Method and system for providing a temporal interface for use in implementing a process

In a system including a computer that provides for user input through a graphical user interface, a method for defining and depicting the operational mode of a process based on temporal factors, comprising the steps of:

• displaying a day class template on said graphical user interface, said day class template comprising a time category displayed adjacent to a mode category, said time category further depicting a plurality of indicators chronologically arranged to represent selected times within a twenty-four hour period;
• receiving from said user a designation for said day class template;
• in response to receiving said designation, displaying said designation on said day class template;
• receiving from said user a definition for an interval of time;
• in response to receiving said definition, displaying said interval of time pursuant to said definition on said day class template;
• receiving from said user a specification of a mode of operation of said process during said interval of time;
• in response to receiving said specification, displaying a representation of said mode of operation of said process on said day class template;
• operating said process pursuant to said mode of operation during said interval of time;
• providing a calendar having a plurality of days, each of said days having a preselected designation;
• assigning said day class template to a day of said plurality of days of said calendar, said assignation based on a correspondence between said designation of said day class template and said preselected designation of said day;
• and
• displaying said calendar to reflect said assignation of said day class template to said day.

In a system including a computer that provides for user input through a graphical user interface, a method for indicating the general schedule of operation of a process over a predetermined period of time, comprising the steps of:

• displaying on said graphical user interface a calendar of days representing said predetermined period of time;
• defining a day class, said day class representing a schedule of operation of said process during a twenty-four hour period;
• assigning each day of said calendar on which said schedule of operation of said process is to be followed to said day class;
• and
• depicting each day assigned to said day class differently from other days of said calendar not assigned to said day class.

In a system including a computer that provides for user input through a graphical user interface, a method for indicating the general schedule of operation of a process over a predetermined period of time, comprising the steps of:

• displaying on said graphical user interface a calendar of days representing said predetermined period of time;
• providing a standard preselected designation that includes selected days from said calendar of days;
• defining a day class, said day class representing a schedule of operation of said process during a twenty-four hour period;
• assigning said day class to said standard preselected designation so that said day class is assigned to said selected days of said standard preselected designation;
• and
• depicting said selected days of said standard preselected designation differently from other days of said calendar.

In a system including a computer that provides for user input through a graphical user interface, a method for indicating the general schedule of operation of a process over a predetermined period of time, comprising the steps of:

• displaying on said graphical user interface a calendar of days representing said predetermined period of time;
• providing a special preselected designation that allows a user to compile selected days from said calendar of days into said special preselected designation;
• defining a day class, said day class representing a schedule of operation of said process during a twenty-four hour period;
• assigning said day class to said special preselected designation so that said day class is assigned to said selected days of said special preselected designation;
• and
• depicting said selected days of said special preselected designation differently from other days of said calendar.

In a system including a computer that provides for user input through a graphical user interface, a method for indicating the general schedule of operation of a process over a predetermined period of time, comprising the steps of:

• displaying on said graphical user interface a calendar of days representing said predetermined period of time;
• defining a day class, said day class representing a schedule of operation of said process during a twenty-four hour period;
• assigning each day of said calendar on which said schedule of operation of said process is to be followed to said day class;
• depicting each day assigned to said day class in a different manner from other days of said calendar not assigned to said day class;
• and
• providing a correspondence table that depicts correspondence between the day class and the different manner in which said each day assigned to said day class is depicted.