |
PALMSOURCE, INC.
Sunnyvale
CA
|
Family ID: |
42184350 |
Appl. No.: |
12/785479 |
Filed: |
May 23, 2010 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
09663363 |
Sep 15, 2000 |
7725338 |
|
|
12785479 |
|
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Current U.S.
Class: |
707/740 ;
707/E17.005 |
Current CPC
Class: |
G06Q 10/063 20130101;
G06Q 10/109 20130101; Y10S 707/951 20130101; Y10S 707/944
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
707/740 ;
707/E17.005 |
International
Class: |
G06F 17/30 20060101
G06F017/30 |
Claims
1. A computer implemented method for a portable electronic device
for displaying, receiving or retrieving data based on clock time of
day, comprising the steps of: using a processor of a portable
electronic device to: establish a time of day profile that
correlates clock time of day information and day of week
information with a plurality of default data categories stored on a
memory of the portable electronic device, the memory coupled to the
processor, wherein at least one default data category is associated
with a block of time corresponding to two or more days of the week
and differentiates between other default data categories based on
the clock time of day and the day of the week; set a default data
category according to a first time of day profile; receive user
input from an input device indicating data is to be displayed,
received, or retrieved; determine a current clock time of day by
referencing a real-time clock; reset the default data category
according to the first time of day profile and the current clock
time of day as the current data category; and display, receive or
retrieve a data according to the current data category.
2. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
establish step comprises the step of: receive user input through a
user input device coupled to the processor.
3. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
the steps of: setting a second current data category by the user
through a user input device; and displaying, receiving or
retrieving a second data according to the second current data
category.
4. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
the step of: resetting the default data category by periodically
monitoring the clock time of day.
5. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display,
receive or retrieve steps comprises the step of: displaying only
data categorized in the current data category and suppressing from
display data categorized in any other category.
6. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
the step of: editing the data displayed, received, or
retrieved.
7. The computer implemented method of claim 1, further comprising
the step of: providing an option to change the current data
category to a selected data category; and display, receive or
retrieve a data categorized in the selected data category, wherein
any data categorized in any other category is suppressed from
display.
8. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the display,
receive or retrieve step comprises retrieving data from more than
one data category including the current data category, but
displaying only the current data category.
9. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the data
comprises one of the group: address book data, to-do list data,
notes data, email data and calendar data.
10. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the
plurality of default data categories includes a personal category
and a business category.
11. The computer implemented method of claim 1, wherein the time of
day profiles differ by application resident on the portable
electronic device.
12. A portable electronic device comprising: a programmed
processor; a real-time clock coupled to the programmed processor; a
memory coupled to the programmed processor; and an input device
coupled to the programmed processor, wherein the memory stores one
or more time of day profiles that correlate clock time of day
information and day of week information with a plurality of default
data categories, wherein at least one default data category is
associated with a block of time corresponding to two or more days
of the week and differentiates between other default data
categories based on the clock time of day and the day of the week,
and wherein the programmed processor: sets a default data category
according to a first time of day profile, receives an instruction
from the input device indicating that data is to be displayed,
received, or retrieved, determines a current clock time of day by
referencing a real-time clock; resets the default data category
according to the first time of day profile and the current clock
time of day as the current data category; and displays, receives or
retrieves a data according to the current data category.
13. The system of claim 12, wherein the programmed processor: sets
a second current data category received from the input device; and
displays, receives or retrieves a second data according to the
second current data category.
14. The system of claim 12, wherein the programmed processor
monitors the real-time clock and periodically resets the default
data category.
15. The system of claim 12, wherein the programmed processor
displays only data categorized in the current data category and
suppresses from display data categorized in any other category.
16. The system of claim 12, wherein the programmed processor
retrieves data from more than one data category including the
current data category, but displays only the current data
category.
17. The system of claim 12, wherein the data comprises one of the
group: address book data, to-do list data, notes data, email data
and calendar data.
18. An electronic storage medium containing instructions which,
when carried out on a programmed processor for a portable
electronic device, carry out the steps of: establishing a time of
day profile that correlates clock time of day information and day
of week information with a plurality of default data categories
stored on a memory of the portable electronic device, the memory
coupled to the processor, wherein at least one default data
category is associated with a block of time corresponding to two or
more days of the week and differentiates between other default data
categories based on the clock time of day and the day of the week;
setting a default data category according to a first time of day
profile; receiving user input from an input device indicating data
is to be displayed, received, or retrieved; determining a current
clock time of day by referencing a real-time clock; resetting the
default data category according to the first time of day profile
and the current clock time of day as the current data category; and
displaying, receiving or retrieving a data according to the current
data category.
