Web-based groupware system

• US 6,917,962 B1
• Filed: 06/09/2000
• Issued: 07/12/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Open TEXT SA (Open Text Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Brokercom Inc., Involv International Corp.
• Inventors: Lee, Richard, Smith, Gerald William, Cannata, Michael J., Powell, Matthew, Ramasra, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): Meky, Moustafa M.
• Application Number:
  US09/590,099
• Time in Patent Office: 1,859 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-201, 709217-218, 709223-224, 709/205, 709/203, 709/204, 709/219, 709/227, 379/205.01
• US Class Current: 709/204
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a communication network. The system comprises a network-connected server having input and access capabilities, a site builder, a transmitter, a communicator, and memory. The site-builder receives instructions input from a first user and creates a dedicated network site based on the received instructions. The transmitter communicates the existence of the dedicated network site to a nominated second user. The communicator provides accesses to the contents of the dedicated network site by the fast and second users. The memory stores information input by the first and the second user in the dedicated network site.

Claims

1. A system for providing a collaborative workspace for sharing data, comprising:

(i) a network-connected server capable of receiving an initiate instruction from a primary user, said server maintaining a hierarchy between said primary user and at least one secondary user, wherein said initiate instructions includes said least one secondary user nominated by said primary user;

(ii) a site builder for creating a dedicated site on said server in response to said initiate instruction, said dedicated site defining said collaborative workspace;

(iii) a transmitter for sending information about the existence of sand dedicated site to said at least one secondary user nominated by said primary user;

(iv) a communicator for transmitting said shared data (a) between said dedicated site and said primary user and (b) between said dedicated site and said at least one secondary user, said shared data being shared through said dedicated site is accordance with said hierarchy between said primary user and said at least one secondary user;

(v) memory for storing said shared data associated with said dedicated site, said shared data from said primary and said at least one secondary user; and

(vi) a processor for processing said stored data, said processed data being transmitted by said communicator to said primary user and said at least one secondary user.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said processed data is stored by said primary user and said at least one secondary user.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said primary and said at least one secondary users communicate via a web-browser.

4. The system according to claim 1, wherein said server contains an address database of communication addresses for said at least one secondary user connected to said network.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said network includes an internet connection.

6. The system according to claim 1, wherein said primary and said at least one secondary users accessing said network are assigned a unique personal workspace for providing said primary and said at least one secondary users with access to features of said network designated for said primary and said at least one secondary users.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein a user is assigned a password enabling access to predefined sites within said server.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein the processor includes providing the primary user with a workgroup activity application.

9. The system according to claim 8, wherein said workgroup activity application is selected from the group comprising bulletin board, chat room, calendar, contact database, change control, event planner, group discussion, issue management, project collaboration, presentation library, decision survey in a box, NGS proposal development and document management.

10. The system according to claim 9, wherein said primary user is an advisor and said at least one secondary user is a client.

11. The System according to claim 10, wherein said bulletin board and document management includes recommended advice and research documents from said advisor.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein said chat room includes an on-line chat between said adviser and said client.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein said group discussion includes a discussion between said advisor and said client.

14. The system according to claim 1, wherein said transmitter is selected from the group comprising e-mail, a pop-up window, a telephone, and a facsimile.

15. A system for providing a collaborative workspace for sharing data, comprising:

(i) a network-connected server capable of receiving as initiate instruction from a primary user, said server maintaining a hierarchy between said primary user and at least one secondary user, wherein said initiate instructions includes said at east one secondary user nominated by said primary user;

(ii) a site builder for creating a dedicated site on said server in response to said initiate instruction, said dedicated site defining said collaborative workspace;

(iii) a transmitter for sending information about the existence of said dedicated site to said at least one secondary user nominated by said primary user;

(iv) a communicator for transmitting said shared data (a) between said dedicated site and;

said primary user and (b) between said dedicated site and said at least one secondary user, said shared data being shared through said dedicated site in accordance with said hierarchy between said primary user and said at least one secondary user;

(v) memory for storing said shared data associated with said dedicated site, said shared data from said primary user and said at least one secondary user;

(vi) a processor for processing said stored data, said processed data being transmitted by said communicator to said primary user and said at least one secondary user, wherein the processor includes providing the primary user with a workgroup activity application comprising a calendar and event planner, wherein said calendar and event planner include a list of tasks to be done and a list of upcoming events.

16. A method for providing a collaborative workspace for sharing data, comprising:

(i) providing a network-connected server configured to upload and download said shared data;

(ii) receiving instructions uploaded from a first user and for creating a dedicated network site on said server, said dedicated network site having a unique name based on said instructions received from said first user, wherein said instructions includes a nominated second user;

(iii) communicating the existence of said dedicated network size to said nominated second user;

(iv) downloading said shared data from said dedicated network site to said first and second users in accordance with a hierarchy between said users; and

(vi) storing data to be shared by users in the dedicated network size.

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein said shared data are downloaded to said first and second users via a web-browser.

18. A computer system configured to operate a groupware application program for sharing data, the computer system comprising:

(i) a network for connecting to at least a primary user and a secondary user;

(ii) a site builder for receiving instructions input from said primary user for creating a dedicated site within the computer based on said instructions, wherein said instructions includes an address of said secondary user;

(iii) a mailer for looking up an address of said secondary user from an address database;

(iv) a communicator for communicating the existence of said dedicated site to said secondary user;

(v) memory for storing said shared data at said dedicated site at the request of the primary user, and the secondary user in accordance with a hierarchy between said users; and

(vi) a processor for processing said shared data at the request of the primary user and the secondary user.

19. A data carrier having thereon a computer program that implements a method for providing a collaborative workspace for sharing data, the method comprising:

(i) facilitating communication between a server, a primary user and a secondary user;

(ii) creating a dedicated site within the server based on instructions input from the primary user, wherein said instructions includes an address of said secondary user;

(iii) looking up address of the secondary user from an address database;

(iv) communicating the existence of the dedicated site to the secondary user,

(v) storing said shared data at the dedicated site at the request of the primary and the secondary user in accordance with a hierarchy between said users; and

(vi) processing said shared data at the request of the primary and the secondary user.