Schedule retrieval method for controlling schedules and schedule server apparatus with multistageous idle-time retrieval means

Abstract

A method in which idle time retrieval is not lumped together but divided multistageously so that a burden on a host person for retrieving idle time for subjects of participation is lightened. The subjects of participation are divided into some groups so that idle time is retrieved group by group on the basis of a given retrieval condition. The retrieval is continued unless the retrieval is completed for all the groups.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A schedule retrieval method for retrieving a schedule, comprising: 
 a first step of accepting an initial or first conference-holding condition of said schedule;    a second step of dividing a subject of said schedule into a plurality of groups;    a third step of comparing one group in said plurality of groups obtained by division with said first conference-holding condition to make a coincident result be a new or second conference-holding condition;    a fourth step of comparing one of said plurality of groups, which is not yet compared with any previous conference-holding conditions, with the one previous conference-holding condition to make a coincident result be a further new or newest conference-holding condition;    a fifth step of performing said fourth step on all the remaining ones of said plurality of groups which are not yet compared with any previous conference-holding conditions; and    a sixth step of outputting a retrieval result obtained by said fifth step.    
     
     
         2 . A schedule server apparatus connected to terminal apparatuses allocated to schedule-reserving persons and schedule-reserved persons through a communication line for retrieving idle time of a schedule, comprising: 
 a communication control means for transmitting data to said terminal apparatuses and receiving data from said terminal apparatuses; and    a multistageous idle-time retrieval means having a function of dividing each of schedules registered for a plurality of persons and a plurality of equipments into a plurality of groups and retrieving common idle time from one of said plurality of groups to make an idle-time retrieval result be a retrieval condition for retrieving idle time from the schedule of another group.    
     
     
         3 . A schedule server apparatus according to    claim 2   , wherein degrees of significance are given to participants respectively so that schedules of said participants are grouped in the order of the degree of significance to thereby output idle time correspondingly to the degrees of significance.  
     
     
         4 . A schedule server apparatus according to    claim 2   , further comprising means for making registration for a special group, wherein idle time is retrieved so that at least one of participants and equipments in said special group satisfies a condition.  
     
     
         5 . A recording medium capable of being read by a computer which retrieves idle time of a schedule comprising: 
 a first step of accepting an initial or first conference-holding condition of said schedule;    a second step of dividing a subject of said schedule into a plurality of groups;    a third step of comparing one group in said plurality of groups obtained by division with said first conference-holding condition to make a coincident result be a new or second conference-holding condition;    a fourth step of comparing one of said plurality of groups, which is not yet compared with any previous conference-holding conditions, with the one previous conference-holding condition to make a coincident result be a further new or newest conference-holding condition;    a fifth step of performing said fourth step on all the remaining ones of said plurality of groups which are not yet compared with any previous conference-holding conditions; and    a sixth step of outputting a retrieval result obtained by said fifth step.