COLLABORATION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. In a communication system comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other via at least one communication channel and with a controller, a method for a user terminal of the plurality of user terminals to generate messages that may be associated together, the method comprising:
- creating a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel;
appending a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes;
creating a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and
appending a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes,wherein the first message may be associated with the second message by the controller when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
A user terminal may be employed to generate a first message and, substantially simultaneously or thereafter, append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, which metadata values are based on standardized metadata attributes. Subsequent messages may likewise have a second plurality of metadata values appended thereto, which messages are thereafter associated with the first message when the corresponding plurality of metadata values compare favorably. The comparison processing of metadata used to determine when messages should be associated with one another is preferably carried out using a back-end controller. Additionally, one or more content files may also be associated with such messages, which content files assist users of the system in developing context concerning various messages. In this manner, team-wide context may be more readily established, thereby fostering better understanding between team members and, consequently, more efficient collaboration.
51 Citations
36 Claims
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1. In a communication system comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other via at least one communication channel and with a controller, a method for a user terminal of the plurality of user terminals to generate messages that may be associated together, the method comprising:
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creating a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; appending a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; creating a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and appending a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, wherein the first message may be associated with the second message by the controller when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. A user terminal for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, the user terminal comprising:
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at least one message creation component operative to create a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and to create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and a metadata generator, coupled to the at least one message creation component, operative to append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes, and to append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, wherein the first message may be associated with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A user terminal for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, the apparatus comprising:
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at least one processor; and a storage device, in communication with the at least one processor, having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; create a first message to be communicated via at least one communication channel; append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; and append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes, wherein the first message may be associated with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18)
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19. In a controller operating within a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, a method for associating a plurality of messages together, the method comprising:
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receiving a first message relating to a subject from a first user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the first message comprising a first plurality of metadata values, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; receiving a second message relating to the subject from a second user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the second message comprising a second plurality of metadata values, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and associating the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23)
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24. A controller for use in a communication system comprising at least one communication channel, comprising:
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at least one processor; and a storage device, in communication with the at least one processor, having stored thereon executable instructions that, when executed by the at least one processor, cause the at least one processor to; receive a first message relating to a subject from a first user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the first message comprising a first plurality of metadata values, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; receive a second message relating to the subject from a second user terminal of the communication system via the at least one communication channel, the second message comprising a second plurality of metadata values, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and associate the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (25, 26, 27)
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28. In a communication system comprising a plurality of user terminals in communication with each other via at least one communication channel and with a controller, a method for associating a plurality of messages together, the method comprising:
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creating, at a first user terminal of the plurality of user terminals, a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; appending, at the first user terminal, a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; creating, at a second user terminal of the plurality of user terminals, a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel; appending, at the second user terminal, a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and associating, by the controller, the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values. - View Dependent Claims (29, 30)
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31. A system comprising:
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at least one communication channel; a first user terminal operative to create a first message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and further operative to append a first plurality of metadata values to the first message, each of the first plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of a plurality of standardized metadata attributes; a second user terminal operative to create a second message to be communicated via the at least one communication channel, and further operative to append a second plurality of metadata values to the second message, each of the second plurality of metadata values uniquely corresponding to at least some of the plurality of standardized metadata attributes; and a controller, in communication with the first user terminal and the second user terminal, operative to receive the first message and the second message and to associate the first message with the second message when the first plurality of metadata values compares favorably with the second plurality of metadata values.
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32. In a project collaboration system, a method for generating a message, the method comprising:
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creating message content using a first application; creating a content file using a second application; sending the message content to at least one user of the project collaboration system; and subsequent to sending the message content, associating the message content and the content file using the second application. - View Dependent Claims (33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification