Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system
First Claim
1. A method for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the method comprising:
- (a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
(b) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
(c) scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
(d) using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool.
3 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access. It also allows for logging and monitoring of system behavior.
198 Citations
60 Claims
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1. A method for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the method comprising:
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(a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
(b) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
(c) scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
(d) using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. Apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the apparatus comprising:
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service software installed on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service software including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
means for causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
a component connector that scans the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
an agent bot instance that uses the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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29. A computer data signal embodied in a carrier wave for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the computer data signal comprising:
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program code for installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
program code for causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
program code for scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
program code for using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
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43. A computer program product for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the computer program product comprising a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon, including:
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program code for installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
program code for causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
program code for scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
program code for using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool.
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44. A method for connecting a collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies over a network, the method comprising:
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(a) scanning a server shared space copy located a server connected to the network to discover tools which require connection to the external system in the server shared space copy;
(b) creating an agent for at least one tool requiring connection discovered in the server shared space copy;
(c) associating agents with each tool requiring connection; and
(d) using each agent to exchange data between the external system and the tool with which the agent is associated. - View Dependent Claims (45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51)
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52. Apparatus for connecting a collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies over a network, the apparatus comprising:
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means for scanning a server shared space copy located a server connected to the network to discover tools which require connection to the external system in the server shared space copy;
means for creating an agent for at least one tool requiring connection discovered in the server shared space copy;
means for associating agents with each tool requiring connection; and
means for using each agent to exchange data between the external system and the tool with which the agent is associated. - View Dependent Claims (53, 54, 55, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60)
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Specification