System and method for real-time scheduling

摘要

A system and method for dynamically scheduling a meeting time in association with an instant messaging client. The system includes a chat server, a grid scheduling server, a local instant messaging client, a remote instant messaging client, and a grid scheduling client. The instant messaging client facilitates a chat session in conjunction with the chat server. The grid scheduling server generates a representation of scheduling information from a scheduling matrix including a list of times arranged transversely to a list of participants to the meeting. The grid scheduling client in conjunction with the grid scheduling server hosts a grid scheduling session in real-time on the local and remote instant messaging clients and schedules the meeting time according to real-time input from participants on the local and remote instant messaging clients.

主权项

1. A computer program product comprising a non-transitory computer useable storage medium to store a computer readable program that, when executed on a computer, causes the computer to perform operations comprising:
facilitate a text chat session between a first participant on a local instant messaging client and a second participant on a remote instant messaging client; generate a grid scheduling interface for display to the first and second participants, wherein the grid scheduling interface comprises a list of times of a selected date arranged transversely to a list of the participants to a meeting; host a grid scheduling session in real-time in conjunction with the local and remote instant messaging clients and receive priority levels of existing appointments of the first and second participants, wherein a low priority level allows the meeting to be scheduled over an existing appointment, and a high priority level prevents the meeting from being scheduled over the existing appointment; receive a first real-time grid scheduling interface input on the grid scheduling interface from the first participant and a second real-time grid scheduling interface input on the grid scheduling interface from the second participant wherein each of the grid scheduling interface inputs comprises an input that assigns preference rankings to available time slots of the first and second participants; process the preference rankings of the available time slots and the priority levels of the existing appointments, wherein a high preference time slot is preferred over a low preference time slot, and display to both the first and second participants the preference rankings of both the first and second participants; utilize a combination of the preference rankings and priority levels to automatically propose together at least two meeting times to the first and second participants in conjunction with a grid scheduling server according to the processed preference rankings and priority levels, wherein at least one of the at least two meeting times occurs during one of the existing appointments having a low priority level; and schedule a meeting time from among the proposed meeting times, wherein the scheduling is in conjunction with the grid scheduling server.