Method, computer program product and apparatus for capturing inexact date information
US8161026B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 30, 2007 |
| Grant date | Apr 17, 2012 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Aug 24, 2027 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC G)Physics
- CPC primaryG06F16/2468
- WIPO fieldComputer technology
- WIPO sectorElectrical engineering
Abstract
A method, computer program product and apparatus are provided for capturing inexact date information. In particular, a sophisticated date entry mechanism is provided that is capable of receiving, as input, date information associated with not only exact dates, but also “fuzzy” (i.e., partial or approximate) dates including, for example, “August of 2006,” or “about the first of June in the year 1996.” This date information may be input via any combination of a mouse, a keyboard, a microphone, or other input element, and in a plurality of different formats, including, for example, a plain language description of the exact or fuzzy date, and/or a relative description of the date. Once the date information has been received, the date entry mechanism is capable of determining in which format the date information was provided, and determining a date corresponding with the date information based on this format.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.