19. The electronic storage medium of claim 18, wherein the
instructions further carry out the steps of: setting a second
current data category by the user through a user input device; and
displaying, receiving or retrieving a second data according to the
second current data category.
20. The electronic storage medium of claim 18, wherein the
instructions further carry out the steps of: displaying only data
categorized in the current data category and suppressing from
display data categorized in any other category.
Description
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] This application is a continuation of application Ser. No.
09/663,363, entitled "Time Based Profile Management on Palmtop
Computer", filed Sep. 15, 2000, to be issued as U.S. Pat. No.
7,725,338, and assigned to the assignee of the present application.
The subject matter in the above-identified co-pending and commonly
owned application is incorporated herein by reference.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The present invention relates to the field of management of
user profiles based on time information using a palmtop
computer.
BACKGROUND
[0003] As the components required to build a computer system have
reduced in size, new categories of computer systems have emerged.
One of the new categories of computer systems is the "palmtop"
computer system. A palmtop computer system is a computer that is
small enough to be held in the hand of a user and can be
"palm-sized." Most palmtop computer systems are used to implement
various Personal Information Management (PIM) applications such as
an address book, a daily organizer, a to-do list and an electronic
notepad, to name a few.
[0004] Palmtop computer users generally use their palmtop computers
for both business and personal use. As such, various functions
carried out by the palmtop computer (e.g. PIM functions) serve both
business and personal purposes. For example, a calendar management
program used as a daily organizer may serve to provide records of
appointments for both personal and business use. Similarly, an
address book can carry both business contacts and personal
contacts, and a to-do list can have personal tasks as well as
business tasks. The palmtop computer user can currently segregate
some of these tasks by designating a category at the time of entry,
and at the time of retrieval, selectively retrieve only certain
categories. But, the additional steps involved in categorizing
entries and data being retrieved is often too cumbersome to
encourage the user to fully utilize the palmtop computer's
categorization features. Thus, entries are often left uncategorized
and retrieval of data generally is done globally to retrieve all
entries without bothering to look only for a particular category.
As a result, the calendar viewed is typically filled with both
personal and business appointments, all entries are generally
viewed in the address book and a mixed business/personal to-do list
is generally viewed. Identifying the data of interest can thus be
encumbered with irrelevant data.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] Accordingly, what is needed is a mechanism for automating
the categorization of data and simplifying retrieval of data by a
desired category.
[0006] A personal information manager or other software program,
preferably residing within a palmtop computer, uses a time of day
profile to establish a default data category. When the user wishes
to enter or edit data or retrieve data, the personal information
manager or other software program inspects a real-time clock to
determine the time of day. The personal information manager or
other software program then establishes a default category based
upon the time of day profile established by the user. The user is
given the opportunity to modify the default category at any time.
In this manner, for example, the user can establish a default
business category during business times in days and a personal
category during personal times in days. This provides the advantage
of correctly categorizing data in an automated manner under most
circumstances.
[0007] In a computer implemented method (e.g., as in a personal
information manager, email or browser program) consistent with
embodiments of the present invention, a method of automating
categorization of data, includes: determining a time of day;
referencing a time of day profile that correlates time of day
information with data categories; and setting a default data
category based upon the time of day and the time of day
profile.
[0008] A palmtop computer, consistent with certain embodiments of
the present invention includes a programmed processor. A personal
information manager program operates on the programmed processor. A
clock provides information on a time of day. A program references a
time of day profile that correlates time of day information with
data categories. A default data category is set for the personal
information manager based upon the time of day and the time of day
profile.
[0009] In another embodiment, an electronic storage medium contains
instructions which, when carried out on a programmed processor,
carry out the steps of: determining a time of day; referencing a
time of day profile that correlates time of day information with
data categories; and setting a default data category based upon the
time of day and the time of day profile.
[0010] The above summaries are intended to illustrate exemplary
embodiments of the invention, which will be best understood in
conjunction with the detailed description to follow, and are not
intended to limit the scope of the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0011] FIG. 1 is system illustration of a palmtop computer system
connected to other computer systems and the Internet via a cradle
device.
[0012] FIG. 2A is a top side perspective view of a palmtop computer
system that can be used as a platform for data entry.
[0013] FIG. 2B is a bottom side perspective view of the palmtop
computer system of FIG. 2A.
