Client Device Time Zone Rule Handling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Client devices face challenges in maintaining accurate and consistent start and end times for calendar events across different time zones, particularly due to changes in time zone rules such as Daylight Savings Time, as they may not always have the necessary time zone rules stored, leading to improper handling of unknown time zone IDs.
Innovation Solution
A method where a client device proactively requests time zone rules for unknown time zone IDs from a network component, which determines availability and transmits the rules, allowing the client device to store and apply them, ensuring accurate date and time conversions across various time zones.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a client device stores all possible time zone rules locally, then time zone handling accuracy is improved, but device memory usage and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments time zone rule data into individual records that can be stored and transmitted separately. Each time zone rule is broken down into discrete components (time zone ID, offset, DST information) that can be selectively retrieved and stored, reducing the need to maintain complete time zone databases locally on each device.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a network component (server) as an intermediary that stores and manages time zone rule data. Instead of each client device maintaining complete time zone databases, the server acts as a central repository that client devices can query for specific time zone rules when needed, reducing local storage requirements while maintaining accuracy.
2Loss of energy
If a client device waits for system-wide updates to receive time zone rules, then network traffic is reduced, but time zone update timeliness deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements preliminary action by having client devices proactively request time zone rules from the server when they encounter unknown time zone IDs in calendar events, rather than waiting for system-wide updates. This allows devices to obtain necessary time zone information on-demand, ensuring timely updates without requiring coordinated system-wide update cycles.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent enables self-service by allowing individual client devices to autonomously determine when they need time zone rules and directly request them from the server. Each device monitors its own calendar events and independently initiates time zone rule retrieval when needed, eliminating the need to wait for centralized update distributions.
3Loss of time
If a client device requests time zone rules on-demand, then time zone update timeliness is improved, but network traffic increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies partial action by having client devices request only the specific time zone rules they need rather than receiving complete time zone databases. When a device encounters an unknown time zone ID in a calendar event, it requests only that particular time zone rule from the server, minimizing network traffic while ensuring timely updates for relevant time zones.
Data Source
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AI summary
According to some aspects, methods and apparatuses for processing time zone IDs are provided. A time zone ID may be received at a client device. After determining that the time zone ID is unknown to the client device, the client device may transmit a request for time zone rules for the received time zone ID. The request may be transmitted to a network component such as a server. If time zone rules for the received time zone ID are available, the network component may transmit the rules to the client device.