ESTABLISHMENT OF MESSAGE CONTEXT IN A COLLABORATION SYSTEM

• US 20120047446A1
• Filed: 11/04/2011
• Published: 02/23/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 03/15/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Original Assignee: Accenture Global Services Limited (Accenture PLC)
• Inventors: Hamilton, Mary, Korytkowski, Beata, Kahn, Joshua, Nebolsky, Charles
• Granted Patent: US 9,349,116 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/751
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A processing device used to support communications between users of the collaboration system is provided with a graphical user interface. A graphical context activation mechanism associated with a discussion between users of the collaboration system may be displayed. Responsive to a selection input, a graphical illustration of information regarding the users participating in the discussion is displayed. The graphical illustration may comprise indicia of location of at least one of the users that may be displayed, for example, within the context of a geographical map. The graphical illustration may further comprise indicia of identity of at least one of the users. Additionally, a textual context activation mechanism may be provided and utilized in the same manner, thereby allowing text-based context regarding the message to be displayed. In this manner, team-wide context may be more readily established.

Claims

1. A machine-readable medium having stored thereon image data to be displayed on a display of a processing device, the image data representative of:

a geographical map; and

information regarding users of a collaboration system associated with a discussion between the users, wherein the information regarding the users comprises

an organization chart illustrating at least one of the users in an organization hierarchy;

at least one pin on the geographical map indicating a location of at least one of the users; and

at least one overlay window displaying information concerning at least one of the users'"'"' contact information and contribution to the discussion.

2. The machine-readable medium of claim 1, wherein the information regarding the users further comprises indicia of identity of the users.

3. The machine-readable medium of claim 2, wherein the indicia of identity of the users comprises visual depictions of the users.