Method and apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system
First Claim
1. A method for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the method comprising:
- (a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
(b) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
(c) scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
(d) using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool.
3 Assignments
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Accused Products
Abstract
A connection between a secure shared space and an external system is created with a connector tool. The connector tool code is included in an independent agent called a “bot” that is created by a software developer. Bots run in the background in an automated and unattended manner in a specialized enterprise integration server. Each bot has a unique identity and runs under an account assigned to the enterprise integration server. A bot can be invited to a shared space much as another collaborator. Bots can also invite others to shared spaces. All bots running in the enterprise integration server are administered by a centralized administrative control. This allows account and identity policies to be established and global behaviors, including authentication settings, startup options and scope to be determined centrally. The centralized control allows simple installation, configuration and deployment and administrative control of bot operation and access. It also allows for logging and monitoring of system behavior.
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Citations
43 Claims
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1. A method for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the method comprising:
- (a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
(b) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
(c) scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
(d) using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14)
- (a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
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7. A method for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the method comprising:
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(a) installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool; (b) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server; (c) scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and (d) using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool, wherein step (b) comprises receiving an invitation to join the collaboration system from one of the collaborating members; and
accepting the invitation based on predetermined criteria, the predetermined criteria including;
whether a role in the collaboration system specified by the invitation meets a predetermined role and whether the one collaborating member has been preselected as a member that can issue an invitation.
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15. Apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the apparatus comprising:
- service software installed on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service software including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
means for causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server;
a component connector that scans the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
an agent bot instance that uses the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool. - View Dependent Claims (16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
- service software installed on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service software including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
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22. Apparatus for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the apparatus comprising:
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(a) service software installed on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service software including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool; (b) means for causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server, the means for causing the service to join the collaboration system comprises means for receiving an invitation to join the collaboration system from one of the collaborating members; and means for accepting the invitation based on predetermined criteria; (c) a component connector that scans the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; (d) an agent bot instance that uses the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool; and (e) a console program in the server that can be used by an administrator to set the predetermined criteria.
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29. A secure peer-to-peer collaboration system adapted and configured to connect to an external system, the peer-to-peer collaboration system having a plurality of collaborating members, wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the secure peer-to-peer collaboration system comprising:
- a server having computer-readable media computer-executable instructions for;
(i) providing a service external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including computer-executable instructions for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool; (ii) causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server; (iii) exchanging data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool; and (iv) communicating to the plurality of collaborating members a data change request, the data change request being based on the data and identifying a change to the local shared space copy of each of the plurality of members. - View Dependent Claims (30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42)
- a server having computer-readable media computer-executable instructions for;
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43. A computer readable medium for connecting a secure peer-to-peer collaboration system to an external system wherein each collaborating member uses tools within a local shared space copy to update data therein and collaborating members securely exchange data between local shared space copies, the computer-readable medium having computer-executable instructions thereon for installing a service on a server external to all of the local shared space copies, the service including service code for exchanging data with the external system and a designated tool;
- causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server; and
scanning the replicated shared space copy to discover tools therein; and
using the service code to exchange data between the external system and the designated tool when the replicated shared space copy includes the designated tool.
- causing the service to join the collaboration system as a member so that the collaboration system replicates a copy of the shared space on the server; and
Specification