Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system

• US 20060075024A1
• Filed: 11/04/2005
• Published: 04/06/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 05/17/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Ozzie, Jack E., Ozzie, Raymond E., Zircher, William E.
• Granted Patent: US 7,562,115 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/08 for authentication of entities cryptographic mechanisms or cryptographic arrangements for entity authentication H04L9/32
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/104 Grouping of entities
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 63/20 for managing network security; network security policies in general filtering policies H04L63/0227
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/131 Protocols for games, networked simulations or virtual reality
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access. It also allows for logging and monitoring of system behavior.

Claims

1. A method for connecting a collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies over a network, the method comprising:

(a) scanning a server shared space copy located a server connected to the network to discover tools which require connection to the external system in the server shared space copy;

(b) creating an agent for at least one tool requiring connection discovered in the server shared space copy;

(c) associating agents with each tool requiring connection; and

(d) using each agent to exchange data between the external system and the tool with which the agent is associated.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises creating the server shared space copy in the server in response to an invitation from one collaborating member.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises creating the server shared space copy in the server when the collaboration system is created.

4. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises scanning each tool discovered in the server shared space copy to discover tools contained within the each tool.

5. The method of claim 1 wherein step (a) comprises creating a map from information that identifies each tool that requires connection to the external system and scanning the server shared space copy to locate tools therein and comparing information from located tools to the information in the map to identify tools that require connection to the external system.

6. The method of claim 1 wherein step (b) comprises creating an agent for each tool requiring connection and which does not already have an agent associated with it.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein step (c) comprises associating a single agent with a plurality of tools.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein step (d) comprises linking each agent to the tool with which the agent is associated in order to exchange data between the external system and the associated tool.

9. Apparatus for connecting a collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies over a network, the apparatus comprising:

means for scanning a server shared space copy located a server connected to the network to discover tools which require connection to the external system in the server shared space copy;

means for creating an agent for at least one tool requiring connection discovered in the server shared space copy;

means for associating agents with each tool requiring connection; and

means for using each agent to exchange data between the external system and the tool with which the agent is associated.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the scanning means comprises means for creating the server shared space copy in the server in response to an invitation from one collaborating member.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the scanning means comprises means for creating the server shared space copy in the server when the collaboration system is created.

12. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the scanning means comprises means for scanning each tool discovered in the server shared space copy to discover tools contained within the each tool.

13. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the scanning means comprises means for creating a map from information that identifies each tool that requires connection to the external system and means for scanning the server shared space copy to locate tools therein and means for comparing information from located tools to the information in the map to identify tools that require connection to the external system.

14. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the agent creating means comprises means for creating an agent for each tool requiring connection and which does not already have an agent associated with it.

15. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the associating means comprises means for associating a single agent with a plurality of tools.

16. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the means for using each agent comprises means for linking each agent to the tool with which the agent is associated in order to exchange data between the external system and the associated tool.

17. The apparatus of claim 9 wherein the scanning means comprises means for repeatedly scanning the server shared space copy to locate tools added to the server shared space copy after an initial scanning.