Interactive program guide systems and related processes are provided which can automatically tune a television, or program a VCR, based on program selections made from program schedule information displayed on a television or other suitable video monitor. The interactive program guide is preferably implemented using a microprocessor-controlled set-top box that is coupled to the viewer's television set. The set-top box receives program schedule information and software from a headend telecasting center. Preferably, program schedule information for the current day and at least six subsequent days is stored in a memory within the set-top box. The interactive program guide provides a display mode for allowing the viewer to apply a restrictive search selection criterion and a nonrestrictive sort attribute to the program schedule information.

Interactive program guide systems and processes

A method and apparatus are disclosed for monitoring television viewing activity to determine preferred categories of programming (208) and channels of a viewer (202). To facilitate viewer access to preferred programming, the display of an electronic program guide (200) may be configured in accordance with the monitored viewing activity (204, 206) to provide fast access to preferred programming. The monitored viewing activity may also be used to provide a lock-out feature to prevent or limit the viewing of specific channels or categories of programming, or to identify and provide information of interest from the Internet. In yet another embodiment of the invention, a viewer may automatically circulate through his or her preferred programming, as is determined by monitoring the viewing activity of that viewer.

Method and apparatus for creating a television viewer profile

A data processing method for synchronizing the data records of a plurality of disparate databases, in which a status file is provided containing data records representative of the contents of data records existing in the disparate databases at a prior synchronization Data records from at least a first and a second of the plurality of databases are compared to corresponding data records of the status file to determine whether data records of the plurality of databases have changed or been deleted since the prior synchronization, or whether there are new data records since the earlier synchronization Based on the outcome of the comparing step, decisions are made as to how to update the data records of the first and second databases Finally, the status file is updated so that its data records are representative of the contents of the data records of the first and second databases after they have been updated

Synchronization of disparate databases

The invention relates to the method for the prospective scheduling, periodic monitoring and dynamic management of a plurality of interrelated and interdependent resources using a computer system. The method includes providing a data base containing information about the resources and graphically displaying utilization and availability of the resources as a function of time. Indicia can be made to appear on the display to provide visual identification of symbols as well as information about scheduling, status and conflicts involving the resources. In addition, access to the data base can be made available to provide a continuous update of the display so that the display of the resources is for the most recent data in the data base. Access to the data base can also permit the operator to call up a wide variety of information about the resources and can also be used to track events and procedures.

Method and system for scheduling, monitoring and dynamically managing resources

An architecture for facilitating Web based Calendar client side event scheduling and, the association process between Java calendar applet ('Capplet') and calendar event. Internet scheduling and calendaring groupware that coordinates group schedules. It features concurrent Capplets running within any of the four calendar grids, namely, monthly, weekly, multiple days and daily.

A web calendar architecture and uses thereof

A method of scheduling a meeting among terminal users who are provided with calendaring applications for storing and retrieving timed and dated events. Included is presentation to a meeting scheduler of a prompting screen with blanks for keying in desired times and dates, and prospective attendees. Based on keying to this screen, there is a comparison with the prospective attendees' calendars of events. The result of the comparison is an option list which is presented to the scheduler for selecting an available meeting time. Based on a selection from the option list, a meeting notification screen is built for transmitting to the attendees.

Method of scheduling meetings

A method of building a monthly calendar screen having abbreviated event descriptions directly translated from event descriptions on day screens. Day screens are built from keyed in dates, times, and descriptions of events related to the dates and times. Monthly screens are built by combining and abbreviating corresponding day screens. Keying and coding during day screen building, and processing steps during monthly screen building are reduced by positionally locating the first characters of day screen event descriptions, time-wise, within the monthly screens.

Calendar event description abbreviation

A method of assembling, for display, a monthly calendar annotated with exterior current day narrative notes and embedded abbreviated notes. Notes related to a specific day can be prepared on a time independent basis by calling, and keying to, a day screen for the specific day. In addition, keying is used to distinguish between normal and special notes which are to be later displayed in abbreviated and narrative forms, respectively. Upon the occurrence of the specific day and the calling of a calendar screen, the notes are displayed along with an updated calendar. Special notes appear as narrative footnotes and normal notes appear in abbreviated form with the day indications. In the absence of further day screen calling and keying, the footnotes change on a daily basis, while the abbreviated notes remain fixed.

Annotated calendar assembly

U A method of scheduling a meeting among terminal users who are provided with calendaring applications for storing and retrieving timed and dated events, consisting in presenting to a meeting scheduler with a prompting screen with blanks for keying in desired times and dates, and prospective attendees, and based on keying to this screen comparising with the prospective attendees' calendars of events. The result of the comparison is an option list which is presented to the scheduler for selecting an available meeting time. Based on a selection from the option list, a meeting notification screen is built for transmitting to the attendees.

A method of scheduling a meeting among several terminal users

A method for displaying on a display device (1) a monthly calendar annotated with exterior current day narrative notes (7) and embedded abbreviated notes. Notes related to a specific day can be prepared on a time independent basis by calling, and keying to, a dayly file (4) for the specific day. In addition, keying is used to distinguish between normal and special notes which are to be later displayed in abbreviated and narrative forms, respectively. Upon the occurrence ofthe specific day and the calling of a calendar screen, the notes are displayed along with an updated calendar. Special notes appear as narrative footnotes (7) and normal notes appear in abbreviated form with the day indications. In the absence of further day screen calling and keying, the footnotes changed on a daily basis, while the abbreviated notes remain fixed.

Mary Elizabeth Weidmann

Papers

Method of scheduling meetings

Calendar event description abbreviation

Annotated calendar assembly

A method of scheduling a meeting among several terminal users

Method for displaying an annotated calendar