Calendar Event Segmentation for Multi-Invitee Scheduling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic calendar applications face difficulties in scheduling events with large groups of invitees, as it becomes impractical for humans to track the availability of multiple attendees, and the likelihood of finding a common available time is low.
Innovation Solution
The system splits a scheduled event into multiple instances based on automatically detected periods of common invitee availability, assigning each invitee to an instance they can attend, thereby maximizing attendance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a single event is scheduled for all invitees, then the scheduling process is simple, but the likelihood of finding a common available time decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides a single event into multiple instances, each scheduled at different times. The system identifies periods of availability for each invitee and creates separate event instances for each time period, allowing different groups of invitees to attend different instances based on their availability.
2Reliability
If multiple event instances are created for different time periods, then attendance availability improves, but the complexity of managing events increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates multiple instances of the same event template, where each instance shares the same fundamental properties (title, description, location) but has different time periods. This allows the system to manage complexity by reusing the event template across multiple instances rather than creating entirely separate events.
Solution Approach 2:
The system automatically assigns invitees to event instances based on their availability without requiring manual intervention. The calendar system searches for periods of availability, creates appropriate instances, and assigns invitees autonomously, reducing the burden on event organizers.
3Device complexity
If manual tracking of invitee availability is used, then the system remains simple, but the ability to manage large groups effectively deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces manual tracking of invitee availability with an automated computerized calendar system that electronically stores and searches availability information. The system automatically identifies periods of availability for each invitee and uses this information to create and assign event instances, eliminating the need for manual tracking.
Solution Approach 2:
The system electronically notifies invitees of scheduled events and receives their responses (acceptance or decline). This feedback loop allows the system to adjust and optimize event instance creation based on actual invitee availability and responses.
Data Source
AI summary
Scheduling events with multiple invitees includes: identifying a plurality of invitees for an event in a calendar system having at least one processor; searching an availability associated with each of the invitees to determine a number of periods of availability in the calendar system, at least some of the invitees being available during each period of availability; creating a separate instance of the event in the calendar system for each identified period of availability; and for each invitee available during at least one of the periods of availability, assigning the invitee to one said instance of the event for which that invitee is available with the calendar system.