METHOD FOR DEVELOPING AUTOMATIC REPLIES IN AN INTERACTIVE ELECTRONIC CALENDARING SYSTEM

An electronic calendaring method for use in a data processing system that has a plurality of interactive type work stations (terminals or personal computers) connected directly or indirectly to a host processor. The method assists a calendar owner who receives a notice at his work station requesting his involvement in a future event that is being calendared by another calendar owner on the system, to develop different responses to the requests automatically based on criteria that are pre-established by the invitee/owner and data that is included in the invitation. The criteria may include such items as the name of the event originator, a specific ID of the event, a subject for the meeting, the place of the meeting, the time of the meeting or various combinations of the above. Responses which are automatically returned may include a confirmation, a rejection, or some qualified form of either, such as a tentative confirmation.