Portal server that provides a customizable user Interface for access to computer networks

• US 6,327,628 B1
• Filed: 05/19/2000
• Issued: 12/04/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/19/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Epicentric Inc. (Open Text Corporation)
• Inventors: Anuff, Ed, Chaston, Miles, MacLeod, David, Leiser, Peter, Joyce, Terry, Ladygo, Seth, Muoto, Oliver, Taylor, John Dean, Slesinsky, Brian
• Primary Examiner(s): Dinh, Dung C.
• Application Number:
  US09/573,226
• Time in Patent Office: 564 Days
• Field of Search: 709/310, 709/311, 709/328, 709/213, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 345/333, 345/335, 707/500, 707/501, 707/513, 707/10, 707/104, 707/9, 717/1, 713/200
• US Class Current: 719/311
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/954 Navigation, e.g. using categorised browsing
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99939 Privileged access

Abstract

A portal server presents an HTML page that comprises a plurality of modules that are formatted in a predetermined layout. Each module represents a network resource that can be accessed by a user through the portal. Some of the modules can be user-selectable, whereas others may be mandatory elements of the portal. Similarly, some aspects of the layout may be user-controllable, while others are fixed. The modular nature of the portal enables the various resources to be readily and independently updated by the entities who provide them, without affecting other features of the portal. The portal server includes an administration interface that enables an administrator to select from various layout styles, as well as control access to site information and services. A variety of customizations can be done to the portal without requiring programming skills. As a result, individual businesses and other entities can exercise complete ownership of their portals, from a hosting, branding and design perspective.

Claims

1. A portal server framework for providing a portal on a computer network, comprising:

a software class configured to instantiate an information object, the information object encapsulating information; and

,

a permission class configured to instantiate a first permission object, the first permission object defining a first set of users having access to, and a first set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object;

wherein the first set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a second permission object, the second permission object defining a second set of users having access to the information object;

whereby, upon installation on the network, the classes are executable by a processor on the computer network.

2. The portal server framework of claim 1, further comprising a descriptor class configured to instantiate a descriptor object, the descriptor object defining a set of administrative properties associated with the information object.

3. The portal server framework of claim 1, further comprising a permission context class configured to instantiate a context object for each permission object, the permission context object defining the users and the privileges for the permission object.

4. The portal server framework of claim 1, wherein the second permission object defines a second set of users having access to, and a second set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object, wherein the second set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a third permission object, the third permission object defining a third set of users having access to the information object.

5. A method of providing a portal server on a computer network, the method comprising:

providing a software class configured to instantiate an information object, the information object encapsulating information; and

,

providing a permission class configured to instantiate a first permission object, the first permission object defining a first set of users having access to, and a first set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object;

wherein the first set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a second permission object, the second permission object defining a second set of users having access to the information object; and

whereby the classes are executable by a processor on the computer network.

6. The method according to claim 5, further comprising providing a descriptor class configured to instantiate a descriptor object, the descriptor object defining a set of administrative properties associated with the information object.

7. The method according to claim 5, further comprising a permission context class configured to instantiate a context object for each permission object, the permission context object defining the users and the privileges for the permission object.

8. The method according to claim 5, wherein, the second permission object defines a second set of users having access to, and a second set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object, wherein the second set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a third permission object, the third permission object defining a third set of users having access to the information object.

9. A computer program product for providing a portal server on a computer network, the computer program product comprising:

a computer readable medium; and

,

computer program instructions, recorded on the computer readable medium, executable by a processor, for performing the steps of;

instantiating an information object encapsulating information; and

instantiating a first permission object, the first permission object defining a first set of users having access to, and a first set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object;

wherein the first set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a second permission object, the second permission object defining a second set of users having access to the information object.

10. The computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising computer program instructions for performing the step of instantiating a descriptor object, the descriptor object defining a set of administrative properties associated with the information object.

11. The computer program product according to claim 9, further comprising computer program instructions for performing the step of instantiating a permission context object for each permission object, the permission context object defining the users and the privileges for the permission object.

12. The computer program product according to claim 9, wherein the second permission object defines a second set of users having access to, and a second set of administrative privileges associated with, the information object, wherein the second set of administrative privileges includes permission to instantiate a third permission object, the third permission object defining a third set of users having access to the information object.