METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR SUPPORTING REAL-TIME COLLABORATION
First Claim
1. A method for supporting real time collaboration between a first collaborating computer, having a user interface and a first memory containing a first data file and connected by a network to a second collaborating computer having a second user interface and a second memory containing a second data file, the method comprising:
- (a) generating in the first memory, a selection of data in the first data file, which selection does not directly point at data in the first data file;
(b) generating with the user interface, a command that modifies the selection generated in step (a);
(c) using the selection to find and select data in the first data file;
(d) applying the command to the data selected in step (c);
(e) sending the selection and command from the first collaborating computer over the network to the second collaborating computer;
(f) using the selection to find and select data in the second data file; and
(g) applying the command to the data selected in step (f).
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A collaboration system synchronizes an application or applications running on one or more computer systems. Each of the applications has a local data copy and the applications commence operation by creating consistent local copies from a common third copy. The consistency is maintained by distributing address space independent selections and commands to each application as they are entered at a controlling system. The selections and commands are generated by directly manipulating a presentation of each local data copy. When a selection and command arrive at a destination, the selection is used to find and selection the data and the command is applied to the data located by the selection.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A method for supporting real time collaboration between a first collaborating computer, having a user interface and a first memory containing a first data file and connected by a network to a second collaborating computer having a second user interface and a second memory containing a second data file, the method comprising:
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(a) generating in the first memory, a selection of data in the first data file, which selection does not directly point at data in the first data file;
(b) generating with the user interface, a command that modifies the selection generated in step (a);
(c) using the selection to find and select data in the first data file;
(d) applying the command to the data selected in step (c);
(e) sending the selection and command from the first collaborating computer over the network to the second collaborating computer;
(f) using the selection to find and select data in the second data file; and
(g) applying the command to the data selected in step (f). - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. Apparatus for supporting real time collaboration between a first collaborating computer, having a user interface and a first memory containing a first data file and connected by a network to a second collaborating computer having a second user interface and a second memory containing a second data file, the apparatus comprising:
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means for generating in the first memory, a selection of data in the first data file, which selection does not directly point at data in the first data file;
means for generating with the user interface, a command that modifies the selection;
means for using the selection to find and select data in the first data file;
means for applying the command to the selected data;
means for sending the selection and command from the first collaborating computer over the network to the second collaborating computer;
means for using the selection to find and select data in the second data file; and
means for applying the command to the data selected in the second data file. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15)
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16. Apparatus for supporting real time collaboration between a first collaborating computer, having a user interface and a first memory containing a first data file and connected by a network to a second collaborating computer having a second user interface and a second memory containing a second data file, the apparatus comprising:
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a selector that generates in the first memory, a selection of data in the first data file, which selection does not directly point at data in the first data file;
a command generator that generates with the user interface, a command that modifies the selection;
a first data finder that uses the selection to find and select data in the first data file;
a first data encapsulator that contains the data and applies the command to the data selected in the first data file;
a transmission mechanism that sends the selection and command from the first collaborating computer over the network to the second collaborating computer;
a second data finder that uses the selection to find and select data in the second data file; and
a second data encapsulator that contains the data and applies the command to the data selected in the second data file. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20)
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Specification