Computer workspace providing event management based on a permissibility framework

• US 6,289,385 B1
• Filed: 09/18/1998
• Issued: 09/11/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 06/05/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: JDA Software Group Incorporated (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Original Assignee: i2 Technologies Incorporated (Panasonic Holdings Corporation)
• Inventors: Whipple, Mark B., Notani, Ranjit N., Parasnis, Abhay V.
• Primary Examiner(s): Geckil, Mehmet B.
• Application Number:
  US09/156,722
• Time in Patent Office: 1,089 Days
• Field of Search: 709/201, 709/217, 709/225, 709/226, 709/229, 707/10, 707/219
• US Class Current: 709/229
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/46 Multiprogramming arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/06 Resources, workflows, human or project management; Enterprise or organisation planning; Enterprise or organisation modelling
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer workspace comprises a plurality of memory slots, the memory slots each operable to store at least one object. The computer workspace further comprises a permissibility framework in communication with the computer workspace, the permissibility framework maintaining access rights to each memory slot. The computer workspace further comprises an event manager in communication with the memory slots and the permissibility framework, the event manager being operable to generate messages in response to the memory slots being accessed and further in response to the access rights maintained by the permissibility framework.

Claims

1. A computer workspace, comprising:

a plurality of memory slots arranged in a hierarchical format, the memory slots each operable to store at least one object;

a permissibility framework in communication with the plurality of memory slots, the permissibility framework maintaining access rights to each memory slot; and

an event manager in communication with the plurality of memory slots and the permissibility framework, the event manager being operable to generate an event in response to the memory slots being modified based on the access rights maintained by the permissibility framework.

2. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein one of the memory slots is maintained in memory.

3. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein the computer workspace is in communication with a computer network and wherein the event is operable to be sent to at least one node of the network.

4. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein the computer workspace is in communication with a computer network and a plurality of nodes of the network are operable to each generate a write instruction, the write instruction writing data to at least one of the memory slots, and wherein the event manager is operable to generate an event in response to data being written to one of the memory slots.

5. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein at least one of the memory slots is a memory queue.

6. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein at least one of the memory slots is a hashtable.

7. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein at least one of the memory slots is a persistent memory slot.

8. The computer workspace of claim 1, wherein the computer workspace is in communication with a computer network having a plurality of nodes and wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control access to the memory slots by each of the nodes.

9. The computer workspace of claim 8, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each of the plurality of nodes to read from and write to the memory slots.

10. The computer workspace of claim 8, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each of the plurality of nodes to remove data from the memory slots.

11. The computer workspace of claim 8, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each node to subscribe to and unsubscribe from the event generated by the event manager.

12. A computer workspace operable to communicate with a plurality of enterprises over a network, comprising:

a plurality of memory slots arranged in a hierarchical format, the memory slots each operable to store at least one object;

a permissibility framework in communication with the plurality of memory slots, the permissibility framework maintaining access rights to each memory slot by the plurality of enterprises; and

an event manager in communication with the plurality of memory slots and the permissibility framework, the event manager being operable to generate an event to send to the plurality of enterprises, the event being generated in response to a memory slot being modified based on the access rights maintained by the permissibility framework.

13. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the memory slots are maintained in memory.

14. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the event manager is operable to generate an event in response to data being written to one of the memory slots by one of the plurality of enterprises.

15. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein at least one of the memory slots is a persistent memory slot.

16. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control access to the memory slots by each of the plurality of enterprises.

17. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each of the plurality of enterprises to read from and write to the memory slots.

18. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each of the plurality of enterprises to remove data from the memory slots.

19. The computer workspace of claim 12, wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control the right of each of the plurality of enterprises to subscribe to and unsubscribe from events generated by the event manager.

20. A computer system for multi-enterprise collaboration, comprising:

a workspace comprising a plurality of memory slots arranged in a hierarchical format and each operable to store at least one object;

a first node associated with a first enterprise, the first node being in communication with the workspace, the first node conducting a first activity of a workflow, the first activity including accessing one of the plurality of stored objects;

a second node associated with a second enterprise, the second node being in communication with the workspace, the second node conducting a second activity of the workflow, the second activity including accessing one of the plurality of stored objects; and

wherein at least one of the stored objects is maintained in memory during the activities.

21. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the memory slots are arranged in a hierarchical format definable by a user.

22. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the workspace includes a permissibility framework.

23. The computer system of claim 22, wherein the permissibility framework is in communication with the first and second nodes and wherein the permissibility framework includes access controls that control access rights to at least one of the memory slots by each of the first and second nodes.

24. The computer system of claim 20, wherein the workspace includes an event manager, the event manager being in communication with the first and second nodes, the event manager being operable to generate events to send to the first and second nodes.

25. The computer system of claim 24, wherein the first and second nodes are operable to generate write instructions, the write instructions being operable to write data to the workspace, and wherein the event manager is operable to generate events in response to data being written to the workspace, the event manager being operable to send the events to the first and second nodes.

26. The computer system of claim 25, wherein the workspace includes a permissibility framework, the permissibility framework controlling the sending of the events to the first and second nodes.

27. A computer workspace, comprising:

a plurality of hierarchically arranged memory slots, each memory slot operable to store at least one object;

a permissibility framework in communication with the plurality of memory slots and maintaining access rights to each memory slot based on the hierarchical arrangement of the memory slots, the permissibility framework designating access rights to a particular memory slot according to a hierarchical grouping of memory slots that includes the particular memory slot, the access rights including the rights to read from the particular memory slot, write to the particular memory slot, and remove data from the particular memory slot; and

an event manager in communication with the plurality of memory slots and the permissibility framework, the event manager being operable to generate an event for one or more nodes of a computer network coupled to the computer workspace in response to a particular memory slot being modified based on the access rights maintained by the permissibility framework for the particular memory slot, the permissibility framework including access controls that control the right of each node to subscribe to and unsubscribe from events generated by the event manager.

28. A computer workspace operable to communicate with a plurality of enterprises over a network, comprising:

a plurality of hierarchically arranged memory slots, each memory slot operable to store at least one object;

a permissibility framework in communication with the memory slots and maintaining access rights to each memory slot by the plurality of enterprises based on the hierarchical arrangement of the memory slots, the permissibility framework designating access rights to a particular memory slot according to a hierarchical grouping of memory slots that includes the particular memory slot, the access rights including the rights to read from the particular memory slot, write to the particular memory slot, and remove data from the particular memory slot; and

an event manager in communication with the plurality of memory slots and the permissibility framework, the event manager being operable to generate an event for one or more of the plurality of enterprises in response to a particular memory slot being modified based on the access rights maintained by the permissibility framework for the particular memory slot, the permissibility framework including access controls that control the right of each enterprise to subscribe to and unsubscribe from events generated by the event manager.