3.2.1. PUBLISH
The "PUBLISH" method in a "VEVENT" calendar component is an
unsolicited posting of an iCalendar object. Any CU may add published
components to their calendar. The "Organizer" MUST be present in a
published iCalendar component. "Attendees" MUST NOT be present. Its
expected usage is for encapsulating an arbitrary event as an
iCalendar object. The "Organizer" may subsequently update (with
another "PUBLISH" method), add instances to (with an "ADD" method),
or cancel (with a "CANCEL" method) a previously published "VEVENT"
calendar component.
Parameters:
component - one or more component objects
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method PUBLISH
3.2.2. REQUEST
The "REQUEST" method in a "VEVENT" component provides the following
scheduling functions:
o Invite "Attendees" to an event.
o Reschedule an existing event.
o Response to a "REFRESH" request.
o Update the details of an existing event, without rescheduling it.
o Update the status of "Attendees" of an existing event, without
rescheduling it.
o Reconfirm an existing event, without rescheduling it.
o Forward a "VEVENT" to another uninvited CU.
o For an existing "VEVENT" calendar component, delegate the role of
"Attendee" to another CU.
o For an existing "VEVENT" calendar component, change the role of
"Organizer" to another CU.
The "Organizer" originates the "REQUEST". The recipients of the
"REQUEST" method are the CUs invited to the event, the "Attendees".
"Attendees" use the "REPLY" method to convey attendance status to the
"Organizer".
The "UID" and "SEQUENCE" properties are used to distinguish the
various uses of the "REQUEST" method. If the "UID" property value in
the "REQUEST" is not found on the recipient's calendar, then the
"REQUEST" is for a new "VEVENT" calendar component. If the "UID"
property value is found on the recipient's calendar, then the
"REQUEST" is for a rescheduling, an update, or a reconfirmation of
the "VEVENT" calendar component.
For the "REQUEST" method, multiple "VEVENT" components in a single
iCalendar object are only permitted for components with the same
"UID" property. That is, a series of recurring events may have
instance-specific information. In this case, multiple "VEVENT"
components are needed to express the entire series.
Parameters:
component - one or more component objects
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method REQUEST
3.2.2.3. Delegating an Event to Another CU
Some calendar and scheduling systems allow "Attendees" to delegate
their presence at an event to another "Calendar User". iTIP supports
this concept using the following workflow. Any "Attendee" may
delegate their right to participate in a calendar "VEVENT" to another
CU. The implication is that the delegate participates in lieu of the
original "Attendee", NOT in addition to the "Attendee". The
delegator MUST notify the "Organizer" of this action using the steps
outlined below. Implementations may support or restrict delegation
as they see fit. For instance, some implementations may restrict a
delegate from delegating a "REQUEST" to another CU.
The "Delegator" of an event forwards the existing "REQUEST" to the
"Delegate". The "REQUEST" method MUST include an "ATTENDEE" property
with the calendar address of the "Delegate". The "Delegator" MUST
also send a "REPLY" method to the "Organizer" with the "Delegator's"
"ATTENDEE" property "PARTSTAT" parameter value set to "DELEGATED".
In addition, the "DELEGATED-TO" parameter MUST be included with the
calendar address of the "Delegate". Also, a new "ATTENDEE" property
for the "Delegate" MUST be included and must specify the calendar
user address set in the "DELEGATED-TO" parameter, as above.
In response to the request, the "Delegate" MUST send a "REPLY" method
to the "Organizer", and optionally to the "Delegator". The "REPLY"
method SHOULD include the "ATTENDEE" property with the "DELEGATED-
FROM" parameter value of the "Delegator's" calendar address.
The "Delegator" may continue to receive updates to the event even
though they will not be attending. This is accomplished by the
"Delegator" setting their "role" attribute to "NON-PARTICIPANT" in
the "REPLY" to the "Organizer".
Parameters:
request - a calendar implement the iTIP REQUEST method
Returns:
a calendar delegating the request via an iTIP REQUEST method
3.2.3. REPLY
The "REPLY" method in a "VEVENT" calendar component is used to
respond (e.g., accept or decline) to a "REQUEST" or to reply to a
delegation "REQUEST". When used to provide a delegation response,
the "Delegator" SHOULD include the calendar address of the "Delegate"
on the "DELEGATED-TO" property parameter of the "Delegator's"
"ATTENDEE" property. The "Delegate" SHOULD include the calendar
address of the "Delegator" on the "DELEGATED-FROM" property parameter
of the "Delegate's" "ATTENDEE" property.
The "REPLY" method is also used when processing of a "REQUEST" fails.
Depending on the value of the "REQUEST-STATUS" property, no
scheduling action may have been performed.
