INFORMATION AGGREGATION, PROCESSING AND DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM
First Claim
1. A method for use in enabling collaboration among multiple network users and protecting sensitive information of one or more of the users, comprising the steps of:
- establishing a collaborative environment for collaboration among said multiple network users, said collaborative environment including network structure for use in enabling a collaboration with respect to collaboration subject matter including sensitive information subject to a policy regarding handling thereof relative to said network users, said collaborative environment further including a computer-based tool for automatic enforcement of said policy; and
using said computer-based tool to manage said collaboration by monitoring activities relating to said collaboration subject matter using said network structure, identifying an activity concerning a portion of said sensitive information and controlling said identified activity based on said policy.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A utility is provided for managing exchanges of information within a context involving multiple users, for example, multi-user network collaboration. The invention enables automatic enforcement of a policy regarding sensitive information. The policy may be negotiated among the users and expressed as multiple rule sets that govern access to a use of sensitive information. The utility also logs activities involving sensitive information to ensure compliance with the policy. These logs can be audited by a third party or automatically processed for audit compliance by the utility. In this manner, an environment of trust is created which encourages fruitful collaboration.
208 Citations
42 Claims
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1. A method for use in enabling collaboration among multiple network users and protecting sensitive information of one or more of the users, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a collaborative environment for collaboration among said multiple network users, said collaborative environment including network structure for use in enabling a collaboration with respect to collaboration subject matter including sensitive information subject to a policy regarding handling thereof relative to said network users, said collaborative environment further including a computer-based tool for automatic enforcement of said policy; and using said computer-based tool to manage said collaboration by monitoring activities relating to said collaboration subject matter using said network structure, identifying an activity concerning a portion of said sensitive information and controlling said identified activity based on said policy. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 13)
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- 10. A method as set forth in claim 10, wherein said classification determines which ones of said multiple network users are entitled to use said portion of said sensitive information.
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14-19. -19. (canceled)
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20. A method for securely sharing information among multiple information systems, comprising the steps of:
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first establishing a community of multiple information systems to be included within a secure context for sharing of information; second establishing a collaboration system for facilitating sharing of information among said community of multiple information systems, said collaboration system being configured to communicate with each of said multiple information systems using a defined network interface; third establishing, in connection with said collaboration system, a set of rules governing distribution of information between said multiple information systems on a recipient specific basis; and operating said collaborative system to control a transmission from a first one of said multiple information systems to a second one of said information systems based on said set of rules and an identity of said second one of said multiple information systems. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23)
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24. A method for use in securely sharing information among multiple information systems, comprising the steps of:
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first establishing a community of multiple information systems to be included within a secure context for sharing of information; second establishing a collaboration system for facilitating sharing of information among said community of multiple information systems, said collaboration system being configured to communicate with each of said multiple information systems using a defined network interface; said collaboration system being configured to process information transmitted between first and second systems of said community on a system dependent basis with regard to one of a form and a content of said information so as to facilitate sharing of information; performing an audit of transmissions of information between said multiple information systems of said community; and generating a report based on said audit. - View Dependent Claims (25)
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26. A method for use in enabling collaboration among multiple network users and protecting sensitive information of one or more of the users, comprising the steps of:
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establishing a collaborative environment for collaboration among said multiple network users, said collaborative environment including network structure for use in enabling a collaboration with respect to collaboration subject matter including sensitive information subject to one or more policies regarding handling thereof relative to particular ones of said network users, said collaborative environment further including a computer-based tool for monitoring activities concerning said sensitive information and controlling said activities based on said policies; and using said computer-based tool to manage said collaboration such that different ones of said network users are allowed different uses of said collaboration subject matter as determined by said one or more policies. - View Dependent Claims (27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38)
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39. A method for use in sharing information between at least one source system and multiple recipient systems, comprising the steps of:
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providing a collaboration system interposed between said source system and said recipient systems for facilitating sharing of information between said source system and said recipient systems, said collaboration system configured for communication with each of said source system and said recipient system using a defined network interface; first accessing, using said collaboration system, first input information from said source system; second accessing, using said collaboration system, a first instruction set related to a first recipient system; third accessing, using said collaboration system, a second instruction set related to a second recipient system; first operating said collaboration system to provide a first output to said first recipient system based on said first input information and said first instruction set; and second operating said collaboration system to provide a second output to said second recipient system based on said first input information and said second instruction set, where said second output has a content different than said first output.
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40. An apparatus for use in facilitating sharing of information among multiple information systems, comprising:
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storage for storing at least one rule set governing sharing of information between said multiple information systems on a system dependent basis; a processing platform for accessing said rule set and using said rule set to control information addressed to one of said multiple information systems, relative to one of a form and a content of said information, based on an identity of said one of said multiple information systems and said rule set; and interface logic for enabling communication between said processing platform and each of said multiple information systems in accordance with a defined network interface. - View Dependent Claims (41, 42)
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Specification