Electronic Calendar Invitation Display and Management
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electronic calendar systems do not effectively display invitations in the context of other events on the user's calendar, making it difficult for users to visualize and manage invitations that have not yet been accepted.
Innovation Solution
The system displays invitations on the user's calendar with a distinct visual indicator before acceptance, allowing users to view and manage them alongside accepted events, using a user-selectable calendar feature that toggles invitations on or off, and provides a user interface for accepting or declining invitations.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of information
If invitations are sent via email only, then users can receive notifications, but users cannot see invitations in the context of their calendar events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the invitation notification system with the existing calendar display system. Invitations are integrated into the calendar view alongside accepted events, allowing users to see all time-occupying items in one unified display rather than separate email and calendar views.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a distinct visual indicator (such as a special icon or graphical element) that acts as an intermediary to differentiate invitations from accepted events while maintaining their integrated display. This visual mediator allows users to quickly identify invitation status without separating the views.
2Loss of information
If invitations are displayed with accepted events, then users can see all events in one view, but users cannot easily distinguish unaccepted invitations from accepted events
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs color changes and distinct visual indicators to differentiate invitations from accepted events. Invitations are displayed with special graphical elements, colors, or icons that clearly distinguish them from regular events, making status detection immediate and intuitive.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies local quality by giving invitations specific visual properties (such as border styles, background colors, or special icons) only at the invitation entries, while accepted events maintain their standard display appearance. This localized differentiation allows easy distinction without affecting the overall calendar view consistency.
3Adaptability or versatility
If a separate invitation calendar is created, then users can filter invitations, but users need to manage multiple calendar views
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic calendar display system where the same calendar view can adapt its content based on user selection. Users can toggle between viewing all events and viewing only invitations through a simple interface control, eliminating the need for separate calendar views while maintaining filtering capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes the single calendar view universal by enabling it to display different types of events (accepted events and invitations) within the same interface. The calendar structure serves multiple functions: displaying regular events, displaying invitations, and providing filtering options, all without requiring separate calendar structures.
Data Source
AI summary
Methods and systems for managing an electronic calendar are described. One exemplary method includes displaying a calendar on a display device, the calendar having at least one time range, and displaying an invitation, before it is accepted, on the calendar in the at least one time range with other events which are already accepted. Another exemplary method includes displaying a calendar on a display device and displaying a list of user-selectable calendars comprising an invitation calendar which presents invitations which have not yet been accepted or declined on the invitation calendar. Other methods are described, and machine readable media and systems are also described.