System for Establishing Online Collaborators for Collaborating on a Network-Hosted Project

• US 20110016409A1
• Filed: 08/24/2010
• Published: 01/20/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 07/20/2009
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Interactive Memories Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Interactive Memories Incorporated
• Inventors: Grosz, Aryk Erwin, Schultz, Daniel Thanh, Laffoon, Daniel Andrew
• Application Number:
  US12/862,230
• Publication Number:
  US 20110016409A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/753
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/00 Digital computers in general details G06F1/00 – G06F13/00; Data processing equipment in general
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 15/16 Combinations of two or more digital computers each having at least an arithmetic unit, a program unit and a register, e.g. for a simultaneous processing of several programs coordinating program control therefor G06F9/52; in regulating and control system G05B
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/51 Indexing; Data structures therefor; Storage structures
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 18/24 Classification techniques
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/12 Digital output to print unit , e.g. line printer, chain printer
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/14 Digital output to display device ; Cooperation and interconnection of the display device with other functional units
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/103 Formatting, i.e. changing of presentation of documents automatic justification G06F40/189; automatic line break hyphenation G06F40/191
• CPC Class Codes: H04N 1/387 Composing, repositioning or otherwise geometrically modifying originals

Abstract

A system for hosting multiple collaborators in real time, the collaborators contributing content and or edits to content in an image and or text-based project hosted on a data network through a Website accessible to the collaborators by computer browser includes a server connected to the data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) for contributing content and for editing content, and a collaborator configuration interface available through the Website enabling a user to designate one or more other users as approved for collaboration on a given project. Users who are approved to collaborate have real time access to the image and or text-based project through their own versions of the network-based GUI.

Claims

1. A system for hosting multiple collaborators in real time, the collaborators contributing content and or edits to content in an image and or text-based project hosted on a data network through a Website accessible to the collaborators by computer browser comprising:

a server connected to the data network, the server having access to a digital medium containing an executable graphics user interface (GUI) for contributing content and for editing content; and

a collaborator configuration interface available through the Website enabling a user to designate one or more other users as approved for collaboration on a given project;

characterized in that users who are approved to collaborate have real time access to the image and or text-based project through their own versions of the network-based GUI.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the data network is the internet network.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the project is one of a photo book, a photo card, or a photo calendar.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaborator configuration interface includes a mechanism for enabling the user to browse online and offline contact lists for potential collaborators.

5. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaboration configuration interface is integrated with the GUI and is accessible from within the GUI.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaborators are registered members of the Website.

7. The system of claim 1 further including a posting mechanism allowing collaborators to post messages about the collaborative effort.

8. The system of claim 1 further including a real-time messaging application allowing collaborators to communicate with one another in real time.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the collaborators are family and or friends of the designating user.

10. The system of claim 1 further including an automatic invitation service adapted to send invitations to collaborate to users designated as potential collaborators on a project.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the server pushes real-time edits made by contributors to the other contributors using open socket connections.

12. In a system for creating and editing an image and or text-based project, the system including a networked server having access to a GUI implemented in software on a digital medium, the GUI for contributing content and for editing content, a method for establishing real-time collaborators to contribute and edit content relative to the project comprising the steps:

(a) accessing through a Website, an electronic form for indicating one or more users who are approved for real-time collaboration on the image and or text-based project;

(b) indicating one or more users as collaborators on the project; and

(c) utilizing an automated electronic invitation system, sending invitations to the collaborators.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (a) the Website is hosted on the internet network.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (b) the project is one of a photo book, a photo card, or a photo calendar.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein content includes images, text, and graphics.

16. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (a) the electronic form is integrated with a graphics user interface (GUI).

17. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (b), the collaborators are members of the Website.

18. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (b), the collaborators are friends and or family of the designating user.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (c), the invitations are automated email, screen pop-up, short message service (SMS), or media message service (MMS) messages.

20. The method of claim 12 wherein in step (b), potential collaborators are located by browsing online and or offline contact lists.