System for enabling collaboration and protecting sensitive data
First Claim
1. A method for use in managing a collaborative environment involving multiple data systems, comprising the steps of:
- providing a collaboration system, separate from said multiple data systems, for controlling messages between said multiple data systems, wherein said collaboration system is configured to communicate with each of said multiple data systems via a defined network interface;
first accessing a communication between identified users of said multiple data systems;
second accessing processing information, indexed to one or more of said identified users, using said collaboration system, said processing information including instructions (executable rules) for use in processing said communication transmitted between said multiple data systems;
using said executable rules and said communication to obtain processed information; and
providing an output to one or more of said identified users based on said processed information.
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive system facilitates collaboration between multiple network users with respect to collaboration subject matter while maintaining the integrity of sensitive data. In one implementation, the system (200) includes a radiant collaboration subsystem (202) and a radiant sanitizer/guard subsystem (206). The guard (202) receives input information (206), reformats the input information (206) as necessary, and processes the input information and sanitizes the input information (206) based on predefined rules regarding dissemination of sensitive information to particular recipients. Sanitized outputs are provided by the guard (204) on a recipient-specific basis. The collaboration subsystem (202) allows for establishing a conference of collaborators identifying a document or documents to be included in the conference and allowing such documents as well as such documents to be represented to individual collaborators in accordance with the noted rules governing distribution of sensitive information. In this manner, collaboration is facilitated among collaborators that may have different limitations regarding access to sensitive data. The system (200) is useful in a variety of contexts, including the sharing of information as between public and private sector entities related to homeland security.
457 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for use in managing a collaborative environment involving multiple data systems, comprising the steps of:
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providing a collaboration system, separate from said multiple data systems, for controlling messages between said multiple data systems, wherein said collaboration system is configured to communicate with each of said multiple data systems via a defined network interface;
first accessing a communication between identified users of said multiple data systems;
second accessing processing information, indexed to one or more of said identified users, using said collaboration system, said processing information including instructions (executable rules) for use in processing said communication transmitted between said multiple data systems;
using said executable rules and said communication to obtain processed information; and
providing an output to one or more of said identified users based on said processed information. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 30)
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23. A method for use in sharing information between at least one source system and multiple recipient systems, comprising the steps of:
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providing a collaboration system interposed between said source system and said recipient systems for facilitating sharing of information between said source system and said recipient systems, said collaboration system configured for communication with each of said source system and said recipient system using a defined network interface;
first accessing, using said collaboration systems, first input information from said source system;
second accessing, using said collaboration system, a first instruction set related to a first recipient system;
third accessing, using said collaboration system, a second instruction set related to a second recipient system;
first operating said collaboration system to provide a first output to said first recipient system based on said first input information and said first instruction set; and
second operating said collaboration system to provide a second output to said second recipient system based on said first input information and said second instruction set, where said second output has a content different than said first output. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26, 31)
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27. A method for use in network-based collaboration, comprising the steps of:
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establishing collaboration subject matter;
establishing a conference, wherein multiple collaborators access said collaboration subject matter during a time interval of said conference, wherein said time interval can be of indefinite duration and less than all of said collaborators can participate in the conference at times within said time interval;
first processing said collaboration subject matter, in connection with said conference, to provide a first output for a first collaborator based on a state of said collaboration subject matter at a first time, said first output having a first content; and
second processing said collaboration subject matter, in connection with said conference, to provide a second output for a second collaborator based on said state of said collaboration subject matter at said first time, said second output having a second content different than said first content, wherein said first output is provided at a second time, the same or different than said first time, and said second output is provided at a third time, the same or different than said second time. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 32)
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33. A method for allowing collaboration between multiple users of a data network, comprising the steps of:
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providing collaboration subject matter including first information from at least one information source;
providing a collaboration system for enabling access to at least portions of said first information by a first user system and a second user system;
first operating said collaboration system to receive said collaboration subject matter;
second operating said collaboration system to identify said first user system, access a first content-based rule associated with said first user system, process said first information using said first content-based rule to establish a first output based on said collaboration subject matter, and provide access to said first output by said first user system; and
third operating said collaboration system to identify said second user system, access a second content-based rule associated with said second user system, process said first information using said second content-based rule to establish a second output, different than said first output, based on said collaboration subject matter, and provide access to said second output by said second user system;
wherein said first and second user systems can be used for collaborative work related to said collaboration subject matter in accordance with said first and second content-based rules. - View Dependent Claims (34, 35)
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36. A method for securely sharing information among multiple information systems, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a first community of multiple first information systems for secure sharing of information therebetween;
establishing a second community of a plurality of second information systems for secure sharing of information therebetween;
providing a collaboration system for facilitating sharing of information between multiple information systems;
storing, for access by said collaboration system, a first set of rules governing distribution of information among said first information systems;
storing, for access by said collaboration system, a second set of rules governing distribution of information among said second information systems; and
operating said collaboration system to control sharing of information between said first information systems based on said first set of rules and between said second information systems based on said second set of rules. - View Dependent Claims (37)
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38. A method for use in securely sharing information among multiple information systems, comprising the steps of:
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first establishing a community of multiple information systems to be included within a secure context for sharing of information;
second establishing a collaboration system for facilitating sharing of information among said community of multiple information systems, said collaboration system being configured to communicate with each of said multiple information systems using a defined network interface;
said collaboration system being configured to process information transmitted between first and second systems of said community on a system dependent basis with regard to one of a form and a content of said information so as to facilitate sharing of information;
establishing an algorithm for detecting a condition of interest based on monitored communications;
monitoring a content of communications within said community; and
based on said monitored communications and said algorithm, selectively generating an alert message indicating the existence of said condition of interest. - View Dependent Claims (39)
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40. An apparatus for use in managing a collaborative environment involving multiple data systems, comprising:
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a processing structure, separate from said multiple data systems for controlling communications between said multiple data systems, wherein said processing structure is configured to communicate with each of said multiple data systems via a defined interface;
said processing structure being operative to access a communication between identified users of said multiple data systems, access executable rules indexed to one of said identified users, and execute said rules with respect to said communication to obtain processed information; and
output structure for providing an output to one or more of said identified users based on said processed information.
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41. A method for use in processing information received from sources associated with multiple independent data systems, comprising the steps of:
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receiving first input information from a first source of a first source system, wherein said first source is associated with a first input form related to data structure;
receiving second input information from a second source of a second source system separate from said first source system, wherein said second source is associated with a second input form, different from said first input form, related to data structure;
combining, using said collaboration system, at least a portion of said first information and a portion of said second information to generate processed information; and
providing an output to at least one recipient system based on said processed information;
wherein at least one of said steps of combining and providing an output is based on a defined rule set executed by said collaboration system governing sharing of information among said source and recipient systems.
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42. A computer program product for use by a computer in connection with a network where interaction of multiple source systems is controlled by a collaboration system that executes system specific rules governing interaction between said multiple source systems, comprising:
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logical instructions for enabling the computer to perform predetermined operations; and
a computer readable medium bearing the logical instructions;
said predetermined operations including;
accessing resources of one of said multiple source systems, where said resources have at least one system dependent attribute; and
establishing an interface to said resources such that said system dependent attribute is rendered system independent, wherein said resources are available for use across said network subject to said system dependent rules governing interaction between said multiple source systems.
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Specification