Intentional-Time Calendar Event Storage Structure
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current calendar applications struggle to efficiently store and manage recurring events based on astronomical and geographical phenomena, such as sunrise and sunset, which require manual entry or significant storage resources due to their location-dependent and time-varying nature.
Innovation Solution
Implementing an 'intentional-time' structure that uses a trigger indicator and offset to represent recurring events, allowing for the calculation of actual event times based on external triggers like astronomical phenomena, thereby reducing storage needs and enabling efficient display of infinite sets of events within a calendar system.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If each astronomical event is stored separately in calendar applications, then the calendar can display specific event times, but significant storage resources are consumed
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the storage of individual astronomical events into a single recurring event definition that generates infinite occurrences. Instead of storing each sunrise/sunset event separately, the system stores one master event with recurrence rules that mathematically generate all future events, dramatically reducing storage requirements while maintaining full event time accuracy.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces dynamic recurrence patterns that allow event times to vary based on astronomical calculations. The recurring event structure enables time variations through offset parameters and trigonometric functions that calculate actual event times based on date and location, rather than using fixed static times.
2Ease of operation
If manual entry or import of astronomical event data is used, then events can be displayed in calendars, but the process is time-consuming and complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent enables the calendar system to automatically generate and update astronomical event data through recurring event definitions. Once a user configures a recurring event with astronomical parameters (location, event type), the system self-generates all future event occurrences without requiring manual entry or periodic imports, eliminating ongoing data entry time.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent allows users to pre-configure recurring event templates with astronomical parameters in advance. These templates automatically generate specific event instances when needed, eliminating the need for manual data entry at the time of viewing or scheduling events.
3Quantity of substance
If a limited date range is imposed on calendar events, then storage resources are reduced, but the calendar cannot display events beyond that range
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses dynamic recurring event structures that can mathematically generate events for any date range without storing all events explicitly. The recurrence rules with offset calculations allow the system to adapt to any requested date range on-demand, providing unlimited date range flexibility while maintaining constant storage efficiency.
Data Source
AI summary
An event can be stored using an indication of recurrence and an intent-time event time that includes a trigger indicator and optionally an offset. When a view of a calendar having intentional-time events is requested by a calendar application, a calendar service can search a storage resource for the requested calendar and any events that fall within a requested start time and end time. The identified events can be provided to a source of the request. Any intent-time event times that are stored as part of intentional-time events can be calculated based on their triggers and offsets. The calculations may be carried by the calendar service and the results provided to the calendar application or by the calendar application itself.