[0014] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the components of the palmtop
computer system of FIG. 2A.
[0015] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the cradle device for
connecting the palmtop computer system to other systems via a
communication interface.
[0016] FIG. 5 is a logical block diagram of the palmtop computer
system in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0017] FIG. 6 is a flow chart of a process of utilizing time of day
profiles in accordance with an embodiment of the present
invention.
[0018] FIG. 7 is a screen image of an exemplary calendaring
function of the palmtop computer showing a business category.
[0019] FIG. 8 is a screen image of an exemplary calendaring
function of the palmtop computer showing a personal category.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0020] In the following detailed description of the present
invention, numerous specific details are set forth in order to
provide a thorough understanding of the present invention. However,
it will be recognized by one skilled in the art that the present
invention may be practiced without these specific details or with
equivalents thereof. In other instances, well known methods,
procedures, components, and circuits have not been described in
detail as not to unnecessarily obscure aspects of the present
invention.
NOTATION AND NOMENCLATURE
[0021] Some portions of the detailed descriptions which follow are
presented in terms of procedures, steps, logic blocks, processing,
and other symbolic representations of operations on data bits that
can be performed on computer memory. These descriptions and
representations are the means used by those skilled in the data
processing arts to most effectively convey the substance of their
work to others skilled in the art. A procedure, computer executed
step, logic block, process, etc., is here, and generally, conceived
to be a self-consistent sequence of steps or instructions leading
to a desired result. The steps are those requiring physical
manipulations of physical quantities.
[0022] Usually, though not necessarily, these quantities take the
form of electrical or magnetic signals capable of being stored,
transferred, combined, compared, and otherwise manipulated in a
computer system. It has proven convenient at times, principally for
reasons of common usage, to refer to these signals as bits, values,
elements, symbols, characters, terms, numbers, or the like.
[0023] It should be borne in mind, however, that all of these and
similar terms are to be associated with the appropriate physical
quantities and are merely convenient labels applied to these
quantities. Unless specifically stated otherwise as apparent from
the following discussions, it is appreciated that throughout the
present invention, discussions utilizing terms such as "processing"
or "computing" or "translating" or "calculating" or "determining"
or "scrolling" or "displaying" or "recognizing" or the like, refer
to the action and processes of a computer system, or similar
electronic computing device, that manipulates and transforms data
represented as physical (electronic) quantities within the computer
system's registers and memories into other data similarly
represented as physical quantities within the computer system
memories or registers or other such information storage,
transmission or display devices.
[0024] For purposes of this document, the term "time of day",
"time" and similar terms are intended to broadly embrace time. That
is to say that the term "time" may include clock time, day, date,
week, month, year, or any combination thereof. These terms should
not generally be strictly interpreted to mean 12 or 24 hour clock
time. Also, although the present invention is described in terms of
"business" and "personal" categorization of data, those skilled in
the art will recognize that any other appropriate category of data
can also be used, for example, volunteer, family, friends, clients,
etc. without limitation.
TIME BASED PROFILE MANAGEMENT ON PALMTOP COMPUTER IN ACCORDANCE
WITH THE PRESENT INVENTION
[0025] While this invention is susceptible of embodiment in many
different forms, there is shown in the drawings and will herein be
described in detail specific embodiments, with the understanding
that the present disclosure is to be considered as an example of
the principles of the invention and not intended to limit the
invention to the specific embodiments shown and described. In the
description below, like reference numerals are used to describe the
same, similar or corresponding parts in the several views of the
drawings.
[0026] FIG. 1 illustrates a system 50 that can be used in
conjunction with the data entry system of the present invention.
System 50 comprises a host computer system 56 which can either be a
desktop unit as shown, or, alternatively, can be a laptop system
58. Optionally, one or more host computer systems can be used
within system 50. Host computer systems 58 and 56 are shown
connected to a communication bus 54, which in one embodiment can be
a serial communication bus, but could be of any of a number of well
known designs, e.g., a parallel bus, Ethernet Local Area Network
(LAN), etc. Optionally, bus 54 can provide communication with the
Internet 52 using a number of well known protocols.
[0027] Bus 54 is also coupled to a cradle 60 for receiving and
initiating communication with a palmtop ("palm-sized") portable
computer system 100 of the present invention. Cradle 60 provides an
electrical and mechanical communication interface between bus 54
(and anything coupled to bus 54) and the computer system 100 for
two way communications. Computer system 100 also contains a
wireless infrared communication mechanism 64 for sending and
receiving information from other devices.
