System and method for creating and selectively sharing data elements in a peer-to-peer network
First Claim
1. A peer-to-peer communication system, comprising:
- at least two peer terminals, each having an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, the application comprising;
a contact creating module that enables the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
a permission granting module that enables data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements; and
a synchronizing module that enables instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A system and method are provided for sharing information in a distributed peer-to-peer network wherein an information owner invites one or more trusted users to participate in information sharing and wherein the information owner designates permission levels for each of one or more trusted users. Upon accepting the invitation, the one or more trusted users may be granted with complete access, read only access, or blocked access to the shared information. The one or more trusted users may selectively decide to accept or decline to share information on a folder-to-folder basis. Any modifications made to the shared information may be disseminated to all the trusted users in real-time, upon log-in to a central server, or after a predetermined time delay.
161 Citations
30 Claims
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1. A peer-to-peer communication system, comprising:
at least two peer terminals, each having an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, the application comprising;
a contact creating module that enables the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
a permission granting module that enables data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements; and
a synchronizing module that enables instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A peer-to-peer communication system, comprising:
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at least one special purpose peer; and
at least two peer terminals, each having an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, the application comprising;
a contact creating module that enables the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
a permission granting module that enables data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements;
a synchronizing module that enables instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements. - View Dependent Claims (12)
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13. A peer-to-peer communication system, comprising:
at least two peer terminals, each having an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, the application comprising;
contact creating means for enabling the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
permission granting means for enabling data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements; and
synchronizing means for enabling instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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23. A method of communicating in a peer-to-peer environment having at least two peer terminals, wherein each peer terminal includes an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, the method comprising:
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enabling the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
enabling data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements; and
enabling instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements. - View Dependent Claims (24, 25, 26)
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27. A computer usable medium having computer readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer to communicate in a peer-to-peer environment having at least two peer terminals, wherein each peer terminal includes an application that enables peer terminal users to perform at least one of creating data elements, modifying data elements, and sharing data elements, comprising:
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computer readable program code for causing a computer to enable the peer terminal users to create contacts, wherein at least one contact is associated with another peer terminal user and wherein the at least one contact is designated as a sharing contact for sharing the data elements;
computer readable program code for causing the computer to enable data element owners to selectively grant permissions to selected sharing contacts, wherein the granted permissions provide predetermined rights to specified data elements; and
computer readable program code for causing the computer to enable instantaneous propagation of changes made to data elements. - View Dependent Claims (28, 29, 30)
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Specification