A method and apparatus for representing and storing the schedules of recurring events is provided. The schedules are represented by recurrence rules generated according to a specific grammar. According to the grammar, each recurrence rule is composed of one or more recurrence commands. Each recurrence command corresponds to a cycle and includes a time interval indicator that specifies the duration of the cycle and a repeat quantity that determines the number of times the cycle is repeated in the schedule. Each recurrence command may also include an occurrence list that specifies at what times during a particular cycle the event occurs. The occurrence list may specify times in absolute or relative terms. Thus, the grammar supports recurrence rules for representing the schedule \"first and tenth of every month\" as well as the schedule \"second Thursday and last Friday of every month\". To represent schedules that terminate before the last event in the last cycle is completed, a symbol may be inserted into the occurrence list to distinguish the events that are performed on the last cycle from the events that are not performed on the last cycle. Complex schedules that involve cycles repeated within cycles are represented by multiple-command recurrence rules. The stored recurrence rules may be parsed to determine when events will occur. The grammar may be applied to a variety of applications, including calendar programs, video cassette recorders and home automation devices.

Claims

23 · 4 independent · depth 4

23 granted claims

›1.independentA method for representing a schedule of a recurring event in an electronic device, wherein the schedule includes one or more cycles, wherein each of s…+9

›2.↳ 1The method of claim 1 further comprising the steps of: invoking an operation at an initial occurrence time; parsing said recurrence rule to determine …d2

›3.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein: said electronic device is a computer system; said computer system includes a display device and a storage device; the m…d2+1

›5.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein a given cycle of said one or more cycles includes a plurality of occurrences of said recurring event, wherein said plura…d2+3

›9.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein said step of constructing said recurrence rule includes placing said recurrence command in an order based on the length …d2

›10.↳ 1The method of claim 1 wherein the cycle is repeated N times during said schedule, wherein N represents a non-negative integer, wherein said recurring …d2

›11.independentA method for representing in an electronic device a schedule of a recurring event, wherein the schedule includes a cycle of a certain duration, wherei…+1

›13.independentAn apparatus for storing a representation of a schedule of a recurring event, the apparatus comprising: an input device for receiving input representi…+7

›14.↳ 13The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said grammar includes rules for constructing repeat-quantity indicators for representing how many times a cycle repe…d2+1

›16.↳ 13The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said grammar includes rules for constructing occurrence lists, wherein said occurrence lists indicate times that sai…d2+2

›19.↳ 13The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said grammar includes rules for specifying any number of occurrences of said recurring event within a repeating cycl…d2

›20.↳ 13The apparatus of claim 13 wherein said grammar includes a first rule for specifying an absolute end time and a second rule for determining an end time…d2

›21.independentA method for representing a schedule of a recurring event in an electronic device, wherein the schedule includes a plurality of cycles, wherein each o…+2

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4 codes

USPC · US Patent Classification

705/8364/705.7364/705.8705/9

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Robert A. Weinhardt

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