[0028] FIG. 2A is a perspective illustration of the top face 100a
of one embodiment of the palmtop computer system of the present
invention. The top face 110a contains a display screen 105
surrounded by a bezel or cover. A removable stylus 80 is also
shown. The display screen 105 is a touch screen able to register
contact between the screen and the tip of the stylus 80. The stylus
80 can be of any material to make contact with the screen 105. The
top face 100a also contains one or more dedicated and/or
programmable buttons 75 for selecting information and causing the
computer system to implement functions. The on/off button 95 is
also shown.
[0029] FIG. 2A also illustrates a handwriting recognition pad or
"digitizer" containing two regions 106a and 106b. Region 106a is
for the drawing of alphabetic characters therein for automatic
recognition and region 106b is for the drawing of numeric
characters therein for automatic recognition. The stylus 80 is used
for stroking a character within one of the regions 106a and 106b.
The stroke information is then fed to an internal processor for
automatic character recognition. Once characters are recognized,
they are typically displayed on the screen 105 for verification
and/or modification.
[0030] FIG. 2B illustrates the bottom side 100b of one embodiment
of the palmtop computer system of the present invention. An
optional extendible antenna 85 is shown and also a battery storage
compartment door 90 is shown. A communication interface 108 is also
shown. In one embodiment of the present invention, the serial
communication interface 108 is a serial communication port, but
could also alternatively be of any of a number of well known
communication standards and protocols, e.g., parallel, SCSI,
Firewire (IEEE 1394), Ethernet, USB (Universal Serial Bus), etc. In
addition to providing the serial interface, some versions of
palmtop computers consistent with the present invention include
charging terminals for charging internal batteries through the
cradle connection at interface 108. Accordingly, interface 108
typically comprises approximately ten to twelve electrical
connector terminals.
[0031] FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the palmtop computer system
100 in accordance with one implementation. System 100 contains a
front cover 210 having an outline of region 106 and holes 75a for
receiving buttons 75b. A flat panel display 105 (both liquid
crystal display and touch screen) fits into front cover 210. Any of
a number of display technologies can be used, e.g., LCD, FED,
plasma, etc., for the flat panel display 105. A battery 215
provides electrical power. A contrast adjustment (potentiometer)
220 is also shown. On/off button 95 is shown along with an infrared
emitter and detector device 64. A flex circuit 230 is shown along
with a PC board 225 containing electronics and logic (e.g., memory,
communication bus, processor, etc.) for implementing computer
system functionality. The digitizer pad is also included in PC
board 225. A midframe 235 is shown along with stylus 80. Position
adjustable antenna 85 is shown.
[0032] A radio receiver/transmitter device 240 is also shown
between the midframe and the rear cover 245 of FIG. 3. The
receiver/transmitter device 240 is coupled to the antenna 85 and
also coupled to communicate with the PC board 225. In one
implementation the Mobitex wireless communication system is used to
provide two way communication between system 100 and other
networked computers and/or the Internet via a proxy server.
[0033] FIG. 4 is a perspective illustration of one embodiment of
the cradle 60 for receiving the palmtop computer system 100. Cradle
60 contains a mechanical and electrical interface 260 for
interfacing with serial connection 108 (FIG. 2B) of computer system
100 when system 100 is slid into the cradle 60 in an upright
position. Once inserted, button 270 can be pressed to initiate two
way communication between system 100 and other computer systems
coupled to serial communication 265.
[0034] FIG. 5 illustrates circuitry of computer system 100, some of
which can be implemented on PC board 225. Computer system 100
includes an address/data bus 100 for communicating information, a
central processor 101 coupled with the bus for processing
information and instructions, a volatile memory 102 (e.g., random
access memory RAM) coupled with the bus 100 for storing information
and instructions for the central processor 101 and a non-volatile
memory 103 (e.g., read only memory ROM) coupled with the bus 100
for storing static information and instructions for the processor
101. Computer system 110 also includes an optional data storage
device 104 (e.g., memory stick, SD memory, etc.) coupled with the
bus 100 for storing information and instructions. Device 104 can be
removable. As described above, system 100 also contains a display
device 105 coupled to the bus 100 for displaying information to the
computer user. PC board 225 can contain the processor 101, the bus
100, the ROM 103 and the RAM 102.
[0035] Also included in computer system 110 of FIG. 5 is an
optional alphanumeric input device 106 which. in one implementation
is a handwriting recognition pad ("digitizer") having regions 106a
and 106b (FIG. 2A), for instance. Device 106 can communicate
information and command selections to the central processor 101.
