Reminder System, like Google Calendar

[maloney1]

I am considering ways to have a web based reminder system that takes a
Date and Time and sends emails according to reminder flags in a
database. I know how to do all aspects other than the ability to send
reminders at specific points throughout the day without user
interaction. My first initial thought is that this is not possible
with the web, it would have to be a Windows service that is constantly
running on someones desktop.

My example and inspiration comes from Google Calendar that can send
reminders throughout the day. I thought maybe have a desktop running a
service that makes consistent half hour calls to a web service who
then queries the data for any reminders that need to be sent. But this
seems like a waste of resources.

Does anyone have any good ideas on how to make this a web based
solution without constant interaction? I need some creative answers!

Thanks
JM

 

[Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]]

JM,

Well, the way that you describe it is really one of the few options that
you have. Because you don't really don't have the capacity to have a push
mechanism, you have to address this differently (as you have pointed out).

I don't know that you need a service here. Granted, it sounds like you
are going to need to get information when the user isn't actively using your
program, but you shouldn't (and in Vista, can't) access the desktop through
the service. So you will have to have a client program that is accessing
your service in order to provide the notifications. Of course, this program
will run all throughout the user's session. Because of this, it really
doesn't make sense to have a service.

So, assuming you have that program running all throughout the user's
session, I would suggest that you download the schedule information when the
program starts, and then show notifications at the appropriate times (using
a timer, or some other mechanism).

Now, if the user has the capacity to update this schedule outside of
this program (which it seems like it does), you will have to update the
internal schedule information (that is powering the timer) pretty
frequently. You could make this a user-configurable option. Of course, any
time your client program makes changes, that is a trigger to auto-update the
information.

 

[maloney1]

JM,

    Well, the way that you describe it is really one of the few options that
you have.  Because you don't really don't have the capacity to have a push
mechanism, you have to address this differently (as you have pointed out).

    I don't know that you need a service here.  Granted, it sounds like you
are going to need to get information when the user isn't actively using your
program, but you shouldn't (and in Vista, can't) access the desktop through
the service.  So you will have to have a client program that is accessing
your service in order to provide the notifications.  Of course, this program
will run all throughout the user's session.  Because of this, it really
doesn't make sense to have a service.

    So, assuming you have that program running all throughout the user's
session, I would suggest that you download the schedule information when the
program starts, and then show notifications at the appropriate times (using
a timer, or some other mechanism).

    Now, if the user has the capacity to update this schedule outside of
this program (which it seems like it does), you will have to update the
internal schedule information (that is powering the timer) pretty
frequently.  You could make this a user-configurable option.  Of course, any
time your client program makes changes, that is a trigger to auto-update the
information.

--
          - Nicholas Paldino [.NET/C# MVP]
          - (e-mail address removed)

I am considering ways to have a web based reminder system that takes a
Date and Time and sends emails according to reminder flags in a
database. I know how to do all aspects other than the ability to send
reminders at specific points throughout the day without user
interaction. My first initial thought is that this is not possible
with the web, it would have to be a Windows service that is constantly
running on someones desktop.

My example and inspiration comes from Google Calendar that can send
reminders throughout the day. I thought maybe have a desktop running a
service that makes consistent half hour calls to a web service who
then queries the data for any reminders that need to be sent. But this
seems like a waste of resources.

Does anyone have any good ideas on how to make this a web based
solution without constant interaction?  I need some creative answers!

Thanks
JM- Hide quoted text -

- Show quoted text -

Thanks for the explanation, I think I am going to try and emulate your
plan.

John