Time-Based Computer Control

Abstract

A computer system includes a calendar containing appointments. The system also includes one or more logic modules. Each logic module specifies a condition and a corresponding action. The profile may be applied to context data, such as data representing the current time, to perform the actions specified by the logic modules in response to detecting that the context data satisfies the conditions specified by the logic modules. In particular, the actions specified by the logic modules may be performed in response to detecting that the current time falls within the time period of an appointment on the calendar.

1 . A method performed by at least one computer processor executing computer program instructions tangibly stored on at least one non-transitory computer-readable medium, the method comprising:
 (A) determining that a first current time falls within a first time period of a first appointment, wherein the first appointment is represented by a first appointment record;   (B) in response to the determination of (A), performing a first action;   (C) determining that a second current time falls within a second time period of a second appointment, wherein the second appointment is represented by a second appointment record; and   (D) in response to the determination of (C), performing a second action.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first action comprises deferring transmission of a first message. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the first action comprises deferring receipt of the first message. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein performing the first action comprises:
 performing the first action on a first message transmissible via a first communication mode; and   performing the first action on a second message transmissible via a second communication mode;   wherein the first communication mode differs from the second communication mode.   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 4 :
 wherein the first communication mode is one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode; and   wherein the second communication mode is one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the first communication mode is the email communication mode. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 (E) after (B) and before (C), determining that a third current time falls outside the first time period of the first appointment;   (F) in response to the determination of (E), performing a third action, wherein the third action differs from the first action;   (G) after (C) and before (D), determining that a fourth current time falls outside the second time period of the second appointment; and   (H) in response to the determination of (G), performing a fourth action, wherein the fourth action differs from the second action.   
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first action differs from the second action. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 :
 wherein (B) comprises identifying the first action based on first context data; and   wherein (D) comprises identifying the second action based on second context data.   
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the first action differs from the second action. 
     
     
         11 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising computer program instructions tangibly stored on the computer-readable medium, wherein the instructions are executable by at least one computer processor to perform a method comprising:
 (A) determining that a first current time falls within a first time period of a first appointment, wherein the first appointment is represented by a first appointment record;   (B) in response to the determination of (A), performing a first action;   (C) determining that a second current time falls within a second time period of a second appointment, wherein the second appointment is represented by a second appointment record; and   (D) in response to the determination of (C), performing a second action.   
     
     
         12 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first action comprises deferring transmission of a first message. 
     
     
         13 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 12 , wherein the first action comprises deferring receipt of the first message. 
     
     
         14 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein performing the first action comprises:
 performing the first action on a first message transmissible via a first communication mode; and   performing the first action on a second message transmissible via a second communication mode;   wherein the first communication mode differs from the second communication mode.   
     
     
         15 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 14 :
 wherein the first communication mode is one of an email communication mode, a text message communication mode, and a voice call communication mode; and   wherein the second communication mode is one of the email communication mode, the text message communication mode, and the voice call communication mode.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 15 , wherein the first communication mode is the email communication mode. 
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the method further comprises:
 (E) after (B) and before (C), determining that a third current time falls outside the first time period of the first appointment;   (F) in response to the determination of (E), performing a third action, wherein the third action differs from the first action;   (G) after (C) and before (D), determining that a fourth current time falls outside the second time period of the second appointment; and   (H) in response to the determination of (G), performing a fourth action, wherein the fourth action differs from the second action.   
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 , wherein the first action differs from the second action. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 11 :
 wherein (B) comprises identifying the first action based on first context data; and   wherein (D) comprises identifying the second action based on second context data.   
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable medium of  claim 19 , wherein the first action differs from the second action.