CAPTURING, PROCESSING, MANAGING, AND REPORTING EVENTS OF INTEREST IN VIRTUAL COLLABORATION

• US 20090234921A1
• Filed: 03/13/2008
• Published: 09/17/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/13/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Xerox Corporation (Xerox Holdings Corp.)
• Inventors: Dudley, Mark F.
• Granted Patent: US 8,185,587 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A method of monitoring a collaboration space receives an identification of a computerized collaboration space that a user desires to monitor. The method receives, from the user, an identification of events of interest with respect to the collaboration space. The items within the collaboration space as well as the collaborator interaction with the collaboration space are monitored to identify occurrences of the events of interest, and the method records such occurrences of the events of interest. The method can simply output reports that summarize the occurrences of the events of interest. In addition, the method can receive, from a user, one or more queries regarding the occurrences of the events. In response to any such query, the method searches the stored occurrences of the events to produce a response to the query, and outputs the response to the query.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

receiving an identification of a computerized collaboration space desired to be monitored, wherein said collaboration space comprises at least one site within a computerized network accessible by a plurality of computerized devices;

receiving an identification of events of interest with respect to said collaboration space;

monitoring collaborator interaction with said collaboration space to identify occurrences of said events of interest;

recording said occurrences of said events of interest; and

outputting reports of said occurrences of said events of interest.

2. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising identifying a time period for said monitoring to occur.

3. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise a number and identity of collaborators attending a virtual meeting through said collaboration space, wherein said virtual meeting comprises at least two of said collaborators simultaneously accessing said collaboration space and interacting with other collaborators through said collaboration space, using different computerized devices.

4. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise:

a number of times a collaborator interacts with said collaboration space; and

times and dates of when said collaborator begins using and stops using said collaboration space.

5. The method according to claim 1, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise topical subjects of said collaborator interaction.

6. A method comprising:

receiving an identification of a computerized collaboration space desired to be monitored, wherein said collaboration space comprises at least one site within a computerized network accessible by a plurality of computerized devices,

receiving an identification of events of interest with respect to said collaboration space;

monitoring collaborator interaction with said collaboration space to identify occurrences of said events of interest;

recording said occurrences of said events of interest over a predetermined time period;

receiving a query regarding said occurrences of said events;

searching said occurrences of said events to produce a response to said query; and

outputting said response to said query.

7. The method according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising identifying a time period for said monitoring to occur.

8. The method according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise a number and identity of collaborators attending a virtual meeting through said collaboration space, wherein said virtual meeting comprises at least two of said collaborators simultaneously accessing said collaboration space and interacting with other collaborators through said collaboration space, using different computerized devices.

9. The method according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise:

a number of times a collaborator interacts with said collaboration space; and

times and dates of when said collaborator begins using and stops using said collaboration space.

10. The method according to claim 6, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise topical subjects of said collaborator interaction.

11. A method comprising:

receiving an identification of a computerized collaboration space desired to be monitored, wherein said collaboration space comprises a virtual space accessible only through a computerized device and comprises at least one site within a computerized network accessible by a plurality of computerized devices, wherein said collaboration space is shared by at least two collaborators who interact with said collaboration space to view, add, remove, and revise items maintained within said collaboration space, and wherein said items comprise at least one of documents, graphic items, image items, video items, and audio items;

receiving an identification of events of interest with respect to said collaboration space;

monitoring said items and collaborator interaction with said collaboration space to identify occurrences of said events of interest;

recording said occurrences of said events of interest; and

outputting reports of said occurrences of said events of interest.

12. The method according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising identifying a time period for said monitoring to occur.

13. The method according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise a number and identity of collaborators attending a virtual meeting through said collaboration space, wherein said virtual meeting comprises at least two of said collaborators simultaneously accessing said collaboration space and interacting with other collaborators through said collaboration space, using different computerized devices.

14. The method according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise:

a number of times a collaborator interacts with said collaboration space; and

times and dates of when said collaborator begins using and stops using said collaboration space.

15. The method according to claim 11, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise topical subjects of said collaborator interaction.

16. A computer program product comprising:

a computer-usable data carrier storing instructions that, when executed by a computer, cause the computer to perform a method comprising;

receiving an identification of a computerized collaboration space desired to be monitored, wherein said collaboration space comprises at least one site within a computerized network accessible by a plurality of computerized devices;

receiving an identification of events of interest with respect to said collaboration space;

monitoring collaborator interaction with said collaboration space to identify occurrences of said events of interest;

recording said occurrences of said events of interest; and

outputting reports of said occurrences of said events of interest.

17. The computer program product according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, further comprising identifying a time period for said monitoring to occur.

18. The computer program product according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise a number and identity of collaborators attending a virtual meeting through said collaboration space, wherein said virtual meeting comprises at least two of said collaborators simultaneously accessing said collaboration space and interacting with other collaborators through said collaboration space, using different computerized devices.

19. The computer program product according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise:

a number of times a collaborator interacts with said collaboration space; and

times and dates of when said collaborator begins using and stops using said collaboration space.

20. The computer program product according to claim 16, all the limitations of which are incorporated herein by reference, wherein said events of interest comprise topical subjects of said collaborator interaction.