Computerized scheduling system and method for comparing two dates and alerting user of impending due date by changing color display of one of the two dates

Abstract

A computerized docketing system for legal matters, comprising a database operatively arranged to store information related to the legal matters, including actions to be taken with respect to the legal matters, and due dates associated with the actions to be taken, an arithmetic logic unit operatively arranged to scan the database, compare each of the due dates with a reference date, and classify the due dates according to proximity of each of the due dates to the reference date, and, means for displaying different classifications of the due dates in different colors for the purpose of alerting a user of the system of matters requiring attention.A computerized method and apparatus for comparing two dates and alerting user of impending due date by changing color of one of the two dates. The method includes the steps of storing information related to a first date in a database, displaying the information related to the first date in a first color, programming a relationship between the first date and a second date via a user interface, comparing the first date and second date to determine if the programmed relationship is satisfied, and displaying the information related to the first date in a second color if the programmed relationship is satisfied. The apparatus includes a general purpose computer specially programmed to implement the steps of the method.

What we claim is: 
     
       1. A computerized docketing system for legal matters, comprising:
 a database operatively arranged to store information related to said legal matters, including actions to be taken with respect to said legal matters, and due dates associated with said actions to be taken; 
 a user interface operatively arranged to receive a time period inputted from a user via said user interface at runtime, wherein said time period is associated with a color;  
 an arithmetic logic unit operatively arranged to scan said database, compare a difference between each of said actions and their respective due dates with and a reference date with said time period, and classify said due dates actions according to proximity of each of said respective due dates to said reference date, as prescribed by said time period; and, 
 means for displaying different classifications of said due dates actions in different colors said color when said difference is within said time period for the purpose of alerting a said user of said system of matters requiring attention. 
 
     
     
       2. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein said reference date corresponds to an actual date when said scan is done.  
     
     
       3. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein classifications of due dates actions within a first predetermined time period relative to said reference date are displayed in red. 
     
     
       4. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein classifications of due dates actions within a second predetermined time period relative to said reference date are displayed in yellow. 
     
     
       5. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein classifications of due dates actions within a third predetermined time period relative to said reference date are displayed in green. 
     
     
       6. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein said legal matters are intellectual property legal matters. 
     
     
       7. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein said due dates are statutory bar dates. 
     
     
       8. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for displaying comprises a color computer monitor. 
     
     
       9. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 8  wherein said means for displaying comprises a spreadsheet-type display on said monitor, comprising a plurality of color-coded cells, where each cell is representative of a due date. 
     
     
       10. A The computerized docketing system for legal matters as recited in  claim 1  wherein said means for displaying comprises a color-coded report printed on paper. 
     
     
       11. The computerized docketing system as recited in  claim 1  wherein said arithmetic logic unit is operatively arranged to scan said database, compare each of said due dates with a reference date, and classify said due dates according to proximity of each of said due dates to said reference date upon launch of said system. 
     
     
       12. A computerized docketing method for legal matters, comprising:
 storing information related to said legal matters in a database, said information including actions to be taken with respect to said legal matters, and due dates associated with said actions to be taken; 
 receiving a time period inputted from a user via a user interface at runtime, wherein said time period is associated with a color;  
 scanning said database, comparing a difference between each of said actions and their respective due dates with and a reference date with said time period, and classifying said due dates actions according to proximity of each of said due dates to said reference date, as prescribed by said time period; and, 
 displaying different classifications of said due dates actions in different colors said color when said difference is within said time period, for the purpose of alerting a said user of said system of matters requiring attention. 
 
     
     
       13. A computerized method of comparing two dates to alert a user of a future date or event, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) storing information in a database, performed by a computer, said information being related to a first date;   b) displaying said information in a first color on a calendar on a color computer monitor;   c) inputting a first time period to be associated with a second color, said inputting performed by said user via a user interface at runtime;   d) calculating a difference between said first date and a second date, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date; and,   e) displaying said information in said second color on said calendar on said color computer monitor when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.    
     
     
       14. The method recited in claim 13 wherein said first date is fixed in time and said second date changes over time.  
     
     
       15. The method recited in claim 14 wherein said second date approaches said first date over time.  
     
     
       16. The method recited in claim 13 wherein said displayed calendar is operatively arranged to change from said first color to said second color when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.  
     
     
       17. A method of comparing two dates, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) storing information related to a first date in a database, performed by a computer;   b) displaying said information related to said first date in a first color on a calendar on a color computer monitor;   c) inputting a first time period to be associated with a second color, said inputting performed by a user via a user interface at runtime;   d) calculating a difference between said first date and a second date, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date; and,   e) changing said first color displayed by said color computer monitor to said second color when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.    
     