System 110 also includes an optional cursor control or directing
device 107 coupled to the bus for communicating user input
information and command selections to the central processor 101. In
one implementation, device 107 is a touch screen device
incorporated with screen 105. Device 107 is capable of registering
a position on the screen 105 where the stylus makes contact. The
display device 105 utilized with the computer system 110 may be a
liquid crystal device, cathode ray tube (CRT), field emission
device (FED, also called flat panel CRT) or other display device
suitable for creating graphic images and alphanumeric characters
recognizable to the user. In the preferred embodiment, display 105
is a flat panel display.
[0036] Signal communication device 108, also coupled to bus 100,
can be a serial port for communicating with the cradle 60. Device
108 can also include an infrared communication port. Palmtop
computer 100 includes a real-time clock 120 for maintaining time of
day (time, day, date, month, year etc.) information.
[0037] In accordance with certain embodiments of the present
invention, a user established time of day (TOD) profile correlates
time information (including day, month, year and clock time) with a
category to be used as a default category within the personal
information manager software or other software running on the
palmtop computer 100. Provision can be made for controlled
exceptions to the time profile established. With reference to FIG.
6, a process 600 that implements an embodiment of the present
invention is illustrated. The process begins at 602 upon power up
or activating the palmtop computer 100. At 606 the user establishes
a time of day profile as part of the palmtop computer 100's system
level defaults. During this process, the user establishes times,
dates, months, years and days that the palmtop computer 100's
personal information management software will correlate to
particular default data categories. For example, the user can
establish that Monday through Friday from 9 AM to 5 PM correlates
to a business data category. All other times can be established as
correlating to a personal category. Since the user might be working
from 9 AM to 5 PM on business days, it is likely that any data that
the user desires to either enter, edit, receive, display or
retrieve during those time periods are related to business. During
evenings and weekends, the user is more likely to be using the
palmtop computer 100 and its personal information management
software or other software in a personal capacity. Therefore,
during weekend and evening time periods the user might likely wish
for the palmtop computer to establish the category of data during
those times as personal. Of course, other data categories and time,
day, month, date, year, etc. correlations could be established in
any suitable way at 606 in accordance with a user's particular use
profile.
[0038] In accordance with process 600, after establishing the time
of day profile at 606, the software continually monitors the user's
actions at 610 and 614 to determine if the user is entering a data
entry or editing mode at 610 or a data retrieval, display or query
mode at 614. If the user is entering a data entry mode at 610, the
software reads the current time at 618 from the palmtop computer
100's real-time clock 120. Based on the time of day information
determined from the palmtop computer 100's real-time clock 120, the
default category of data is set at 622 in accordance with the time
of day profile. The user can then enter data (or edit data, compose
a note, add to or create a to-do list, compose email, etc.) at 626
under the default category. In the event to the user wishes to
change the category from that created in accordance with process
600 at 630, he or she may do so at 634. The data can then be saved
under the current category, be that the default category or the
user selected category, at 640. At this point, the process returns
to 610.
[0039] In the event the user wishes to display, receive or retrieve
data at 614 (which can include displaying a note, displaying a
to-do list, receiving email and the like), the personal information
manager software reads the current time from palmtop computer 100's
real-time clock 120 at 644. The palmtop computer 100's default data
category is then set at 648 in accordance with the current time as
determined from the real-time clock 120 and from the time of day
profile established at 606. At 654, the palmtop computer's personal
information management software or other software (e.g. email
software) retrieves or receives data under the current category. At
this instant, the current category is established as the default
category at 648. However, if the user wishes to change the current
category at 658, a new category can be selected at 662 and data
under the newly selected category is then retrieved at 654. When
the user has completed viewing, retrieving or receiving the desired
data at 670 by any of the data retrieval processes available to the
palmtop computer during 654 in the palmtop computer 100, control
returns to 610.
[0040] It should be noted that, although FIG. 6 depicts the time
being monitored upon receipt of a request to either enter or
display data, the time can be constantly (periodically) monitored
in another embodiment to continually establish a default category,
rather than setting the default category upon receipt of a user
request to enter or retrieve data, without departing from the
present invention. Other modifications of process 600 will occur to
those skilled in the art.
