Side-by-side shared calendars

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9715678-B2
Application number	US-60702003-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 26, 2003
Priority date	Jun 26, 2003
Publication date	Jul 25, 2017
Grant date	Jul 25, 2017

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for presenting a plurality of shared calendars in a single electronic display frame or window where each of the plurality of shared calendars is displayed in a common view mode relative to other displayed shared calendars. Users may select one or more shared calendars to be displayed in the same display frame or window as their own calendar. Upon selection of a shared calendar to be displayed alongside a first calendar, an aggregate view object is called to control and coordinate all shared calendars selected for display in the common window or frame. The aggregate view object determines the view data object, including view mode (hourly, daily, weekly, monthly) and other calendar display settings of the first or active calendar displayed in the common view of shared calendars.

First claim

We claim:

1. A method for displaying shared electronic calendars, the method comprising:
launching a calendar software application;
selecting a plurality of calendars for displaying in a common display view frame,

wherein selecting the plurality of calendars for displaying in the common display view frame comprises selecting at least one shared calendar;
obtaining a view data object for a first selected calendar, the first selected calendar being associated with a first user;
calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously, each selected calendar being associated with at least one second user;
passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, the view data object indicating a view mode corresponding to the first selected calendar, the view mode comprising at least one of the following: a position and a size of display associated with the first selected calendar;
displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation and in the view mode indicated by the passed view data object, wherein displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously comprises:
displaying data associated with each displayed calendar in a particular displayed calendar to which the data is associated, wherein the data comprises textual information and a plurality of icons wherein each one of the plurality icons represents at least one action associated with a calendar event,
displaying the first selected calendar at the indicated view mode with each selected shared calendar being aligned at the same indicated view mode as the first selected calendar after a first vertical scrolling of the first selected calendar, and
manipulating the display of each selected calendar in response to a change in the view mode of the first selected calendar, the change in the view mode of the first selected calendar corresponding to a change in the position of display of the first selected calendar, wherein manipulating the display of each selected calendar comprises adjusting the alignment of each selected calendar so as to correspond to the changed position of display of the first selected calendar and;
displaying a tool bar for providing editing, display, file management, and printing functionality to specified displayed calendars.

2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising, in response to selecting a plurality of calendars, calling an aggregate view module for displaying the selected plurality of calendars.

3. The method of claim 1 , prior to calculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each selected calendar simultaneously, determining a size of the view frame available for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

4. The method of claim 1 , prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, calling each selected calendar by an aggregate view module responsible for displaying all selected calendars simultaneously.

5. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes passing display settings of the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar.

6. The method of claim 1 , wherein passing the view data object for the first selected calendar includes determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a time bar.

7. The method of claim 6 , further comprising, if the display of a time bar is required, displaying a time bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars the time bar being configured to cause, upon selection of a particular time position in the time bar, a display of the selected time position for each displayed calendar simultaneously.

8. The method of claim 1 , prior to passing the view data object for the first selected calendar to each additional selected calendar, determining whether the view mode of the first selected calendar requires a display of a scroll bar.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising, if the display of a scroll bar is required, providing a scroll bar for one of the plurality of displayed calendars.

10. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
displaying a calendar selection control for selecting the at least one shared calendar for display in the view frame in side-by-side orientation with other calendars presently displayed in the view frame;
in response to selection of an additional calendar for display from the calendar selection control, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each presently displayed calendar plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation;
passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to the selected additional calendar;
passing a display position and display size to all presently displayed calendars and to the selected additional calendar; and
redisplaying all presently displayed calendars plus the selected additional calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

11. The method of claim 1 , further comprising providing a distinctive background display color for each displayed calendar to distinguish each displayed calendar from each other displayed calendar.

12. The method of claim 1 , further comprising selecting one of the plurality of displayed calendars as an active calendar; and
applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendar to all displayed calendars.

13. The method of claim 12 , wherein applying any view mode and display settings changes made to the active calendar to all displayed calendars includes communicating any changes in the view mode and display settings for the active calendar to each of the displayed calendars.

14. The method of claim 1 , further comprising deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame.

15. The method of claim 14 , further comprising, in response to deleting a displayed calendar from the view frame, recalculating an amount of space of the view frame required for displaying each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;
passing the view data object of the first selected calendar to each displayed calendar minus the deleted displayed calendar;
passing a display position and display size to all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar; and
redisplaying all displayed calendars minus the deleted displayed calendar simultaneously in side-by-side orientation.

16. The method of claim 1 , further comprising displaying an all day banner appointment position across all displayed calendars.

17. The method of claim 1 , wherein displaying each selected calendar in the view frame simultaneously in side-by-side orientation includes displaying each selected calendar such that one of: each date and each time position of each displayed calendar is aligned with corresponding one of: each date and each time positions of each other displayed calendar.

18. The method of claim 17 , further comprising displaying a date selection control configured to, upon selection of a date from the date selection control, cause a display of a calendar position of each displayed calendar corresponding to a selected date simultaneously.

19. A computer readable system memory containing instructions which when executed by a computer perform a method for displaying shared electronic calendars, the method executed by the instructions comprising:
launching a calendar software application;
ob

Assignees

• Hill Brian
• Bjordahl Hans
• Microsoft Technology Licensing Llc

Inventors

• Hill Brian
• Bjordahl Hans

Classifications

• G09G5/14

  Display of multiple viewports · CPC title

• G06Q10/109 Primary

  Time management, e.g. calendars, reminders, meetings or time accounting · CPC title

• G06F3/01

  Input arrangements or combined input and output arrangements for interaction between user and computer (G06F3/16 takes precedence) · CPC title

• G06F9/06

  using stored programs, i.e. using an internal store of processing equipment to receive or retain programs · CPC title

• G06F2203/048

  Indexing scheme relating to G06F3/048 · CPC title