Systems and methods for collaboration

• US 20060053195A1
• 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., West, Cornelia A., Glazer, David, Spataro, Jared M.
• Application Number:
  US10/989,262
• Publication Number:
  US 20060053195A1
• 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 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/55 Push-based network services

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:

providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;

implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;

establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;

managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;

synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and

storing information related to the activity on the server.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.

8. The method of claim 1 further comprising distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.

9. The method of claim 8 further comprising providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.

10. A system for collaboration, comprising:

a computer that is configured for;

providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;

implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;

establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;

managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;

synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and

storing information related to the activity on the server.

11. The system of claim 10 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.

12. The system of claim 10 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.

13. The system of claim 10 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.

14. The system of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.

15. The system of claim 10 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.

16. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured for providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.

17. The system of claim 10 wherein the computer is further configured for distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.

18. The system of claim 17 wherein the computer is further configured for providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.

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

providing a software resident application configured to provide and integrate a plurality of collaboration tools;

implementing the software resident application for a plurality of users;

establishing communications via a plurality of network connections between the software resident applications and a server that supports collaboration among the users;

managing interactions in another application of the users via the server;

synchronizing activity in the other application via a back channel connection of the network connections, wherein the back channel is dedicated to pushing content to the software resident application; and

storing information related to the activity on the server.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the software resident application is configured to provide a collaboration place.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the managing comprises managing sequential co-editing activity among the users.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the managing comprises managing simultaneous co-editing activity among the users.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the storing comprises storing user identifier information.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the storing comprises storing a history of interactions.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising providing access to the stored information to the user who participated in the interactions for later retrieval.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising distributing a software development kit for the software resident application.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 26, the steps further comprising providing an application program interface for implementing co-editable objects.