Active calendar system

A signal-earing medium tangibly embodying a program of machine-readable instructions executable by a digital processing apparatus to perform a method for processing an appointment entry of a computerized calendar that includes predetermined event categories classifying anticipated calendar appointment entries and an action rule database having (1) data pre-associating each event category with one or more predetermined message formats, each message format having a content and a destination and (2) data identifying information sources containing the content and destination for each message format, the sources including records of the action rule database and subparts of calendar appointment entries of the pre-associated event category, the method comprising:

• automatically in response to user completion of a computer calendar appointment entry describing a planned event, the computerized calendar automatically analyzing contents of the completed calendar entry to identify one of the predetermined event categories classifying the planned event;
• for each message format pre-associated with the identified event category, the computerized calendar performing operations comprising:
• determining content and destination for the message as specified in the action rule database;
• and
• transmitting a machine-readable message having the determined content to the determined destination.

A computer-implemented active calendar, comprising:

• a storage;
• and
• a processor, coupled to the storage, the processor programmed to perform steps for processing an appointment entry of a computerized personal calendar that includes predetermined event categories classifying anticipated calendar appointment entries, the calendar also including an action rule database having (1) data pre-associating each event category with one or more predetermined message formats, each message format having a content and a destination and (2) data identifying information sources containing the content and destination for each message format, the sources including records of the action rule database and subparts of calendar entries of the pre-associated event category, the steps comprising:
• automatically in response to user completion of a computer calendar appointment entry describing a planned event, the computerized calendar automatically analyzing contents of the completed calendar entry to identify one of the predetermined event categories classifying the planned event;
• for each message format pre-associated with the identified event category, the computerized calendar performing operations comprising:
• determining content and destination for the message as specified in the action rule database;
• and
• transmitting a machine-readable message having the determined content to the determined destination.

A digital data processing machine, comprising:

• means for storing digital data;
• and
• processing means, coupled to the means for storing digital data, for processing an appointment entry of a computerized personal calendar that includes predetermined event categories classifying anticipated calendar appointment entries and an action rule database having (1) data pre-associating each event category with one or more predetermined message formats, each message format having a content and a destination and (2) data identifying information sources containing the content and destination for each message format, the sources including records of the action rule database and subparts of calendar appointment entries of the pre-associated event category, the entry being processed by:
• automatically in response to user completion of a computer calendar appointment entry describing a planned event, the computerized calendar automatically analyzing contents of the completed calendar entry to identify one of the predetermined event categories classifying the planned event;
• for each message format preassociated with the identified event category, the computerized calendar performing operations comprising:
• determining content and destination for the message as specified in the action rule database;
• and
• transmitting a machine-readable message having the determined content to the determined destination.

A computer implemented method for processing an appointment entry of a computerized calendar, comprising:

• establishing predetermined event categories classifying anticipated calendar appointment entries;
• constructing an action rule database including:
• data pre-associating each event category with one or more predetermined message formats, each message format having a content and a destination;
• and
• data identifying information sources containing the content and destination for each message format, the sources including records of the action rule database and subparts of calendar appointment entries of the pre-associated event category;
• automatically in response to user completion of a computer calendar appointment entry describing a planned event, the computerized calendar automatically analyzing contents of the completed calendar entry to identify one of the predetermined event categories classifying the planned event;
• for each message format pre-associated with the identified event category, the computerized calendar performing operations comprising:
• determining content and destination for the message as specified in the action rule database;
• and
• transmitting a machine-readable message having the determined content to the determined destination.

A method for providing a computer calendar system, comprising machine-executed operations of:

• detecting user entry of a computer calendar appointment describing a future event;
• automatically in response to user entry of the computer calendar appointment, performing operations comprising:
• analyzing contents of the appointment to identify one event category, in a group of predetermined event categories, classifying the planned event;
• consulting a database to identify one or more message types pre-associated with the identified event category, where said database pre-associates each event category with one or more predetermined message types;
• for each identified message type, performing operations comprising:
• consulting a database to identify one or more information resources, where said database pre-associates each message format with one or more predetermined information resources;
• utilizing the identified information sources to determine content and destination for the message;
• transmitting a machine-readable message having the determined content to the determined destination.