Systems and methods for scheduling events

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9760870-B2
Application number	US-201213727521-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 26, 2012
Priority date	Jan 27, 2010
Publication date	Sep 12, 2017
Grant date	Sep 12, 2017

Abstract

Systems and methods for scheduling events are described. In some embodiments, a method comprises: at a computer system, obtaining a request to schedule a calendar event including a plurality of constraints. In response to the request, a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints is obtained. The plurality of candidate calendar events and a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints are concurrently presented for display. In some embodiments, the method optionally includes obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints which is then used to update the plurality of candidate calendar events. In some embodiments, the user-editable options are determined, at least in part, by user preferences. In some embodiments, the plurality of user-editable options further corresponds to a designation of one or more invitees to the scheduled calendar event.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A method comprising:
at a computer system,
obtaining a request to reschedule an existing calendar event, the request including a plurality of constraints; and
in response to obtaining the request to reschedule the existing calendar event:
obtaining a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints;
calculating event reschedule factors for the plurality of candidate calendar events based on interconnections within a social graph between persons identified in the request, user histories of communications within the social graph between the persons identified in the request, and events that the persons identified in the request have been invited to, have accepted, have declined, or have attended;
ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the calculated event reschedule factors;
presenting for display the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the ranking; and
presenting for display, concurrently with the plurality of candidate calendar events, a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints.

2. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user-editable options is determined by, at least in part, one or more user preferences that are each independent of the plurality of constraints.

3. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints; and
updating the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the modification.

4. The method of claim 1 , wherein presenting for display the plurality of candidate calendar events includes:
for a respective candidate calendar event in the plurality of candidate calendar events, presenting for display one or more visual indicia indicating how closely the respective candidate calendar event meets the plurality of constraints.

5. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
inferring an importance value for a respective constraint in the plurality of constraints; and
ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the inferred importance value.

6. The method of claim 5 , wherein:
the plurality of user-editable options is determined by, at least in part, one or more user preferences that are each independent of the plurality of constraints, and
the ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the inferred importance value includes ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with a user preference in the one or more user preferences.

7. The method of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of user-editable options further corresponds to a designation of one or more invitees to the existing calendar event.

8. A computer system, comprising:
one or more processors;
memory storing one or more programs to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
obtaining a request to reschedule an existing calendar event, the request including a plurality of constraints; and
in response to obtaining the request to reschedule the calendar event:
obtaining a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints;
calculating event reschedule factors for the plurality of candidate calendar events based on interconnections within a social graph between persons identified in the request, user histories of communications within the social graph between the persons identified in the request, and events that the persons identified in the request have been invited to, have accepted, have declined, or have attended;
ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the calculated event reschedule factors;
presenting for display the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the ranking; and
presenting for display, concurrently with the plurality of candidate calendar events, a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints.

9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of user-editable options is determined by, at least in part, one or more user preferences independent from the plurality of constraints.

10. The system of claim 8 , further comprising:
obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints; and
updating the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the modification.

11. The system of claim 8 , wherein presenting for display the plurality of candidate calendar events includes:
for a respective candidate calendar event in the plurality of candidate calendar events, presenting for display one or more visual indicia indicating how closely the respective candidate calendar event meets the plurality of constraints.

12. The system of claim 8 , wherein the one or more programs further comprise instructions for:
inferring an importance value for a respective constraint in the plurality of constraints; and
ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the inferred importance value.

13. The system of claim 12 , wherein:
the plurality of user-editable options is determined by, at least in part, one or more user preferences that are each independent of the plurality of constraints, and
the ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the inferred importance value includes ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with a user preference in the one or more user preferences.

14. The system of claim 8 , wherein the plurality of user-editable options further corresponds to a designation of one or more invitees to the existing calendar event.

15. A non-transitory computer readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured for execution by a computer system, the one or more programs comprising instructions for:
obtaining a request to reschedule an existing calendar event, the request including a plurality of constraints; and
in response to obtaining the request to reschedule the calendar event:
obtaining a plurality of candidate calendar events that meets at least two of the plurality of constraints;
calculating event reschedule factors for the plurality of candidate calendar events based on interconnections within a social graph between persons identified in the request, user histories of communications within the social graph between the persons identified in the request, and events that the persons identified in the request have been invited to, have accepted, have declined, or have attended;
ranking the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the calculated event reschedule factors;
presenting for display the plurality of candidate calendar events based on the ranking; and
presenting for display, concurrently with the plurality of candidate calendar events, a plurality of user-editable options corresponding to the plurality of constraints.

16. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of user-editable options is determined by, at least in part, one or more user preferences independent from the plurality of constraints.

17. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , further comprising:
obtaining, via a user-editable option, a modification to a constraint in the plurality of constraints; and
updating the plurality of candidate calendar events in accordance with the modification.

18. The computer readable storage medium of claim 15 , wherein presenting for display the

Assignees

• Google Inc

Inventors

• Norton Kenneth S
• Nelson Philip C
• Marmaros David P
• Ashear Joseph M

Classifications

• G06Q10/02 Primary

  Reservations, e.g. for tickets, services or events · CPC title

• G06Q10/1093 Primary

  Calendar-based scheduling for persons or groups · CPC title

• G06Q10/109

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

• G06Q10/06311

  Scheduling, planning or task assignment for a person or group · CPC title

• G06Q10/1095 Primary

  Physics · mapped topic