Multimedia Calendar Events with Dynamic Time and Widget-Based Interaction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Traditional electronic calendar applications lack flexibility in representing non-traditional events and fail to engage users due to their reliance on rectangular time blocks, which are not visually appealing and do not support interactive or multimedia content, making it difficult to schedule events with indefinite times or related activities.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a graphical user interface (GUI) with widgets that allow users to define events as multimedia objects, enabling the representation of events with approximate time frames and association with multimedia content, such as icons, audio, video, and interactive gadgets, which can be placed on the calendar for better visualization and interaction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional rectangular time blocks are used to represent events, then the calendar structure is simple and easy to implement, but the visual appeal and user engagement are poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the representation parameters of calendar events from traditional rectangular text blocks to multimedia objects with various visual formats (images, videos, animations, interactive elements). This transforms the visual and interactive parameters of event representation while maintaining the underlying calendar data structure, thereby improving visual appeal and user engagement without compromising implementation simplicity
Solution Approach 2:
The patent adds new dimensions to event representation by incorporating multimedia elements (images, videos, audio, interactive gadgets) beyond the traditional two-dimensional text grid. This allows events to be represented in richer visual and interactive dimensions, enhancing user engagement while the calendar's core temporal organization remains intact
2Measurement precision
If rectangular time blocks with specific times are used, then the scheduling precision is high, but the flexibility to represent indefinite time events is poor
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces dynamic time representation capabilities that allow events to switch between precise time scheduling and indefinite time framing. Users can specify exact start and end times when needed, or use flexible time ranges and recurring patterns for less structured events, making the calendar adaptive to different scheduling needs while maintaining precision when required
3Device complexity
If text-based event representation is used, then the information storage is simple, but the interactivity and engagement are limited
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the event representation system multi-functional by allowing a single event object to contain both simple text information and rich multimedia content (images, videos, audio, interactive gadgets). This universal representation can adapt to different interaction needs, providing interactivity when multimedia elements are present while maintaining simplicity for text-only events, thereby serving multiple functional requirements
4Device complexity
If traditional calendar views are used, then the system complexity is low, but the ability to represent related event parts is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a nested structure where multimedia objects and related content (such as travel arrangements, dining reservations, entertainment tickets) are embedded within the main event object. This allows related event parts to be organized hierarchically within the calendar system, providing comprehensive event representation while maintaining a clean, unified user interface that doesn't increase perceived system complexity
Data Source
AI summary
A method for creating events for use by an electronic calendar application. A computer device running a calendar application displays a GUI having a representation of a calendar. A first widget on the GUI initiates a software routine for defining an event. The routine generates an interface window having a plurality of event detail widgets which allow the user to interactively define details of the event. Once the details are entered, the event is saved as a multimedia object, and the multimedia object is placed onto the calendar representation. Further, details of the event may include additional multimedia content. Also, the calendar representation itself may include multimedia content. The event may be defined with an approximate time frame rather than a specific time frame. For example, an event may be linked to another event rather than to a specific time frame.