Method for managing the simultaneous utilization of diverse real-time collaborative software applications

• US 7,237,006 B1
• Filed: 07/19/2005
• Issued: 06/26/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 04/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Andrew Prell
• Original Assignee: Andrew Prell
• Inventors: Prell, Andrew
• Primary Examiner(s): Pham, Thomas K.
• Application Number:
  US11/184,198
• Time in Patent Office: 707 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/204, 709/203, 709/213, 709/217, 709/218, 709/219, 709/227, 709/248, 370/260, 370/261, 379/202.01, 715/751, 715/753, 715/756
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 9/54 Interprogram communication

Abstract

The present invention describes a system 10 and method for managing the simultaneous utilization of diverse real-time collaborative software applications. This method allows linking of multiple computer operators or users in a single collaborative session, involving multiple collaborative applications transparent to the operator or user.

Claims

1. A method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of corresponding collaborative software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems comprising the steps of:

(a) providing a computer executable global operating system resident in each of said client computer systems, said resident global operating system having a user interface and an application wrapper, said application wrapper providing an interface between said resident global operating system and said corresponding software application on each of said client computer systems to cause each said corresponding collaborative software application to operate together within system requirements, said application wrapper of said resident global operating system comprising a first part defining an application specific computer operator interface and a second part consisting of a protocol that controls said corresponding collaborative application;

(b) providing a plurality of application data channels for the transmission of data directly between said client computer systems;

(c) creating at least one collaborative session for use by said client computer systems, said collaborative session comprising a plurality of data parameters;

(d) providing a computer executable real-time knowledge center resident on said at least one central server for tracking a plurality of collaborative session data parameters;

(f) providing a centralized real-time data index resident on said at least one central server for storing the plurality of collaborative session data parameters;

(g) updating said centralized real-time data index; and

(h) passing said collaborative session data parameters between said real-time knowledge center and said global operating system resident in each of said client computer systems.

2. The method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one security password for each of said at least one collaborative sessions; and

b. storing said at least one security password in said centralized data index.

3. The method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. providing at least one network address for each of said client computer systems, each of said software applications, and each of said collaborative session data parameters; and

b. storing said network addresses in said centralized data index.

4. The method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. storing a list of all software applications required for each of said at least one collaborative sessions in said centralized real-time data index;

b. providing said list of all software applications to each of said global operating systems; and

c. executing the software applications in said list.

5. A method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the steps of:

a. providing a notification to each of said client computer systems when a computer user joins said at least one collaborative session; and

b. providing a notification to each of said client computer systems when a computer user exits said at least one collaborative session.

6. A method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 4 further comprising the step of:

opening a plurality of data channels between each of said client computer systems for the transmission of streaming data therebetween.

7. A method for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems as claimed in claim 1 further comprising the step of:

designating at least one user of a client computer system as an administrative user, wherein said administrative user is enabled to initiate and terminate said at least one collaborative session.

8. A system for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications among a plurality of users comprising:

a. a plurality of client computer systems connected in a communications network having at least one central server, said client computer systems

b. further connected by a plurality of application data channels for the transmission of data directly between said client computer systems;

c. a resident global operating system in each client computer system comprising a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions, each said resident global operating system having a user interface and a plurality of application wrappers, each said application wrapper of said resident global operating system comprises a first part defining an application specific computer operator interface and a second part consisting of a protocol that controls said corresponding collaborative application;

d. said plurality of application wrappers providing an interface between said global operating system and each of said plurality of software applications;

e. at least one collaborative session created by a one of said client computers systems, said collaborative session having a plurality of data parameters;

f. a real-time knowledge center resident on said at least one central server for tracking the plurality of collaborative session data parameters;

g. a centralized real-time data index for storing the plurality of collaborative session data parameters; and

h. means for passing said collaborative session data parameters between said real-time knowledge center and said global operating system resident.

9. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said collaborative session data parameters include at least one network address for each of said computer systems, each of said software applications, and each of said collaborative session data parameters.

10. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said collaborative session data parameters include a security password required for entry into said collaborative session.

11. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said centralized real-time data index further includes a list of applications required for said collaborative session.

12. A system as claimed in claim 11 wherein said real-time knowledge center downloads or runs remotely any required application to said client computer systems.

13. A system as claimed in claim 8 wherein said application wrapper comprises a filter, said filter having a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions that intercept and interpret application command events from a user prior to their interpretation by said plurality of software applications.

14. In a system for managing the simultaneous real-time operation of a plurality of software applications running on a plurality of client computer systems connected in a network having at least one central server, a computer readable medium having computer executable instructions comprising:

a. a resident global operating system in each of said plurality of client computers, said operating system having a user interface and a plurality of application wrappers, each said application wrapper comprising a first part defining an application specific computer operator interface and a second part consisting of a protocol that controls said corresponding collaborative application;

b. said application wrappers providing an interface between said resident global operating system and each of said plurality of software applications;

c. at least one collaborative session created by a one of said client computer systems, said collaborative session having a plurality of data parameters; and

d. a real-time knowledge center resident on said at least one central server for tracking a plurality of collaborative session data parameters, said real-time knowledge center comprising;

i. a centralized real-time data index for storing said plurality of collaborative session data parameters; and

ii. means for passing said collaborative session data parameters between said real-time knowledge center and said global operating system resident in each of said client computer systems.