operating-hours: Difference between revisions

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<h1>Operating Hours</h1>
<h1>Operating Hours</h1>


This page documents an effort to define a simple, open, and semantic format for marking up the operating hours of stores, restaurants, museums, offices, and other estabishments that have set hours and are open on a regular basis. xHours is closely based on the [[hCalendar]] microformat.
This page documents an effort to determine a simple, open, and semantic format for marking up the operating hours of stores, restaurants, museums, offices, and other estabishments that have set hours and are open on a regular basis. This is based on the [[hCalendar]] microformat.


This format is '''deprecated'''. It has been recommended that RRULE in [[hCalendar]] be used instead. However, we are working on finding a way to use RRULE to accomplish this smoothly.
__TOC__
== Discussion participants ==


__TOC__
=== Editor ===
== Draft specification ==
* [http://dragotown.com Nick Drago]


=== Editor/Author ===
=== Authors ===
* [http://dragotown.com Nick Drago]
* [http://dragotown.com Nick Drago]


=== Process ===
=== Contributors ===
This format is '''deprecated'''. It has been recommended that RRULE in [[hCalendar]] be used instead. However, we are working on finding a way to use RRULE to accomplish this smoothly.
* [http://suda.co.uk Brian Suda]
* Add your name if you feel you have made significant additions to the page.


== Introduction ==
== Introduction ==
This effort came about as a result of:
This effort came about as a result of the need for a human and machine readable markup format that can be used to define the operating hours of establishments.
 
* the need for a human and machine readable markup format that can be used to define the operating hours of establishments
* the belief that the hCalendar format is not fully appropriate (not yet capable, etc.) for defining repeating events to the extent needed


Stores, businesses, etc. often provide their operating hours on their websites. With the addition of a small bit of markup, they would be able to discuss their operating hours on their websites in such a way that spiders and other aggregators can retrieve such hours, automatically convert them to the iCalendar format, and use this data in any iCalendar application or service.
Stores, businesses, etc. often provide their operating hours on their websites. With the addition of a small bit of markup, they would be able to discuss their operating hours on their websites in such a way that spiders and other aggregators can retrieve such hours, automatically convert them to the iCalendar format, and use this data in any iCalendar application or service.


This document proposes the introduction of a format which is a close subset of the [[hCalendar]] microformat, and thus the iCalendar standard, in semantic XHTML. Organizations and businesses can both embed their operating hours directly in their web pages and style them with CSS to make them appear as desired. In addition, this format would enable applications to retrieve such data directly from web pages without having to reference a separate file.  
This document proposes the introduction of a format which is a close subset of the [[hCalendar]] microformat, and thus the iCalendar standard, in semantic XHTML. Organizations and businesses can both embed their operating hours directly in their web pages and style them with CSS to make them appear as desired. In addition, this format would enable applications to retrieve such data directly from web pages without having to reference a separate file.  
== Current example ==
The website of a national chain of retail stores (we'll call them Store XYZ) features a store locater, in which one enters their city and state and are provided with a listing of stores in their area. Below is an excerpt of one of the listings (slightly modified):
<pre>
<b>Store #5555</b><br>
Address, City, State, Zip <br>
<b>Hours:</b> Mon-Sat 10:00am-9:00pm<br>Sun 11:00am-7:00pm
<br><br>
<b>This store also features:</b><br>
- Mobile electronics installation <br>
</pre>


== Brainstorming ==
== Brainstorming ==
Line 45: Line 33:
** Close time
** Close time


=== Using iCalendar ===
== Using RRULE in hCalendar ==
Using the current iCalendar standard, and using the date conventions defined in [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601#Time_interval ISO 8601], Store XYZ's store hours could be expressed as an interval:
''This section needs revision.''
<pre>
<pre>
2007-01-01T10:00:00Z/2007-01-01T21:00:00Z
<h1>Pardon the Interruption</h1>
</pre>
<p class="vevent">
Note that this defines the hours as an event occurring on January 1, 2007 from 10:00a.m. to 9:00p.m. (21:00).
  <a class="url uid summary"
href="http://sports.espn.go.com/...">Pardon the Interruption</a>
  is a <span class="category">TV</span> <span
class="category">sports</span> show.
  <abbr class="dtstart" title="2001-10-22">It airs</abbr>
  <span class="rrule">
        <span class="freq">weekly</span>
    <abbr class="byday" title="mo,tu,we,th,fr">Monday to
Friday</abbr> at <abbr class="byhour" title="5">5:30pm</abbr>
  </span>


Now, to make this event repeat, "R[n]/" is prefixed, with n being defined as 365:
  <!-- timezones should be avoided -->
<pre>
  <abbr class="tzid" title="US-Eastern">ET</abbr> on ESPN.
R365/2007-01-01T10:00:00Z/2007-01-01T21:00:00Z
</pre>
This would repeat this event 365 times, for the 365 days in a year. However, this is not appropriate, because Store XYZ is open during different hours during different days of the the week.


