ABSTRACT
A
unique method is defined for identification, notification, resolution, and
synchronization of event conflicts that could occur due to context based
dependencies across heterogeneous mobile user communities. An EVENT CONFLICT
RESOLUTION Algorithm is designed upon web based services model that gathers
calendar events from heterogeneous user calendars, filter relevant contacts for
each event, and creates inter-dependent chain of events for generating
predictions and thus identifying event conflicts.
The
algorithm issues notifications to all affected contacts and gathers user
actions for propagating updated calendar data across all relevant contacts.
PROBLEM
How to notify, modify, and synchronize event
conflicts across multiple heterogeneous user calendars?
Example:
F
User Mark, Emily, and Alex are a family.
F
Mark Schedule :
2:00 – 3:00 PM Meeting with John at work
3:00 – 3:30 PM Travel to pick up Alex
from
School
3:30 – 5:00 PM Pickup Alex from school,
Drop Alex at
home and drive
to meet with customer Rick
5:00 PM
Meeting with Rick
F
Mark runs into traffic Jam, will reach Alex’s school at 4 PM instead
and would be late for meeting with Rick
How does Rick get seamlessly notified? AND, How can both Emily and Alex get notified that it would be
best for Emily to pick up Alex instead, so Mark can make the meeting with Rick?
SOLUTION
A method is defined for identification,
notification, resolution, and synchronization of schedule conflicts that could
occur due to context based known and unknown dependencies across heterogeneous
mobile user communities. The suggested method is based on EVENT CONFLICT
RESOLUTION algorithm which is designed upon web-based services model.
The server maintains the calendar events of all
subscribed users. Based on this data, EVENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION algorithm generates
chains of critical events across the user communities in order to monitor the
probability of happening of each critical event based on known predictive
algorithms. The additional inputs provided to this algorithm are multi-user
dependencies. The outcome of these predictions enable EVENT CONFLICT RESOLUTION
algorithm to make decisions related to
a) contact lists affected by the decisions,
b) suggestive solutions to mitigate the disruptions,
c) notification methodologies for affected contacts, and
d) delegation rules (if any) for affected contacts.
Figure
1 shows the algorithm steps.
Event
types:
Events
defined in a user’s calendar could be categorized...