Allowing a user to easily collaborate with users from outside organizations where the user has visitor status by selecting an object associated with the outside organization that is displayed on the user interface of the user's computing device

• US 10,380,550 B2
• Filed: 07/12/2018
• Issued: 08/13/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Banatwala, Mustansir, Brooks, David A., Durazzano, David L., Travis, Amy D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Homayounmehr, Farid
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bucknor, Olanrewaju J.
• Application Number:
  US16/033,389
• Publication Number:
  US 20180322460A1
• Time in Patent Office: 397 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 50/01 Social networking
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/083 using passwords cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication using a predetermined code H04L9/3226
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/10 for controlling access to devices or network resources
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/101 Access control lists [ACL]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/168 above the transport layer
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/10 in which an application is distributed across nodes in the network software deployment G06F8/60; multiprogramming arrangements G06F9/46

Abstract

A method, system and computer program product for allowing a user to easily collaborate with users from different organizations. In response to authenticating the user to access the environment of the user'"'"'s home organization, a list of outside organizations where the user has visitor status is obtained. Outside organization(s) in the list of outside organizations that have content to be viewed by the user are identified. An object associated with the user'"'"'s home organization, objects associated with the outside organizations where the user has visitor status as well as indications (e.g., star) associated with those outside organizations that have content to be shared with the user are displayed on the user interface of the user'"'"'s computing device. In this manner, the user will be able to collaborate with an outside organization that has content to be shared in response to selecting the object associated with the outside organization.

Claims

1. A system, comprising:

a memory for storing a computer program for allowing a user to easily collaborate with users from different organizations; and

a processor connected to said memory, wherein said processor is configured to execute the program instructions of the computer program comprising;

receiving an invite request by a first user to collaborate with a second user of an outside organization, wherein said first user is granted visitor status with said outside organization, wherein said outside organization associates authentication credentials of said first user with said outside organization thereby acknowledging that said first user has access to an environment of said outside organization;

obtaining user authentication credentials from said outside organization to log into said outside organization in response to receiving said invite request by said first user to collaborate with said second user from said outside organization;

storing said obtained user authentication credentials;

displaying on a user interface of a computing device of said first user an object associated with said outside organization;

receiving a selection of said object associated with said outside organization; and

automatically logging into a tenant space of said outside organization, by said processor, using said obtained user authentication credentials to log into said outside organization in response to receiving said selection of said object associated with said outside organization.

2. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

adding said outside organization to a list of outside organizations where said first user has visitor status.

3. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

receiving said user authentication credentials from said first user to log into a tenant space of a home organization.

4. The system as recited in claim 3, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

obtaining a list of outside organizations where said first user has visitor status in response to authenticating said first user to access said tenant space of said home organization.

5. The system as recited in claim 4, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

searching and identifying one or more outside organizations in said list of outside organizations that have content to be viewed by said first user.

6. The system as recited in claim 5, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

displaying on said user interface of said computing device of said first user an object associated with said home organization and objects associated with outside organizations in said list of outside organizations where said first user has visitor status as well as displaying one or more indications associated with said one or more organizations in said list of outside organizations with content to be viewed by said first user.

7. The system as recited in claim 1, wherein the program instructions of the computer program further comprise:

allowing collaboration to occur between said first user of a home organization and said second user of said outside organization.