Perhaps the best way for me to explain this patent is to describe a scenario where the functionality could be of use.

If you are familiar with your BlackBerry Calendar, you know that it has a "recurring event" function. An example of a "recurring event" could be a sales manager's conference every Thursday at 11 a.m. in Meeting Room B.

Because some BlackBerry users don't want "recurring events" to appear on enterprise Calendars indefinitely, these enterprise users often set an expiration date. Then, if the event is still an ongoing proposition after the expiration date, the event must be propogated through the enterprise via BES. This can be a problem if some of the participants are outside the organization- such as customers or stakeholders not tied in to the BlackBerry Enterprise Server in use at this company.

What this patent does is allow recurring event calendar updates to be sent wirelessly. Now you know why this new patent application is entitled, "System and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event using electronic calendar system."

OK, now for the Abstract, which specifies:

"A system and method for preventing the lapse of a recurring event includes an electronic calendar program having the capability of establishing a recurring event with a predetermined end date. A processor is operative for notifying an organizer of the event at a predetermined time of the end date for the recurring event and permitting the organizer to modify the end date of the recurring event if the event is to continue," the Abstract says.

"The electronic calendar program and processor is operative in a mobile wireless communications device that includes a housing and radio frequency (RF) transceiver contained within the housing such that notifications of the new end date can be transmitted to and received by attendees of the event, including any changed meeting information."