Asynchronous, leader-facilitated, collaborative networked communication system
First Claim
1. A method for member-initiated, asynchronous, collaborative communication among a predetermined community of members using the Internet, comprising:
- (a) providing a secure website having at least one website location designated for use by members of the community;
(b) enabling a member to establish a browser-based connection with the website location and to post a member-initiated message on the website location;
(c) enabling at least one pre-designated leader to review the member-initiated message and notify selected members of the community that the member-initiated message is viewable on the website location, whereby a communication session with respect to the member-initiated message is initiated among the community of members via the website location.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An asynchronous, leader facilitated, collaborative networked communications system comprises a secure website to which members of a community can connect using an Internet browser software program. Collaborative communication is begun by posting a member-initiated message to the website for a leader to review and determine whether at least a portion of the message should be broadcast to at least a portion of the membership. Broadcast of the message is preferably accomplished by notifying selected members about the message, such that the message is viewed by the selected members and a communications session among the selected members, member posting the message, and leader, via the secured website, is authorized.
73 Citations
35 Claims
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1. A method for member-initiated, asynchronous, collaborative communication among a predetermined community of members using the Internet, comprising:
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(a) providing a secure website having at least one website location designated for use by members of the community;
(b) enabling a member to establish a browser-based connection with the website location and to post a member-initiated message on the website location;
(c) enabling at least one pre-designated leader to review the member-initiated message and notify selected members of the community that the member-initiated message is viewable on the website location, whereby a communication session with respect to the member-initiated message is initiated among the community of members via the website location. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A method for member-initiated, asynchronous, collaborative communication among a predetermined community of members using the Internet, comprising:
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(a) providing a secure website having at least one website location, wherein the website is operatively connected to the Internet to receive and broadcast communications, and wherein a website location is designated for use by the community;
(b) designating at least one community leader;
(c) providing each member with a member access to the community'"'"'s website location when the member establishes an operative Internet connection with the website and properly identifies his- or herself, wherein the member uses a host that is browser-based;
(d) posting a member-initiated message on the community'"'"'s website location via a member access to the community'"'"'s website location, wherein the member-initiated message is viewable only by the leader until the leader broadcasts a notification that the member-initiated message is viewable on the community'"'"'s website location;
(e) enabling the leader to review the member-initiated message; and
(f) having the leader to selectively notify selected members that the member-initiated message is viewable on the community'"'"'s website location, whereby the member-initiated message becomes viewable on the community'"'"'s website location to the selectively notified members, and whereby a communication session with respect to the member-initiated message and including only the selectively notified members, member posting the member-initiated message, and the leader is authorized via the community'"'"'s website location. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10)
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11. A computer program for executing a computer process, the computer program being storage medium readable by a computing system operating as a secure website having at least one website location, wherein the website is operatively connected to the Internet, and wherein a website location is designated for use by a predetermined community of members having a community leader, to receive and broadcast member-initiated, asynchronous, collaborative communications among the members, comprising the computer program implemented steps of:
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(a) requesting a viewer of the website to provide at least one identifying characteristic to determine whether the viewer is authorized to access the website, wherein the viewer uses a host that is browser-based;
(b) if the viewer successfully accesses the website, requesting the viewer to choose between creating a member-initiated message option and a viewing previously posted messages option;
(c) if the viewer selects the creating a member-initiated message option, presenting the viewer with a member-initiated message template webpage to create and post a member-initiated message on the community'"'"'s website location, wherein the member-initiated message is reviewable by the leader;
enabling the leader to control at least one communications aspect with respect to the member-initiated message, including enabling the leader to notify selected members that the member-initiated message is viewable on the community'"'"'s website location, whereby a communication session with respect to the member-initiated message is initiated via the community'"'"'s website location; and
(d) if the viewer selects the viewing previously posted messages option, presenting the viewer with all previously posted messages, and an option to post a reply message on the community'"'"'s website location with a reply message template webpage. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. A system for member-initiated, asynchronous, collaborative communication among a predetermined community of members using the Internet, comprising:
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a secure website having at least one website location, wherein the website is operatively connected to the Internet to receive and broadcast communications, wherein a website location is designated for use by the community, and wherein only members have authorized access to the website;
a member access for each member to the community'"'"'s website location, wherein each member access is established via an Internet connection using an Internet browser software program;
an interface for at least one predetermined community leader to facilitate member use of the community'"'"'s website location;
a member-initiated message posted on the community'"'"'s website location via a member access, wherein the member-initiated message is reviewable by the leader, and wherein the leader exercises control over at least one communications aspect with respect to the member-initiated message; and
a communication session via the community'"'"'s website location with respect to the member-initiated message. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35)
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Specification