Systems and methods for collaboration

• US 20060053194A1
• Filed: 11/15/2004
• Published: 03/09/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 09/03/2004
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Schneider, Ronald E., Glazer, David, Karpel, Leonard C., Nordman, Michael M.
• Application Number:
  US10/989,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display

Abstract

In some embodiments, the disclosed systems and methods provide a client-server infrastructure capable of supporting a variety of asynchronous and synchronous collaboration activities in a so-called collaboration place. Some of these activities include chatting, viewing and/or editing one or more data files, and sharing one or more applications, data files, and/or displays. The client-server infrastructure supports seamless navigation between the supported asynchronous and synchronous activities in the collaboration place. Additionally, the client-server architecture supports data persistence, so that data files associated with the collaboration place can be stored for subsequent access.

Claims

1. A method for collaboration, comprising:

implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;

storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;

providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and

displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.

3. The method of claim 1 further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the artifact is a document.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.

9. A system for collaboration, comprising:

a computer that is configured for;

implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;

storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;

providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and

displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.

10. The system of claim 9 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.

11. The system of claim 9 further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.

12. The system of claim 9 wherein the artifact is a document.

13. The system of claim 9 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.

14. The system of claim 9 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.

15. The system of claim 9 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.

16. The system of claim 9 further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.

17. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing steps for collaboration, the steps comprising:

implementing a collaboration tool through which networked users collaborate;

storing artifacts of the collaboration in a database associated with a particular instance of the collaboration tool;

providing access to the database to the users through the collaboration tool so that artifacts can be manipulated; and

displaying a user-selectable option for viewing the state of one or more artifacts corresponding to a time selected by a user.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the collaboration tool includes a collaboration place.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the steps further comprising playing back information on how one of the artifacts evolved over time.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the artifact is a document.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a calendar.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the displaying comprises displaying a slide bar.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 17 wherein the database is displayed in a things window in association with a chat window.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the steps further comprising displaying the artifact in its previous state.