System and method for sharing items in a computer system

• US 20040193673A1
• Filed: 12/05/2003
• Published: 09/30/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 03/27/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Guzak, Chris J., Samji, Mohammed, De Vorchik, David G., Ramasubramanian, Ram, Schrock, Sarah
• Granted Patent: US 7,536,386 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/168 Details of user interfaces specifically adapted to file systems, e.g. browsing and visualisation, 2d or 3d GUIs query results presentation G06F16/156
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/1787 Details of non-transparently synchronising file systems
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/192 Implementing virtual folder structures
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99942 Manipulating data structure, e.g. compression, compaction, compilation
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99945 Object-oriented database structure processing

Abstract

A system and method for sharing items. A sharer may choose to share individual items, such as documents, contacts, and e-mails. To begin the sharing process, a user selects the items that are to be shared. The user then selects the sharees who the items are to be shared with, and the permissions that are to be assigned to the sharees. When items are to be shared, they are left in place on the sharer'"'"'s machine, while the system ensures that the permissions are set, and any security issues are handled so that the sharees are able to access the items. In addition, the details of the sharing transactions may be tracked and recorded for later review. The sharer may also have the system send a link to the sharee for directly accessing the shared items from the sharer'"'"'s machine. The sharee may also be able to query the sharer'"'"'s machine to see what the sharer has shared out with the sharee.

Claims

1. A method for sharing at least one item in a computer system between a sharer and a sharee, comprising:

the sharer selecting at least one item to be shared;

the sharer selecting at least one sharee with whom the item is to be shared; and

providing to the sharee remote access to the item on the sharer'"'"'s computer.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharer also designates a level of permission that is assigned to the sharee.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that a file share exists from which the item to be shared can be accessed remotely.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein if a file share already exists, the permissions on the file share are set so as to allow the sharee to access the item that is to be shared.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that any permissions associated with the item that is to be shared are set so that the sharee can access the item.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising determining whether the item is protected, and if so verifying that the item can be shared with the sharee, and if the item cannot be shared, providing a notification to the sharer.

7. The method of claim 1, further comprising verifying that the sharer'"'"'s firewall will allow the sharee to access the shared item.

8. The method of claim 1, further comprising recording one or more details of the sharing transaction, including at least one of what was shared, who it was shared with, or when it was shared.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising sending a link to the sharee that allows the sharee to access the shared item directly from the sharer'"'"'s computer.

10. The method of claim 1, further comprising allowing the sharee to query the sharer'"'"'s computer to see what the sharer has shared out with the sharee.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the item is an individual item that is shared directly, such that the item does not first need to be saved in a folder which is then shared.

12. A method for sharing at least one item on a computer system, comprising:

receiving permission to access the item that is to be shared; and

in response to receiving the permission to access the item, remotely accessing the item.

13. The method of claim 12, further comprising verifying that a file share exists from which the item to be shared can be accessed remotely.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein if a file share already exists, the permissions on the file share are set so as to allow the sharee to access the item.

15. The method of claim 12, further comprising verifying that any permissions associated with the item are set so that the sharee can access the item.

16. The method of claim 12, further comprising determining whether the item is protected, and if so verifying that the item can be shared with the sharee, and if the item cannot be shared, providing a notification to the sharer.

17. The method of claim 12, further comprising sending a link to the sharee that allows the sharee to access the item directly from the sharer'"'"'s computer.

18. The method of claim 12, wherein the item is an individual item that is shared directly such that the item does not first need to be saved in a folder which is then shared.

19. One or more computer-readable media for enabling a computer-program segment to communicate with one or more other computer-program segments for sharing at least one item, said media comprising:

a set of computer-usable instructions that cause a request to provide remote access to at least one item that is to be shared to be communicated to one or more other computer-program segments capable of executing said request.

20. The media of claim 19, further comprising computer-usable instructions to verify that any permissions associated with the item are set so that the item can be remotely accessed.

21. The media of claim 19, further comprising computer-usable instructions for determining whether the item is protected, and if so, verifying that the item can be shared, and if the item cannot be shared, providing a notification.

22. The media of claim 19, further comprising computer-usable instructions for recording one or more details of the sharing transaction, including at least one of what was shared, who it was shared with, or when it was shared.

23. The media of claim 19, further comprising computer-usable instructions for sending a link that provides direct access to the item.

24. A method of sharing an item between a sharer and a sharee, comprising:

the sharer issues a call for setting at least one permission which will allow the sharee to remotely access the item at the sharer'"'"'s computer; and

in response to the call, the permission is set for the item.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising verifying that any permissions associated with the item are set so that the sharee can access the item.

26. The method of claim 24, further comprising determining whether the item is protected, and if so, verifying that the item can be shared with the sharee.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein when access may be unavailable to an item, a notification is provided to the sharer.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein the sharer is able to limit the type of access that is provided to the item.

29. The method of claim 24, further comprising recording one or more details of the sharing transaction.

30. The method of claim 24, further comprising sending a link to the sharee that allows the sharee to access the item directly from the sharer'"'"'s computer.

31. The method of claim 24, further comprising allowing the sharee to query the sharer'"'"'s computer to see what the sharer has shared out with the sharee.

32. The method of claim 24, wherein the item that is shared is an individual item which is shared directly such that the item does not need to first be saved in a folder which is then shared.

33. One or more computer-readable media for enabling a sharer to share at least one item with a sharee, comprising:

a set of computer-usable instructions that allow the sharee to remotely access the item through the sharer'"'"'s computer.

34. The media of claim 33, wherein the sharer designates a level of permission that is assigned to the sharee, and additional sharees may receive different permissions.

35. The media of claim 33, wherein the sharer designates a permission for the item, and additional items may be assigned different permissions.

36. The media of claim 33, further comprising computer-usable instructions for determining whether the item is protected, and if so, verifying that the item can be shared with the sharee, and if the item cannot be shared, providing a notification to the sharer.

37. The media of claim 33, wherein when access may be unavailable to an item, a notification is provided to the sharer.

38. The media of claim 33, further comprising computer-usable instructions for recording one or more details of the sharing transaction.

39. The media of claim 33, further comprising computer-usable instructions for sending a link to the sharee that allows the sharee to access the shared item directly from the sharer'"'"'s computer.

40. The media of claim 33, further comprising computer-usable instructions for allowing the sharee to query the sharer'"'"'s computer to determine what the sharer has shared out with the sharee.

41. The media of claim 33, wherein the item is an individual item that is shared directly such that the item does not first need to be saved in a folder which is then shared.

42. A method for sharing an individual item in a computer system between a sharer and a sharee, comprising:

designating an individual item on a sharer'"'"'s computer to be shared without requiring the item to be saved in a folder which is then shared; and

sharing the individual item with a sharee such that the sharee is provided with remote access to the individual item from the sharer'"'"'s computer.

43. The method of claim 42, wherein the sharer designates a level of permission for the sharee, and additional sharees may receive different levels of permission.

44. The method of claim 42, further comprising verifying that any permissions associated with the item are set so that the sharee can access the item.

45. The method of claim 42, further comprising determining whether the item is protected, and if so, verifying that the item can be shared.

46. The method of claim 42, wherein when access is unavailable to an item, a notification is provided to the sharer.

47. The method of claim 42, further comprising recording one or more details of the sharing transaction.

48. The method of claim 42, further comprising sending a link to the sharee that allows the sharee to access the item directly from the sharer'"'"'s computer.