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US5963913A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

System and method for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants

Assignee: Morgan Stanley and Co LLC
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Filing: 1997-02-28
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Granted: 1999-10-05
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Expires: 2017-02-28
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Abstract

Abstract A system and method are provided for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants. A server application (16) receives event information submitted by a scheduler using a client application (12) to access an event definition page (50). The event information provides one or more options for scheduling an event and lists a plurality of requested participants. Responsive to receiving the event information, the server application (16) creates an event reply page (60) and an event confirmation page (70). The server application (16) then creates and sends an electronic mail message to each requested participant to provide information about the one or more options and a link to the event reply page (60). The server application (16) also creates and sends a message to the scheduler to provide a link to the event confirmation page (70). The server application (16) then receives reply information submitted by the requested participants using client applications (14) to access the event reply page (60). The server application (16) processes this reply information together with the original event information to generate one or more potential schedules and then updates the event confirmation page (70) based upon the potential schedules. The server application (16) receives an event confirmation submitted by the scheduler using a client application (12) to access the event confirmation page (70), and then create and sends a message to each available participant to provide the schedule for the event.

Inventors

  • 👤 Nicolle Henneuse
  • 👤 Pete Billington

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-28 06:10
CPC Classifications
G; G06; G06Q; G06Q10/00; G06Q10/10; G06Q10/109; G06Q10/06; G06Q10/063; G06Q10/0631; G06Q10/06311; G06Q10/1093

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 22
Claim 1
Independent Claim 237 words
A method for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants implemented by a server application, comprising: receiving event information submitted by a scheduler using a client application to access an event definition page, the event information providing one or more options for scheduling an event and listing a plurality of requested participants; creating an event reply page and an event confirmation page responsive to receiving the event information; creating and sending an electronic mail message to each requested participant, the electronic mail message providing information about the one or more options and a line to the event reply page; creating and sending a message to the scheduler, the message including a link to the event confirmation page; receiving reply information submitted by the requested participants using client applications to access the event reply page, the reply information indicating availability of each requested participant for the one or more options; processing the reply information together with the event information to generate one or more potential schedules, the potential schedules combining availability of requested participants for the one or more options; updating the event confirmation page based upon the potential schedules; receiving an event confirmation submitted by the scheduler using a client application to access the event confirmation page, the event confirmation including a schedule for the event; and creating and sending a message to each available participant, the message including the schedule for the event.
Claim 2
Independent Claim 237 words
A method for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants implemented by a server application, comprising: receiving event information submitted by a scheduler using a client application to access an event definition page, the event information providing one or more options for scheduling an event and listing a plurality of requested participants; creating an event reply page and an event confirmation page responsive to receiving the event information; creating and sending an electronic mail message to each requested participant, the electronic mail message providing information about the one or more options and a line to the event reply page; creating and sending a message to the scheduler, the message including a link to the event confirmation page; receiving reply information submitted by the requested participants using client applications to access the event reply page, the reply information indicating availability of each requested participant for the one or more options; processing the reply information together with the event information to generate one or more potential schedules, the potential schedules combining availability of requested participants for the one or more options; updating the event confirmation page based upon the potential schedules; receiving an event confirmation submitted by the scheduler using a client application to access the event confirmation page, the event confirmation including a schedule for the event; and creating and sending a message to each available participant, the message including the schedule for the event.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of each claim 1, wherein the one or more options each define a possible date and time for the event.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 2, wherein the event confirmation information included in the message sent to available participants provides the date and time for the event.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 25 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the event definition page, the event reply page and the event confirmation page are web pages on an intranet.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the link to the event reply page and the link to the event confirmation page comprise a textual http URL.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the link to the event reply page and the link to the event confirmation page comprise a web jumpsite icon.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 23 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising automatically scheduling a venue for the event responsive to receiving the event confirmation from the scheduler.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 22 words
The method of claim 7, further comprising requesting the scheduler to resubmit event confirmation information based upon unavailability of an appropriate venue.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the event reply page and the event confirmation page to expire after an appropriate time period.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim 24 words
The method of claim 9, wherein the event reply page and the event confirmation page expire after the one or more options have passed.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim 12 words
The method of claim 1, wherein the event is a business meeting.
Claim 13
Independent Claim 276 words
A system for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants, comprising: a network to which a scheduler and requested participants have access and across which the scheduler and the requested participants can communicate information using respective client systems; and a server application operable to communicate information across the network, and the server application operable to: receive event information submitted by a scheduler using a client application to access an event definition page, the event information providing one or more options for scheduling an event and listing a plurality of requested participants; create an event reply page and an event confirmation page responsive to receiving the event information; create and send an electronic mail message to each requested participant, the electronic mail message providing information about the one or more options and a link to the event reply page; create and send a message to the scheduler, the message including a link to the event confirmation page; receive reply information submitted by the requested participants using client applications to access the event reply page, the reply information indicating availability of each requested participant for the one or more options; process the reply information together with the event information to generate one or more potential schedules, the potential schedules combining availability of requested participants for the one or more options; update the event confirmation page based upon the potential schedules; receive an event confirmation submitted by the scheduler using a client application to access the event confirmation page, the event confirmation including a schedule for the event; and create and send a message to each available participant, the message including the schedule for the event.
Claim 14
Independent Claim 276 words
A system for scheduling an event subject to the availability of requested participants, comprising: a network to which a scheduler and requested participants have access and across which the scheduler and the requested participants can communicate information using respective client systems; and a server application operable to communicate information across the network, and the server application operable to: receive event information submitted by a scheduler using a client application to access an event definition page, the event information providing one or more options for scheduling an event and listing a plurality of requested participants; create an event reply page and an event confirmation page responsive to receiving the event information; create and send an electronic mail message to each requested participant, the electronic mail message providing information about the one or more options and a link to the event reply page; create and send a message to the scheduler, the message including a link to the event confirmation page; receive reply information submitted by the requested participants using client applications to access the event reply page, the reply information indicating availability of each requested participant for the one or more options; process the reply information together with the event information to generate one or more potential schedules, the potential schedules combining availability of requested participants for the one or more options; update the event confirmation page based upon the potential schedules; receive an event confirmation submitted by the scheduler using a client application to access the event confirmation page, the event confirmation including a schedule for the event; and create and send a message to each available participant, the message including the schedule for the event.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim 25 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the event definition page, the event reply page and the event confirmation page are web pages on an intranet.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the link to the event reply page and the link to the event confirmation page comprise a textual http URL.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim 26 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the link to the event reply page and the link to the event confirmation page comprise a web jumpsite icon.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim 29 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the server application is further operable to automatically schedule a venue for the event responsive to receiving the event confirmation from the scheduler.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim 28 words
The system of claim 16, wherein the server application is further operable to request the scheduler to resubmit event confirmation information based upon unavailability of an appropriate venue.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim 30 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the server application is further operable to allow the event reply page and the event confirmation page to expire after an appropriate time period.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim 24 words
The system of claim 18, wherein the event reply page and the event confirmation page expire after the one or more options have passed.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim 12 words
The system of claim 12, wherein the event is a business meeting.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US5124912A Cited
US5070470A Cited
US5050077A Cited
US5303145A Cited
US5323314A Cited
US5519606A Cited
US5774867A Cited
US5491626A Cited
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 2002-10-04 2003-04-05 2003-10-05 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 2006-10-04 2007-04-05 2007-10-05 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2010-10-04 2011-04-05 2011-10-05 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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