The "Organizer" of an event may receive the "REPLY" method from a CU
not in the original "REQUEST". For example, a "REPLY" may be
received from a "Delegate" to an event. In addition, the "REPLY"
method may be received from an unknown CU (a "Party Crasher"). This
uninvited "Attendee" may be accepted, or the "Organizer" may cancel
the event for the uninvited "Attendee" by sending a "CANCEL" method
to the uninvited "Attendee".
An "Attendee" MAY include a message to the "Organizer" using the
"COMMENT" property. For example, if the user indicates tentative
acceptance and wants to let the "Organizer" know why, the reason can
be expressed in the "COMMENT" property value.
The "Organizer" may also receive a "REPLY" from one CU on behalf of
another. Like the scenario enumerated above for the "Organizer",
"Attendees" may have another CU respond on their behalf. This is
done using the "SENT-BY" parameter.
The optional properties listed in the table below (those listed as
"0+" or "0 or 1") MUST NOT be changed from those of the original
request. If property changes are desired, the "COUNTER" message must
be used.
Parameters:
request - a calendar request
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method REPLY
3.2.4. ADD
The "ADD" method allows the "Organizer" to add one or more new
instances to an existing "VEVENT" using a single iTIP message without
having to send the entire "VEVENT" with all the existing instance
data, as it would have to do if the "REQUEST" method were used.
The "UID" must be that of the existing event. If the "UID" property
value in the "ADD" is not found on the recipient's calendar, then the
recipient SHOULD send a "REFRESH" to the "Organizer" in order to be
updated with the latest version of the "VEVENT". If an "Attendee"
implementation does not support the "ADD" method, it should respond
with a "REQUEST-STATUS" value of 3.14 and ask for a "REFRESH".
When handling an "ADD" message, the "Attendee" treats each component
in the "ADD" message as if it were referenced via an "RDATE" in the
main component.
Parameters:
component - a calendar component to add
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method ADD
3.2.5. CANCEL
The "CANCEL" method in a "VEVENT" calendar component is used to send
a cancellation notice of an existing event request to the affected
"Attendees". The message is sent by the "Organizer" of the event.
For a recurring event, either the whole event or instances of an
event may be cancelled. To cancel the complete range of a recurring
event, the "UID" property value for the event MUST be specified and a
"RECURRENCE-ID" MUST NOT be specified in the "CANCEL" method. In
order to cancel an individual instance of the event, the
"RECURRENCE-ID" property value for the event MUST be specified in the
"CANCEL" method.
There are two options for canceling a sequence of instances of a
recurring "VEVENT" calendar component:
a. The "RECURRENCE-ID" property for an instance in the sequence MUST
be specified with the "RANGE" property parameter value of
"THISANDFUTURE" to indicate cancellation of the specified
"VEVENT" calendar component and all instances after.
b. Individual recurrence instances may be cancelled by specifying
multiple "VEVENT" components each with a "RECURRENCE-ID" property
corresponding to one of the instances to be cancelled.
The "Organizer" MUST send a "CANCEL" message to each "Attendee"
affected by the cancellation. This can be done using a single
"CANCEL" message for all "Attendees" or by using multiple messages
with different subsets of the affected "Attendees" in each.
When a "VEVENT" is cancelled, the "SEQUENCE" property value MUST be
incremented as described in Section 2.1.4.
Parameters:
component - one or more component objects
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method CANCEL
3.2.6. REFRESH
The "REFRESH" method in a "VEVENT" calendar component is used by
"Attendees" of an existing event to request an updated description
from the event "Organizer". The "REFRESH" method must specify the
"UID" property of the event to update. A recurrence instance of an
event may be requested by specifying the "RECURRENCE-ID" property
corresponding to the associated event. The "Organizer" responds with
the latest description and version of the event.
Parameters:
component - a calendar component to refresh
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method REFRESH
3.2.7. COUNTER
The "COUNTER" method for a "VEVENT" calendar component is used by an
"Attendee" of an existing event to submit to the "Organizer" a
counter proposal to the event. The "Attendee" sends this message to
the "Organizer" of the event.
The counter proposal is an iCalendar object consisting of a "VEVENT"
calendar component that provides the complete description of the
alternate event.
The "Organizer" rejects the counter proposal by sending the
"Attendee" a "DECLINECOUNTER" method. The "Organizer" accepts the
counter proposal by rescheduling the event as described in
Section 3.2.2.1, "Rescheduling an Event". The "Organizer's" CUA
SHOULD send a "REQUEST" message to all "Attendees" affected by any
change triggered by an accepted "COUNTER".
Parameters:
request - a calendar request to counter
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method COUNTER
3.2.8. DECLINECOUNTER
The "DECLINECOUNTER" method in a "VEVENT" calendar component is used
by the "Organizer" of an event to reject a counter proposal submitted
by an "Attendee". The "Organizer" must send the "DECLINECOUNTER"
message to the "Attendee" that sent the "COUNTER" method to the
"Organizer".
Parameters:
counter - a counter to a request
Returns:
a calendar object validated to conform to iTIP method DECLINECOUNTER