Coordinated Calendar Event and Date List Navigation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electronic calendaring applications on mobile devices face challenges in managing and navigating large amounts of calendar information due to limited screen space, leading to difficulties in tracking dates and events, which reduces user productivity.
Innovation Solution
A method and apparatus that display calendar event items and dates in a navigable format, allowing for coordinated navigation between the two, with features like scrolling and swiping, and visual indicators to highlight important dates and event durations, ensuring that the user remains oriented within the date range.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If conventional electronic calendaring applications display calendar information on mobile devices with limited screen space, then the device portability and compactness are maintained, but the user interface has insufficient space for displaying and managing large amounts of calendar information
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a third dimension by displaying a list of dates vertically alongside the calendar events horizontally. This creates a two-list structure where users can navigate through dates on one axis and view corresponding events on the other axis, effectively utilizing limited screen space while maintaining visibility of extensive calendar information.
Solution Approach 2:
The calendar information is segmented into two distinct navigable lists: a date list and an events list. This segmentation allows users to independently navigate each list, viewing dates on one dimension and corresponding events on another, thereby maximizing the use of limited display area while preserving comprehensive information access.
2Ease of operation
If conventional applications navigate through calendar events using traditional agenda views, then event information can be accessed, but user orientation regarding current date and position within the date range is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The system provides continuous feedback by displaying the current date prominently in the date list and visually indicating the corresponding position in the events list. As users navigate through dates or events, the interface automatically updates to show which date is currently selected and which events belong to that date, maintaining constant orientation without requiring users to remember their position.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the date navigation function and event viewing function into a single integrated interface. The date list and events list are coordinated such that selecting a date automatically filters and displays relevant events, while scrolling through events maintains visibility of the current date context. This combination eliminates the need to switch between separate views.
3Loss of information
If more calendar event items are displayed to provide comprehensive information, then information completeness is improved, but the complexity of navigating and managing the information increases
Solution Approach 1:
The interface dynamically adjusts the display based on user interaction. When users scroll through the events list, the system dynamically updates the date list to show only relevant dates, and vice versa. This dynamic behavior allows comprehensive information to be displayed while keeping the navigation simple, as the interface automatically reorganizes content based on the user's current position and selections.
Data Source
AI summary
The present document describes methods and apparatuses for managing and viewing calendar event items in an electronic calendaring application. For example, calendar event items may be viewed in an “agenda” view. A calendar event item may have a date and include any information relating to a corresponding calendar event. According to some example embodiments, a list of calendar event items and a list of dates are each displayed in a navigable format. The list of dates may include at least dates in a date range defined by the dates of the calendar event items. A navigation position of the list of calendar event items and a navigation position of the list of dates may be coordinated.