Interest-based collaborative framework
First Claim
1. A method of communicating between a first program and a second program in a collaborative system having at least one computer with a memory, the method comprising the steps of:
- A. using first predefined class code to construct a first session object in the memory, the first predefined class code having methods therein for receiving and transmitting messages with a predetermined message structure and for registering message interests from programs;
B. including second predefined class code in the first program and the second program when the first program and the second program are built, the predefined class code having methods for communicating with the first session object using the message structure;
C. using the second predefined class code in the first program to construct a first collaborator object, the first collaborator object transmitting a first message with the message structure to the first session object;
D. using the second predefined class code in the second program to construct a second collaborator object, the second collaborator object registering a message interest with the first session object; and
E. using a method in first predefined class code to transmit the second message with the message structure only to programs which have registered message interests.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
In a colloboration system which allows a plurality of programs to interact, each program registers an "interest" in messages with a session object. The session object, which represents the colloboration session and acts as a collaboration manager, receives all messages but broadcasts a received message only to those programs which have registered an interest in the message. In one embodiment, a colloborative application framework is used to build both the session object and the application programs. The framework includes class code information which is incorporated into each application program by subclassing and which allows each program to communicate with the session object through a predetermined protocol.
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Citations
21 Claims
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1. A method of communicating between a first program and a second program in a collaborative system having at least one computer with a memory, the method comprising the steps of:
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A. using first predefined class code to construct a first session object in the memory, the first predefined class code having methods therein for receiving and transmitting messages with a predetermined message structure and for registering message interests from programs; B. including second predefined class code in the first program and the second program when the first program and the second program are built, the predefined class code having methods for communicating with the first session object using the message structure; C. using the second predefined class code in the first program to construct a first collaborator object, the first collaborator object transmitting a first message with the message structure to the first session object; D. using the second predefined class code in the second program to construct a second collaborator object, the second collaborator object registering a message interest with the first session object; and E. using a method in first predefined class code to transmit the second message with the message structure only to programs which have registered message interests. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An apparatus for communicating between a first program and a second program in a collaborative system having at least one computer with a memory, the apparatus comprising:
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means for using first predefined class code to construct a first session object in the memory, the first predefined class code having methods therein for receiving and transmitting messages with a predetermined message structure and for registering message interests from programs; second predefined class code in the first program and the second program, the predefined class code having methods for communicating with the first session object using the message structure; means for using the second predefined class code in the first program to construct a first collaborator object, the first collaborator object transmitting a first message with the message structure to the first session object; means for using the second predefined class code in the second program to construct a second collaborator object, the second collaborator object registering a message interest with the first session object; and means for using a method in first predefined class code to transmit the second message with the message structure only to programs which have registered message interests. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
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15. A computer program product comprising:
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a computer usable medium having computer readable program code thereon for communicating between a first program and a second program in a collaborative system having at least one computer with a memory, the computer readable program code comprising; program code forusing first predefined class code to construct a first session object in the memory, the first predefined class code having methods therein for receiving and transmitting messages with a predetermined message structure and for registering message interests from programs; second predefined class code in the first program and the second program, the predefined class code having methods for communicating with the first session object using the message structure; program code for using the second predefined class code in the first program to construct a first collaborator object, the first collaborator object transmitting a first message with the message structure to the first session object; program code for using the second predefined class code in the second program to construct a second collaborator object, the second collaborator object registering a message interest with the first session object; and program code for using a method in first predefined class code to transmit the second message with the message structure only to programs which have registered message interests. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21)
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Specification