[0041] Referring now to FIG. 7, a screen image (as would appear on
display screen 105) illustrating a calendar function as part of the
personal information management software within the palmtop
computer 100 is illustrated as 700. The current date is displayed
at 704, and a menu of days showing that the current day is Tuesday
appears to the right of the date at 708. In this example an 11:00
staff meeting is shown to be calendared at 712 and an appointment
to review a proposal is illustrated at 2:00 as 714. Image 700
represents the business category displayed during times that are
established as default business times as indicated by a display of
the business category at 720. The user can change the category by
selecting the change button at 726. This will either cycle through
the available categories or display a menu of available categories
for selection by the user, depending upon the system design. Other
user interfaces for modifying the category or displaying calendar
information can also be used without departing from the present
invention. The time from 12:00 to 1:00, shown as 730, and from 6
o'clock to 7:00, shown as 736, are blacked out on the display to
indicate that the time is unavailable for scheduling other events.
However, the actual scheduled event is not visible (hidden) when
the business category is displayed. Other embodiments are also
possible without departing from the present invention.
[0042] Referring now to FIG. 8, a screen image 800 (as would appear
on display screen 105) representing the same calendar 700 with the
category changed to personal is illustrated. The fact that the
category is now personal is illustrated at 804. The time at 812
between 11:00 and 12:00 and the time 814 between 2:00 and 3:00 are
now illustrated blacked out (hidden) since these appointments are
business-related. A lunch 830 and an errand to pick up a child from
day-care at 836 are now visible since these relate to personal
matters.
[0043] The examples given above in FIGS. 7 and 8 relate to
calendaring functions. But the present invention should not be so
limited, since other personal information management functions,
such as to-do lists, notes and address books, can also be adapted
to the present invention. Moreover, other functions such as email,
web browsing and data downloads can be filtered based upon the time
of day profile of the present invention. A single global set of
defaults can be established to set up the time of day profile, or
alternatively, a separate time of day profile can be established
for each application as desired.
[0044] In accordance with the above, many features and variations
are possible. For example, if an appointment is scheduled to
overlap lunch time, the system can query the user as to whether to
accept the default category or specify one. Address requests made
during times designated as business would result in a default
showing of business contacts. Exceptions can be established to
provide for travel time etc. so that all actions taking place
during travel would be considered business, for example.
[0045] The present invention can also be used to manipulate email
data. For example, an email originating (or arriving) during
business hours can be categorized by default as a business email
and not be shown in a default email in-box except during business
hours. Calls identified as from business associates could be
directed to voice mail and the user notified during business hours.
In addition, online content available through wired or wireless
Internet connections can be filtered or retrieved based on the time
of day profile. Thus, at a specified time during the day, stock
quotes, traffic data, etc. can , be requested. A frequently
accessed web page could be accessed during a particular time of
day. Other alternative embodiments will occur to those skilled in
the art.
[0046] Those skilled in the art will recognize that the present
invention has been described in terms of exemplary embodiments
based upon use of a programmed processor. However, the invention
should not be so limited, since the present invention could be
implemented using hardware component equivalents such as special
purpose hardware and/or dedicated processors which are equivalents
to the invention as described and claimed. Similarly, general
purpose computers, microprocessor based computers,
micro-controllers, optical computers, analog computers, dedicated
processors and/or dedicated hard wired logic may be used to
construct alternative equivalent embodiments of the present
invention.
[0047] Those skilled in the art will also appreciate that the
embodiments described above can be implemented using disc storage
as well as other forms of electronic storage media for carrying the
program and data including Read Only Memory (ROM) devices, Random
Access Memory (RAM) devices; optical storage elements, magnetic
storage elements, magneto-optical storage elements, flash memory,
core memory and/or other equivalent storage technologies without
departing from the present invention. Such alternative storage
devices should be considered equivalents.
[0048] The present invention is preferably implemented using a
programmed processor executing programming instructions that are
broadly described above in flow chart form. However, those skilled
in the art will appreciate that the processes described above can
be implemented in any number of variations and in many suitable
programming languages without departing from the present invention.
For example, the order of certain operations carried out can often.
be varied, and additional operations can be added without departing
from the invention. Error trapping can be added and/or enhanced and
variations can be made in user interface and information
presentation without departing from the present invention. Such
variations are contemplated and considered equivalent.
[0049] While the invention has been described in conjunction with
specific embodiments, it is evident that many alternatives,
modifications, permutations and variations will become apparent to
those skilled in the art in light of the foregoing description.
Accordingly, it is intended that the present invention embrace all
such alternatives, modifications and variations as fall within the
scope of the appended claims.
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