Method, system and apparatus for efficiently determining priority of data in a database

Abstract

A method and apparatus for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device are provided. The data comprises a list of events, the computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device. Context data is processing at the processing unit to determine a priority ranking for each of the items, wherein processing the context data to determine a priority ranking comprises at least one of processing attendance data, location, event data, and telephone record data. Respective areas of the display device are controlled to provide visual representations of each of the events, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device, the data comprising a list of events, the computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device, the method comprising:
 processing context data at the processing unit to determine an attendance history, and based on the attendance history a priority ranking for each of the events in the list;   controlling respective areas of the display device to provide visual representations of each of the events in a calendar application, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking; and
 generating reminder data for at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking; and 
 controlling the display device to provide the reminder data for the at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking as determined based on the attendance history. 
   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein generating reminder data includes an option for at least one of declining a calendar event invitation and moving an event associated with the data. 
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising controlling the display device to provide a calendar view of the data, wherein each of the events comprises a calendar event given a visual precedence in the calendar view based on the priority ranking. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the database is stored in at least one of the memory device and a remote database. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the events corresponds to a work associated calendar event that occurs during a vacation period, the work associated calendar event automatically hidden during the vacation period. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , further comprising providing a show work appointments icon at the display device which, when selected, causes the work associated calendar event to be displayed, and providing a hide work appointments icon which, when selected, causes the work associated calendar events to be hidden. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein at least one of the events corresponds to a travel-related calendar event that occurs during a travel period, the travel-related calendar event given a visual precedence during the travel period. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein at least another of the events corresponds to a non-travel-related calendar event that occurs during the travel period, the non-travel-related calendar event given diminished visual precedence during the travel period. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein processing the context data to determine a priority ranking comprises at least one of:
 processing the data to determine attendance data associated with each the event;   processing location data associated with each the event to determine the attendance data;   processing the attendance data associated with each the event to determine if recurring events have been attended, and assigning higher respective priority rankings to events having higher attendance;   processing the attendance data to determine which of at least two conflicting recurring events have been previously attended, and assigning higher respective priority rankings to an event having higher attendance;   processing event data to determine when each of the events have occurred, been cancelled or moved; and   processing telephone record data to determine the attendance data.   
     
     
         10 . A computing device for determining priority of data in a database managed by the computing device, the data comprising a list of events, the computing device comprising:
 a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device, the processing unit enabled to:
 process context data to determine an attendance history, and based on the attendance history a priority ranking for each of the events in the list;
 control respective areas of the display device to provide visual representations of each of the events in a calendar application, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking; and 
 generate reminder data for at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking; and 
 control the display device to provide the reminder data for the at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking as determined based on the attendance history. 
 
   
     
     
         11 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the reminder data includes an option for at least one of declining a calendar event invitation and moving an event associated with the data. 
     
     
         12 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the processing unit is further enabled to control the display device to provide a calendar view of the data, wherein each of the events comprises a calendar event given a visual precedence in the calendar view based on the priority ranking. 
     
     
         13 . The computing device of  claim 10  wherein the processing unit is further enabled to generate delete data events based on the priority ranking such that an event that meets a predetermined threshold value is deleted from the data. 
     
     
         14 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein the database is stored in at least one of the memory device and a remote database. 
     
     
         15 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the events corresponds to a work associated calendar event that occurs during a vacation period, the work associated calendar event automatically hidden during the vacation period. 
     
     
         16 . The computing device of  claim 15 , wherein the processing unit is further enabled to provide a show work appointments icon at the display device which, when selected, causes the work associated calendar event to be displayed, and provide a hide work appointments icon which, when selected, causes the work associated calendar events to be hidden. 
     
     
         17 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein at least one of the events corresponds to a travel-related calendar event that occurs during a travel period, the travel-related calendar event given a visual precedence during the travel period. 
     
     
         18 . The computing device of  claim 17 , wherein at least another of the events corresponds to a non-travel-related calendar event that occurs during the travel period, the non-travel-related calendar event given diminished visual precedence during the travel period. 
     
     
         19 . The computing device of  claim 10 , wherein to process the context data to determine a priority ranking the processing unit is further enabled to at least one of:
 process the data to determine attendance data associated with each the event;   process location data associated with each the event to determine the attendance data;   process the attendance data associated with each the event to determine if recurring events have been attended, and assign higher respective priority rankings to events having higher attendance;   process the attendance data to determine which of at least two conflicting recurring events have been previously attended, and assign higher respective priority rankings to an event having higher attendance;   process event data to determine when each of the events have occurred, been cancelled or moved; and   process telephone record data to determine the attendance data.   
     
     
         20 . A computer program product, comprising a computer usable medium having a computer readable program code adapted to be executed to implement a method for determining priority of data in a database managed by a computing device, said data comprising a list of events, said computing device comprising a processing unit interconnected with a memory device and a display device, the method comprising:
 processing context data at the processing unit to determine an attendance history, and based on the attendance history a priority ranking for each of the events in the list;   controlling respective areas of the display device to provide visual representations of each of the events in a calendar application, each respective area controlled according to the priority ranking; and   generating reminder data for at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking; and   controlling the display device to provide the reminder data for the at least two calendar events based on the priority ranking as determined based on the attendance history.