== Solution: using Cron recurring events ==
  The hosts of the show are longtime friends
Using Cron, if I have a store that is open 9am-5pm M-F and noon to 4:30pm on Saturday, I could write:
  <span class="hcard">
<pre>
      <span class="fn n">
<div class="not-vevent">
          <span class="given-name">Tony</span>
We will be <span class="state">open</span> from
          <span class="family-name">Kornheiser</span>
<span class="cron">
      </span>
    <abbr class="hour" title="090000.000Z:170000.000Z">9am to 5pm</abbr>
  </span>
    <abbr class="dayofweek"
   and ... (hCard for Michael Wilbon not shown)
title="Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday">M-F</abbr>
  <span class="description">They discuss - and frequently argue over
</span>
- the top stories of the
   and
  day in "sports... and other stuff".</span>
<span class="cron">
</p>
    <abbr class="hour" title="1200Z:1630Z">noon to 4:30</abbr>
    <abbr class="dayofweek"
title="Monday,Tuesday,Wednesday,Thursday,Friday">Saturday</abbr>
</span>
</div>
</pre>
</pre>
Essentially, state holds when any of the cron clauses matches. A colon
indicates a range and a comma indicates junction. Some classes
(year,month,day,hour, minute, second, etc.) would specify the maximum
resolution, i.e. what the largest digits mean; e.g. <abbr class="minute"
title="15,45">every 30 minutes</abbr> as opposed to <abbr class="second"
title="15,45">every 30 seconds</abbr>.
== Problems ==
* Are the weekday numbers (1-7) appropriate?
** No, it is not OK because of internationalization. In different cultures the week starts on different days.


== References ==
== References ==
Line 98: Line 76:
=== Informative References ===
=== Informative References ===
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601 Wikipedia article on ISO 8601]
* [http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ISO_8601 Wikipedia article on ISO 8601]
* [http://www.xfront.com/microformats/hCalendar_part2.html Tutorial on recurring events in hCalendar]
=== Related pages ===
* [[operating-hours-examples]]

Revision as of 23:51, 4 February 2007

Operating Hours

This page documents an effort to determine a simple, open, and semantic format for marking up the operating hours of stores, restaurants, museums, offices, and other estabishments that have set hours and are open on a regular basis. This is based on the hCalendar microformat.

Discussion participants

Editor

Authors

Contributors

  • Brian Suda
  • Add your name if you feel you have made significant additions to the page.

Introduction

This effort came about as a result of the need for a human and machine readable markup format that can be used to define the operating hours of establishments.

Stores, businesses, etc. often provide their operating hours on their websites. With the addition of a small bit of markup, they would be able to discuss their operating hours on their websites in such a way that spiders and other aggregators can retrieve such hours, automatically convert them to the iCalendar format, and use this data in any iCalendar application or service.

This document proposes the introduction of a format which is a close subset of the hCalendar microformat, and thus the iCalendar standard, in semantic XHTML. Organizations and businesses can both embed their operating hours directly in their web pages and style them with CSS to make them appear as desired. In addition, this format would enable applications to retrieve such data directly from web pages without having to reference a separate file.

Brainstorming

There are several main components to this listing:

  • Location
    • The establishment name
    • The establishment address
  • Hours
    • Day of week
    • Open time
    • Close time

Using RRULE in hCalendar

This section needs revision. 

<h1>Pardon the Interruption</h1>
<p class="vevent">
  <a class="url uid summary"
href="http://sports.espn.go.com/...">Pardon the Interruption</a>
  is a <span class="category">TV</span> <span
class="category">sports</span> show.
  <abbr class="dtstart" title="2001-10-22">It airs</abbr>
  <span class="rrule">
        <span class="freq">weekly</span>
    <abbr class="byday" title="mo,tu,we,th,fr">Monday to
Friday</abbr> at <abbr class="byhour" title="5">5:30pm</abbr>
  </span>

  <!-- timezones should be avoided -->
  <abbr class="tzid" title="US-Eastern">ET</abbr> on ESPN.

  The hosts of the show are longtime friends
  <span class="hcard">
      <span class="fn n">
          <span class="given-name">Tony</span>
          <span class="family-name">Kornheiser</span>
      </span>
  </span>
  and ... (hCard for Michael Wilbon not shown)
  <span class="description">They discuss - and frequently argue over
- the top stories of the
  day in "sports... and other stuff".</span>
</p>

References

Normative References

Informative References

Related pages

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