System and method for integrating third party applications into a named collaborative space

• US 20050138118A1
• Filed: 12/22/2003
• Published: 06/23/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 12/22/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Estrada, Miguel A., Banatwala, Mustansir, Shalabi, Sami M., Landar, Sergei
• Granted Patent: US 9,015,239 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method and system for integrating an instance of a third party application into a collaborative computing environment instance are provided. One or more data interfaces between the third party application instance and the collaborative computing environment are created. The third party application instance is exposed within the collaborative computing environment. A template within the collaborative computing environment that uses the third party application instance is created. A migration tool is used to create collaborative computing environment instances which reference existing instances within the third party application.

Claims

1. A method for integrating an instance of a third party application into a collaborative computing environment instance, the method comprising:

creating one or more data interfaces between the third party application instance and the collaborative computing environment;

exposing the third party application instance within the collaborative computing environment;

creating a template within the collaborative computing environment that uses the third party application instance; and

using a migration tool to create collaborative computing environment instances which reference existing instances within the third party application.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the one or more data interfaces are created as an enterprise java bean.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the third party application instance is exposed with the collaborative computing environment as a portlet.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein the collaborative computing environment instances are named collaborative space instances.

5. The method of claim 4, further comprising creating a coexistant catalog of instances for the named collaborative space instances, at least one the named collaborative space instances referencing the third party application.

6. The method of claim 4, wherein instances of the third party application and instances within a named collaborative space are manageable by a user within a single user interface.

7. The method of claim 6, further including applying access and permission policy for the named collaborative space instance to the third party application instance.

8. A computer-readable storage medium storing a computer program which when executed performs a method for integrating an instance of a third party application into a collaborative computing environment instance, the method comprising:

creating one or more data interfaces between the third party application instance and the collaborative computing environment;

exposing the third party application instance within the collaborative computing environment;

creating a template within the collaborative computing environment that uses the third party application instance; and

using a migration tool to create collaborative computing environment instances which reference existing instances within the third party application.

9. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the one or more data interfaces are created as an enterprise java bean.

10. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the third party application instance is exposed with the collaborative computing environment as a portlet.

11. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 8, wherein the collaborative computing environment instances are named collaborative space instances.

12. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein the method performed by the stored computer program when executed further includes creating a coexistant catalog of instances for the named collaborative space instances, at least one the named collaborative space instances referencing the third party application.

13. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 11, wherein instances of the third party application and instances within a named collaborative space instance are manageable by a user within a single user interface.

14. The computer-readable storage medium of claim 13, the method performed by the stored computer program when executed further includes applying access and permission policy for the named collaborative space instance to the third party application instance.

15. A system for integrating an instance of a third party application into a collaborative computing environment instance, the system comprising

a first computing device arranged to execute the instance of the third party application;

and

a second computing device in operative data communication with the first computing device, the second computing device providing a collaborative computing environment and being arranged to execute the collaborative computing environment instance, the second computing device having;

a storage device, the storage device storing;

at least a part of one or more data interfaces between the third party application instance and the collaborative computing environment;

a template within the collaborative computing environment that uses the third party application instance; and

a migration tool for creating collaborative computing environment instances which reference existing instances within the third party application; and

a central processing unit functioning to;

expose the third party application instance within the collaborative computing environment; and

execute the migration tool to create the collaborative computing environment instance which references the instance within the third party application, the central processing unit being in operative communication with the storage device.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the one or more data interfaces is an enterprise java bean.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the third party application instance is exposed with the collaborative computing environment as a portlet.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the collaborative computing environment instances are named collaborative space instances.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the first computing device and the second computing device are implemented as a single physical device.

20. The system of claim 18, wherein the storage device further stores access and permission policies for the named collaborative space instance, wherein the central processing unit further applies the access and permission policies for the named collaborative space instance to the third party application instance.