Collaboration Software With Real-Time Synchronization
First Claim
1. A computer system for storage, sharing and synchronization of data between a plurality of users, comprising:
- a plurality of content data items electronically stored in a central memory;
a plurality of electronic folders stored in the central memory, each folder being capable of containing content data items and/or containing child folders in a multi-level hierarchical structure;
associations stored in the central memory, the associations placing each of the content data items into at least one folder, with each content data item having the capability of being associated into a plurality of folders;
a server logically programmed for accessing the central memory and providing selected access to the folders and the content data items associated in the folders; and
a viewer on each of a plurality of peripheral computers, the viewer providing user identification information identifying the user to the server;
wherein the server provides viewer access to the folders and to the content data items in the multi-level hierarchical structure falling within at least one top level folder with access granted to that user, wherein multiple users can have simultaneous, synchronized access to the same folder.
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Abstract
A collaboration program operates on a computer system for storing, sharing and synchronizing data between different users. Centrally stored content data items are organized by associations into one or more folders, with the folders arranged by associations in a multi-level hierarchical structure. Users have access to all folders and content data items falling within at least one top level folder or “file cabinet” viewable by that user. When a user makes a change/addition to the hierarchical structure, that change/addition is transmitted to a server, which makes the change/addition to the necessary associations and sends messages through a TCP/IP format advising other signed-on users of the change/addition. With each content data item having the capability of being associated into multiple folders and each folder having the capability of being associated into multiple other folders or file cabinets, the computer system operating the collaboration program gives different users simultaneous, synchronized access to the folders and content data items in the hierarchical structure.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. A computer system for storage, sharing and synchronization of data between a plurality of users, comprising:
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a plurality of content data items electronically stored in a central memory; a plurality of electronic folders stored in the central memory, each folder being capable of containing content data items and/or containing child folders in a multi-level hierarchical structure; associations stored in the central memory, the associations placing each of the content data items into at least one folder, with each content data item having the capability of being associated into a plurality of folders; a server logically programmed for accessing the central memory and providing selected access to the folders and the content data items associated in the folders; and a viewer on each of a plurality of peripheral computers, the viewer providing user identification information identifying the user to the server;
wherein the server provides viewer access to the folders and to the content data items in the multi-level hierarchical structure falling within at least one top level folder with access granted to that user, wherein multiple users can have simultaneous, synchronized access to the same folder. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A computer system for storage, sharing and synchronization of data between a plurality of users, comprising:
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a stored association table of records, each record including a field identifying at least one folder to which content data associated with that record belongs, each record having the capability to belong to a plurality of folders, with all the folders arranged in a multi-level hierarchical structure; a server providing access to selected records of the database; and a viewer on each of a plurality of computers, the viewer containing user identification information identifying the user to the server; wherein the server permits users to make changes to records in the stored database, and wherein the server transmits the changes made to other viewers through TCP/IP messages indicating the change having been made. - View Dependent Claims (18)
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- 19. A client-side application having computer instructions recorded on a computer readable medium providing a graphical user interface, the graphical user interface comprising at least one window wherein folders and content data items are listed in a hierarchical format, wherein a new association for any listed folder or content data item can be made by selecting the folder or content data item with a mouse command, the new association additionally placing the selected folder or content data item within the client-side application at a different location in the hierarchical format, the client-side application recording the new association as a message transmitted to a server through a TCP/IP format.
Specification