     
       18. A general purpose computer specially programmed to compare two dates, comprising:
 a) means for storing information related to a first date in a database;   b) an arithmetic logic unit operatively arranged to calculate a difference between said first date and a second date, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date;   c) means for inputting a first time period to be associated with a second color via a user interface at runtime; and,   d) a color computer monitor operatively arranged to display said information related to said first date in a first color on a calendar and then display said information related to said first date in a second color on said calendar when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.    
     
     
       19. The computer recited in claim 17 wherein said first date is fixed in time and said second date changes over time.  
     
     
       20. The computer recited in claim 19 wherein said second date approaches said first date over time.  
     
     
       21. The computer recited in claim 18 wherein said calendar comprises a plurality of cells, wherein each said cell is operatively arranged to change from said first color to said second color when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.  
     
     
       22. A general purpose computer specially programmed to compare two dates, comprising:
 a) means for storing information related to a first date in a database;   b) an arithmetic logic unit operatively arranged to calculate a difference between said first date and a second date, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date;   c) means for inputting a first time period to be associated with said second color via a user interface at runtime; and,   d) a color computer monitor operatively arranged to display said information related to said first date in a cell of a calendar on said color computer monitor, wherein said cell has a background of said first color, and said color computer monitor is operatively arranged to change said first color of said background to said second color on said color computer monitor when said difference is less than or equal to said first time period.    
     
     
       23. A computerized scheduling system, comprising:
 a database operatively arranged to store information related to a first date;   an arithmetic logic unit operatively arranged to scan said database and compare said first date with a reference date, wherein said reference date initially antedates said first date;   means for associating a second color with a first time period via a user interface at runtime; and,   a color computer monitor operatively arranged to display said information related to said first date in a first color on a calendar, and said color computer monitor operatively arranged to change said first color to said second color when said comparison indicates that said reference date is within said first time period relative to said first date for the purpose of alerting a user of the system.    
     
     
       24. The computerized scheduling system of claim 23 wherein said calendar comprises a plurality of days represented by cells arranged to change color as said reference date approaches said first date.  
     
     
       25. The computerized scheduling system of claim 23 wherein said means for displaying said information further comprises a report in the form of a color-coded calendar printed on paper.  
     
     
       26. The computerized scheduling system of claim 23 wherein said first and second colors are different from each other and selected from the group consisting of red, yellow, and green.  
     
     
       27. A computerized method of comparing two dates to alert a user of a future date or event, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) storing information related to a first date in a database, performed by a computer;   b) displaying said information in a first color on a calendar on a color computer monitor and said first date is fixed in time;   c) monitoring a second date as said second date approaches said first date over time, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date; and,   d) changing said first color on said color computer monitor to a second color on said color computer monitor when said second date is within a first time period relative to said first date, said first time period being programmable by said user at runtime.    
     
     
       28. The computerized method of comparing two dates as recited in claim 27 wherein said first color of said cell is in the form of a border or a background of a cell of said calendar.  
     
     
       29. A method of alerting a user of a future date, or event associated therewith, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) storing information in a database, performed by a computer, said information being related to said future date;   b) displaying said information with a first color on a calendar on a color computer monitor;   c) storing a first time period and an associated a second color, said first time period being programmable by said user at runtime;   d) comparing said future date with a reference date to determine if said reference date is within said first time period relative to said future date wherein said reference date initially antedates said future date; and,   e) changing said first color on said color computer monitor to said second color on said color computer monitor when said reference date is within said first time period relative to said future date.    
     
     
       30. The method recited in claim 29 wherein said associated second color is programmable by said user at runtime via a user interface.  
     
     
       31. The method recited in claim 29 wherein the step of displaying said information with a first color comprises displaying said information and said first color in a cell within said calendar on said display, wherein said first color forms a border or a background of the cell.  
     
     
       32. The method recited in claim 29 further comprising the steps of:
 f) storing a second time period to be associated with a third color, said second time period being programmable by said user at runtime;   g) comparing said future date with said reference date to determine if said reference date is within said second time period relative to said first date; and,   h) changing said second color to said third color when said reference date is within said second time period relative to said first date, wherein said second time period is shorter than said first time period.    
     
     
       33. The method recited in claim 29 wherein the reference date equals the date on which the step of comparing said future date with said reference date is performed, which step is performed at least daily.  
     
     
       34. A computerized method of comparing two dates to alert a user of a future event, said method comprising the steps of:
 a) storing information in a database, performed by a computer, said information being related to a future event, said future event scheduled to occur on a first date;   b) inputting a time period, said inputting performed by said user via a user interface at runtime;   c) calculating a difference between said first date and a second date, wherein said second date initially antedates said first date; and,   d) displaying said information on a calendar on a color computer monitor, wherein said information is associated with a first color when said difference is greater than said time period, and said information is associated with a second color when said difference is less than or equal to said time period.