Method and system for telecommuting enviroment

• US 20040098494A1
• Filed: 02/28/2003
• Published: 05/20/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 09/08/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Viloke Oy
• Original Assignee: Viloke Oy
• Inventors: Mikkulainen, Tauno
• Application Number:
  US10/363,353
• Publication Number:
  US 20040098494A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

The invention relates to a method and system for working in a distributed working environment which comprises a terminal device (DTE) equipped with a client program and a server (SERV) equipped with a server program, the server being connected via a telecommunication network (CN) to the terminal device (DTE). In the method, information is being transmitted from the terminal device (DTE) to a multidimensional work platform on the server (SERV), and information is being transmitted from a multidimensional work platform on the server (SERV) to the terminal device (DTE).

Claims

1. A method for working in a distributed working environment which comprises:

a terminal device equipped with a client program and

a server equipped with a server program, the server being connected by way of a telecommunication network to the terminal device, said method comprising the steps of

establishing between the terminal device and the server,

logging into the information system located in the server;

processing and transmitting information from a multidimensional work platform stored in a database on the server to the terminal device;

editing the information placed on the multidimensional work platform, and

transmitting information in real time from the terminal device to the multidimensional work platform on the server.

2. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information to be transmitted is text-formed, image-formed and/or multimedia information.

3. A method according to claim 1, wherein the information to be transmitted is a multidimensional work platform and/or link to the information.

4. A method according to claim 1, wherein on the work platform, boxes are used to which it is possible to save information.

5. A method according to claim 1, wherein on the work platform, boxes are used from which information is read.

6. A method according to claim 1, wherein messages are saved in real time to the boxes of the work platform of the server.

7. A method according to claim 1, wherein in the terminal, an Internet browser program or a WAP browser program is used.

8. A method according to claim 1, wherein for the transfer of information between the terminal device and the server, the e-mail messages are used.

9. A method according to claim 1, wherein for the transfer of information between the terminal device and the server, an HTTP protocol is used.

10. A method according to claim 1, wherein a level of access rights is defined to the terminal device.

11. A method according to claim 1, wherein the method further comprises the steps of:

defining a chairman level of access rights to the terminal device, in which case the terminal device is used to manage the work platform;

defining the terminal devices participating in the working;

defining the ownership of a box, reading and writing right; and

defining the operation of the work platform, and the number of horizontal and vertical lines of the work platform.

12. A method according to claim 1, wherein a participant level of access rights is defined to the terminal device, in which case one uses the terminal device to work as one participant on the work platform, sees the other work platforms belonging to the terminal device, and the terminal device has the right to establish new work platforms.

13. A method according to claim 1, wherein a specialist level of access rights is defined to the terminal device, in which case one sees with the terminal device the work platform belonging to the terminal device, may read the work platform or write into the work platform.

14. A method according to claim 1, wherein the e-mail is used for the scheduling of the operation between the terminal devices participating in the work platform as well as for other communication.

15. A method according to the any one of claim 1, wherein in addition to the normal title information and other information, a box of the work platform is provided with a link to a second work platform.

16. A method according to claim 1, wherein a link attached to the work platform is restricted to concern only those terminal devices that have been granted access to the work platform in question.

17. A method according to claim 1, wherein only one terminal device at a time is allowed to edit the content of the box.

18. A method according to claim 1, wherein several terminal devices are allowed to simultaneously read the same box.

19. A method according to any of claim 4, wherein the terminal device is used to vote a hierarchy for each box of the work platform.

20. A method according to the claim 4, wherein a voting field is attached to each box for the voting by means of the terminal device.

21. A method according to claim 19, wherein the changing of the boxes in a voting situation is prevented.

22. A method according to claim 19, wherein in a voting situation, the other terminal devices are prevented from seeing the voting information.

23. A method according to claim 4, wherein information is collected on the use of the boxes.

24. A method according to claim 1, wherein the work platform is controlled by sending an e-mail message from the terminal device to the work platform.

25. A method according to claim 1, wherein a printing e-mail message sent from the work platform is received onto the terminal device.

26. A method according to claim 1, wherein to each e-mail control function, an unambiguous e-mail address consistent with the function is attached.

27. A method according to claim 1, wherein the rights of the work platform of the sender are determined based on the sender field of the e-mail.

28. A method according to claim 1, wherein the terminal device is summoned to a platform working by sending an e-mail message that comprises the link address of the work platform.

29. A method according to claim 1, wherein the work platform is controlled by means of the menu of the terminal device.

30. A method according to claim 1, wherein the multidimensional work platform is edited by means of a two-dimensional user interface.

31. A method according to claim 1, wherein the connection between the terminal device and the server is encrypted.

32. A method according to claim 4, wherein a new work platform is created in a box of the work platform.

33. A method according to claim 32, wherein the work platform is protected by user rights.

34. A method according to claim 32, wherein a separate box is protected by user rights.

35. A method according to claim 1, wherein one informs of the changes made on the work platform at prescribed time intervals.

36. A method according to claim 1, wherein one informs of the changes made on the work platform, when there is a predetermined number of changes made.

37. A method according to claim 1, wherein the work platform may be locked.

38. A system for working in a distributed working environment comprising:

a terminal device which comprises a client program;

a server which comprises a server program;

a telecommunication connection between the terminal device and the server, wherein the system further comprises;

means for using a multidimensional work platform saved on the server from the terminal device;

means for generating a multidimensional work platform; and

means for editing a multidimensional matrix.

39. The system according to claim 38, wherein the system comprises means for physically sending the work platform to a terminal device connected to the telecommunication network.

40. The system according to claim 39, wherein the system comprises means for sending the work platform to a wireless terminal device.

41. The system according to claim 38, wherein the system further comprises:

means for receiving a control e-mail message;

means for performing a function comprising a control e-mail message; and

means for compiling a feedback on the control function and sending it to the terminal device.

42. The system according to any of claim 38, wherein the system comprises a server for carrying out the program codes.

43. The system according to claim 38, wherein the system comprises a server for transmitting the work platform views to the user'"'"'s terminal device.

44. The system according to claim 38, wherein as the server transmitting work platform views to the terminal device of the user functions the WWW server.

45. The system according to claim 38, wherein stored on the server is the information of the users and the views.

46. The system according to claim 38, wherein the server is arranged to retrieve the information of the users and the views from an external information system.