Distributed group activity data network system and corresponding method
First Claim
1. A distributed group activity network system over a computer network that synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity, the distributed group activity network system comprising:
- a server computer that (a) comprises (i) a network server running thereon that makes basic network services of a standard network protocol available at the server computer, and (ii) a network interface, (b) stores the shared data files and synchronization files of the group activity, and (c) does not comprise any dedicated processes for the group activity that run on the server computer;
network interconnections; and
client computers that (a) are not directly connected to each other but may each be connected to the server computer over the network interconnections, (b) each comprise (i) a system module and a network interface manager running thereon, and (ii) a network interface;
wherein, each time that a specific user of the system users requests that a selected shared data file of the shared data files be updated at a specific client computer of the client computers, the system module of the specific client computer (a) accesses the synchronization files using the network services available at the server computer so as to determine if the selected shared data file is checked out by another user of the system users and to check out the selected shared data file if the selected shared data file is not checked out, (b) accesses the checked out shared data file using the network services available at the server computer so as to update the shared data file, (c) accesses the synchronization files using the network services available at the server computer so as to check in the updated shared data file, and (d) causes network connections to be established between the interface manager and the network server of the specific client and server computers over the network interconnections and the network interfaces of the specific client and server computers in order to perform the accesses.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A distributed group activity network system and corresponding method over a computer network. It synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity. The distributed group activity network system comprises one or more server computers and client computers that are connected to the server computer(s) by network connections. Each of the server computers comprises a network server and a memory system. The network server runs on the server computer and provides basic network services that are available at the server computer. The memory systems of the server computers store synchronization files and shared data files of the group activity. Each of the client computers comprises a memory system and a system module running on the client computer. The system modules of the client computers use the memory systems of the client computers and the available basic network services at the server computer(s) to synchronize and provide access to the shared data files by the system users by also using the memory systems of the client computers and the available basic network services at the server computer(s) to synchronize access to and access the synchronization files.
330 Citations
19 Claims
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1. A distributed group activity network system over a computer network that synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity, the distributed group activity network system comprising:
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a server computer that (a) comprises (i) a network server running thereon that makes basic network services of a standard network protocol available at the server computer, and (ii) a network interface, (b) stores the shared data files and synchronization files of the group activity, and (c) does not comprise any dedicated processes for the group activity that run on the server computer; network interconnections; and client computers that (a) are not directly connected to each other but may each be connected to the server computer over the network interconnections, (b) each comprise (i) a system module and a network interface manager running thereon, and (ii) a network interface; wherein, each time that a specific user of the system users requests that a selected shared data file of the shared data files be updated at a specific client computer of the client computers, the system module of the specific client computer (a) accesses the synchronization files using the network services available at the server computer so as to determine if the selected shared data file is checked out by another user of the system users and to check out the selected shared data file if the selected shared data file is not checked out, (b) accesses the checked out shared data file using the network services available at the server computer so as to update the shared data file, (c) accesses the synchronization files using the network services available at the server computer so as to check in the updated shared data file, and (d) causes network connections to be established between the interface manager and the network server of the specific client and server computers over the network interconnections and the network interfaces of the specific client and server computers in order to perform the accesses. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A method of performing a distributed group activity over a computer network that synchronizes and provides access by system users to shared data files of a group activity, the method comprising the steps of:
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utilizing a server computer that (a) comprises (i) a network server running thereon that makes basic network services of a standard network protocol available at the server computer, and (ii) a network interface, (b) stores the shared data files and synchronization files of the group activity, and (c) does not comprise any dedicated processes for the group activity that run on the server computer; utilizing network interconnections; utilizing client computers that (a) are not directly connected to each other but may each be connected to the server computer over the network interconnections, (b) each comprise (i) a network interface manager running thereon, and (ii) a network interface; and each time that a specific user of the system users requests that a selected shared data file of the shared data files be updated at a specific client computer of the client computers, accessing the synchronization files with the specific client computer using the network services available at the server computer so as to determine if the selected shared data file is checked out by another user of the system users and to check out the selected shared data file if the selected shared data file is not checked out, accessing the checked out shared data file with the specific client computer using the network services available at the server computer so as to update the shared data file, accessing the synchronization files with the specific client computer using the network services available at the server computer so as to check in the updated shared data file, and causing network connections to be established with the specific client computer between the interface manager and the network server of the specific client and server computers over the network interconnections and the network interfaces of the specific client and server computers in order to perform the steps of accessing the synchronization files and the shared data file. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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Specification