Web-Based Collaborative Framework

• US 20080046442A1
• Filed: 08/18/2006
• Published: 02/21/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 08/18/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Bellsouth Intellectual Property Corporation (AT&T, Inc.)
• Inventors: Podojil, Mark, Grason, Thomas, Downes, Scott
• Granted Patent: US 8,392,962 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 707/100
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/143 Markup, e.g. Standard Generalized Markup Language [SGML] or Document Type Definition [DTD]

Abstract

Embodiments of the present disclosure provide systems and methods for facilitating network communications. Briefly described, one embodiment of the system, among others, includes a server-based application configured to produce web pages for a web site in accordance with input received from a user; and an interface to the server-based application receiving selections of features which are available to be added to the web site in response to user prompts and to set access rights on which features are to be available to different roles of users. Other systems and methods are also provided.

Claims

1. A system for facilitating network communications, comprising:

a server-based application configured to produce web pages for a web site in accordance with input received from a user; and

an interface to the server-based application receiving selections of features which are available to be added to the web site in response to user prompts and to set access rights on which features are to be available to different roles of users.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface allows the user to activate features by clicking on radio buttons associated with the features.

3. The system of claim 1, wherein the web site provides integration points for supplying information to external applications.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the interface further receives a home page address that is to be provided as a link on web pages of the web site.

5. The system of claim 1, wherein the different roles of users comprise guests, members, and at least one administrator.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein the web site is designed to access an enterprise directory populated with information of users of the web site.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the web site provides management tools for enabling the user to configure the features of the web site and set the access rights after the web site is initially produced.

8. The system of claim 3, the integration points comprising an RSS feed.

9. A method for facilitating network communications, comprising the steps of:

receiving settings and preferences to for producing a web site;

receiving access levels assignments for visitors to the web site that determine which functions are enabled when a visitor visits the web site via the web interface; and

building the web site in accordance with the settings, preferences, and access levels.

10. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

enabling differing views of the web based on the access level assigned to the visitor that is currently visiting the web site.

11. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing management tools in the web site that allow an administrator to the web site to assign users to a team that have different access rights than users that are not assigned to the team.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

leveraging exiting enterprise directory information to authenticate visitors to the web site.

13. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

providing integration points within the web site for supplying web site content to other web sites and external applications.

14. The method of claim 9, further comprising the step of:

receiving an address to an external web site that is referenced within web pages of the web site as a home page to the web site.

15. The method of claim 11, further comprising the step of:

enabling management tools to be displayed for visitors with administrative privileges within the assigned access rights, the management tools allowing a visitor to edit and delete content provided on the web site.

16. The method of claim 9, wherein the settings, preferences, and access levels are user-specified.

17. A computer readable medium having a computer program for facilitating network communications, the program having instructions for performing the steps of:

receiving settings and preferences to for producing a web site;

receiving access levels assignments for visitors to the web site that determine which functions are enabled when a visitor visits the web site via the web interface; and

building the web site in accordance with the settings, preferences, and access levels.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the program comprising the step of:

enabling management tools to be displayed for visitors with administrative privileges within the assigned access rights, the management tools allowing a visitor to edit and delete content provided on the web site.

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, the program comprising the step of:

providing management tools in the web site that allow an administrator to the web site to assign users to a team that have different access rights than users that are not assigned to the team.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the program comprising the step of:

leveraging exiting enterprise directory information to authenticate visitors to the web site.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 18, the program comprising the steps of:

providing integration points within the web site for supplying web site content to other web sites and external applications; and

receiving an address to an external web site that is to be referenced within web pages of the web site as a home page to the web site.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 18, wherein the settings, preferences, and access levels are user-specified