Method and system for enabling a script on a first computer to exchange data with a script on a second computer over a network

• US 20060117107A1
• Filed: 01/19/2006
• Published: 06/01/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 07/12/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Slack Technologies LLC (Salesforce.com, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Yahoo! Inc. (Apollo Global Management, Inc.)
• Inventors: Staib, Christopher, Shafron, Thomas Joshua
• Granted Patent: US 7,650,378 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/227
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/00 User-to-user messaging in packet-switching networks, transmitted according to store-and-forward or real-time protocols, e.g. e-mail
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/34 involving the movement of software or configuration parameters network booting or remote initial program loading [RIPL] G06F9/4416
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

A method and system for enabling a script on a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a script on a second computer so as to provide access by the script to data typically inaccessible by a script. The method and system enable a first computer to control the Internet navigation of a second computer, and also enable instant messaging between a first computer and a member of a synchronization group. The computers may be connectable with each other over any type of network (e.g., LAN, WAN, intranet, Internet, cellular, etc.).

Claims

1. A method of enabling a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, said method comprising the steps of:

establishing communication between the first and second computer via a server, the second computer having a second script and a second control loaded thereon and operable in connection therewith;

communicating, to the first computer, computer code comprising a first script operable in connection with the first computer for accessing a function of a first control loaded on the first computer, the first script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer and for causing the first control to communicate with the server and to transmit the data input by the user to the server; and

causing the server to transmit the data received from the first script to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

2. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the computer code further comprises the first control.

3. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first control comprises an ActiveX control.

4. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can display data output to a user of the first computer.

5. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the first control.

6. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script can call the function of the first control.

7. A method as recited by claim 6, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the function of the first control.

8. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script.

9. A method as recited by claim 1, wherein the server comprises a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of the member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer.

10. A method as recited by claim 9, wherein the function of the first control further comprises an instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

11. A method of enabling a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, the first and second computer being connectable via a server, said method comprising the steps of:

downloading, to the first computer, first computer code comprising a first script operable in connection with the first computer for accessing a function of a first control loaded on the first computer, the first script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer and for causing the first control to communicate with the server and to transmit the data input by the user to the server;

downloading, to the second computer, second computer code comprising a second script operable in connection with the second computer for accessing a function of a second control loaded on the second computer, the second script being further operable for receiving data input by a user of the second computer; and

communicating the data received from the first script to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

12. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first computer code further comprises the first control.

13. A method as recited by claim 12, wherein the first control comprises an ActiveX control.

14. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the second computer code further comprises the second control.

15. A method as recited by claim 14, wherein the second control comprises an ActiveX control.

16. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can display data output to the user of the first computer, and wherein the second script can display data output to the user of the second computer.

17. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the first control, and wherein the second script can send data to and receive data from the second control.

18. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script can call the function of the first control.

19. A method as recited by claim 18, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the function of the first control, and wherein the second script can send data to and receive data from the function of the second control.

20. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script, and wherein the second script is operable in connection with the second computer by opening a web page containing the second script.

21. A method as recited by claim 11, wherein the server comprises a synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of the member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer;

and wherein the function of the second control comprises;

a login function to enable the user of the second computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the second computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of the computer of a member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the second computer.

22. A method as recited by claim 21, wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group, and wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.

23. A computer application configured to enable a first computer to communicate and exchange data with a second computer, the computer application comprising:

computer code for facilitating communication between the first and second computer, the second computer having a second script and a second control loaded thereon and operable in connection therewith;

a first script operable for receiving data input by a user of the first computer; and

a first control configured to be accessible by the first script to communicate the data input by the user to the second computer for receipt by the second control.

24. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the first control comprises an ActiveX control.

25. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the first script can display data output to the user of the first computer.

26. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the first control.

27. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the first script can call the function of the first control.

28. A computer application as recited by claim 27, wherein the first script can send data to and receive data from the function of the first control.

29. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the first script is operable in connection with the first computer by opening a web page containing the first script.

30. A computer application as recited by claim 23, wherein the code facilitates communication via a server comprising a synchronization group, and wherein a function of the first control comprises:

a login function to enable the user of the first computer to login to the synchronization group;

a synchronization function to enable the user of the first computer to synchronize with a member of the synchronization group; and

a navigation function to enable control of the Internet navigation of a computer of the member of the synchronization group based upon the Internet navigation of the first computer.

31. A computer application as recited by claim 32, wherein the function of the first control further comprises and instant message function to enable a user of the first computer to send an instant message to a member of the synchronization group.