Collaborative editing of a document

• US 20070118598A1
• Filed: 11/14/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 11/22/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Original Assignee: International Business Machines Corporation
• Inventors: Bedi, Bharat, Partridge, Lucas
• Granted Patent: US 8,060,820 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]

Abstract

Disclosed is a method, apparatus and computer program for a first client to facilitate collaborative editing of a document with a second client. The document contains data of a first data type and is accessible by a first application for processing the first data type. The first application is used to identify a portion of the document for review, The identified portion is extracted and provided to an application for processing data of a second type at the first client. This application is a messaging application. A second client is identified for performing the review and the identified portion is sent via the messaging application to the identified second client. Comments are received back from the identified second client and these comments conform to the messaging application'"'"'s protocol. The comments are then interpreted back at the first client and the document is updated if appropriate.

Claims

1. A method for a first client to facilitate collaborative editing of a document with a second client, the document containing data of a first data type and being accessible by a first application for processing said first data type, the method comprising:

using the first application to identify a portion of the document for review;

extracting the identified portion;

providing the identified portion to an application for processing data of a second type at the first client, the application being a messaging application;

identifying a second client for performing the review;

sending the identified portion via the messaging application to the identified second client;

receiving comments back from the identified second client, the comments conforming to the messaging application'"'"'s protocol;

interpreting the comments; and

updating the document if appropriate.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the step of receiving comments back from the identified second client comprises receiving text suggested as a replacement for the identified portion.

3. The method of claim 2, wherein the suggested text is enclosed by delimiters.

4. The method of claim 2 further comprising determining whether to accept the suggested text as a replacement for the identified portion.

5. The method of claim 4 further comprising responsive to a negative determination, permitting further collaboration with the identified second client.

6. The method of claim 2, wherein the step of interpreting the comments comprises:

parsing the comments to identify the suggested text; and

extracting the suggested text, the method further comprising;

replacing the identified portion with the suggested text.

7. The method of claim 1 further comprising receiving an indication from the second client that particular text suggested as a replacement for the identified portion is to be accepted.

8. An apparatus for a first client to facilitate collaborative editing of a document with a second client, the document containing data of a first data type and being accessible by a first application for processing said first data type, the apparatus comprising:

means for using the first application to identify a portion of the document for review;

means for extracting the identified portion;

means for providing the identified portion to an application for processing data of a second type at the first client, the application being a messaging application;

means for identifying a second client for performing the review;

means for sending the identified portion via the messaging application to the identified second client;

means for receiving comments back from the identified second client, the comments conforming to the messaging application'"'"'s protocol;

means for interpreting the comments; and

means for updating the document if appropriate.

9. The apparatus of claim 8, wherein the means for receiving comments back from the identified second client comprises means for receiving suggested text as a replacement for the identified portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the suggested text is enclosed by delimiters.

11. The apparatus of claim 9 further comprising means for determining whether to accept the suggested text as a replacement for the identified portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the means for determining whether to accept the suggested text comprises means for receiving an indication from a user of the first client as to whether the suggested text has been accepted by the user.

13. The apparatus of claim 8 further comprising means, responsive to a negative determination, for permitting further collaboration with the identified second client.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the means for interpreting the comments further comprises:

means for parsing the comments to identify the suggested text; and

means for extracting the suggested text, the apparatus further comprising;

means for replacing the identified portion with the suggested text.

15. A computer program stored on a computer readable medium, comprising

program means for using the first application to identify a portion of the document for review;

program means for extracting the identified portion;

program means for providing the identified portion to an application for processing data of a second type at the first client, the application being a messaging application;

program means for identifying a second client for performing the review;

program means for sending the identified portion via the messaging application to the identified second client;

program means for receiving comments back from the identified second client, the comments conforming to the messaging application'"'"'s protocol;

program means for interpreting the comments; and

program means for updating the document if appropriate.

16. The computer program according to claim 15, wherein the program means for receiving comments back from the identified second client comprises program means for receiving suggested text as a replacement for the identified portion.

17. The computer program according to claim 16, further comprising program means for determining whether to accept the suggested text as a replacement for the identified portion.

18. The computer program according to claim 17, wherein the program means for determining whether to accept the suggested text comprises program means for receiving an indication from a user of the first client as to whether the suggested text has been accepted by the user.

19. The computer program according to claim 15, further comprising program means, responsive to a negative determination, for permitting further collaboration with the identified second client.

20. The computer program according to claim 15, wherein the program means for interpreting the comments comprises:

program means for parsing the comments to identify the suggested text;

program means for extracting the suggested text; and

program means for replacing the identified portion with the suggested text.