System and method for managing information and collaborating

• US 7,636,752 B2
• Filed: 08/30/2004
• Issued: 12/22/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 09/28/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Parlano, Inc. (Microsoft Corporation)
• Inventors: Gaylor, Ryan, Serr, Bob, Madsen, Mark
• Primary Examiner(s): Etienne; Ario
• Assistant Examiner(s): Burgess; Barbara N
• Application Number:
  US10/929,623
• Publication Number:
  US 20050027802A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,940 Days
• Field of Search: 709/205, 709/206, 709/207, 709/203, 709/204, 709/227, 709/229, 709/239, 707/102
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1831 Tracking arrangements for later retrieval, e.g. recording contents, participants activities or behavior, network status
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/04 Real-time or near real-time messaging, e.g. instant messaging [IM]
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 2203/4536 Voicemail combined with text-based messaging
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42229 Personal communication services, i.e. services related to one subscriber independent of his terminal and/or location diverting calls from one subscriber to another subscriber, i.e. two different subscriptions H04M3/54; selecting arrangements in intelligent networks H04Q3/005
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42323 PBX's with CTI arrangements
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/42365 Presence services providing information on the willingness to communicate or the ability to communicate in terms of media capability or network connectivity
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/56 Arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities video conference systems H04N7/15
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/563 User guidance or feature selection
• CPC Class Codes: H04M 3/565 relating to time schedule aspects
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 707/99943 Generating database or data structure, e.g. via user interface

Abstract

Disclosed is an information management and collaboration system and method for managing information flow in real time. A real time chat communication channel provides a link for users to interact in a customized setting. Users are provided with such customizable features as contextual transcripts, parameterized input and output panels, channel management, contact management and application interaction. The system and method disclosed allows information to be managed in a customized environment based on user preferences. Further, the system and method disclosed provide a highly configurable environment for interaction with other information and collaboration systems, as well as other utility application programs.

Claims

1. A network collaboration system comprising:

an end user computing system configured to receive messages over one of a plurality of real time chat communication channels, said end user computing system including;

an interface for displaying information about message traffic over said one of a plurality of real time chat communication channels as well as displaying the content of the messages themselves, wherein the information about message traffic comprises a new message count corresponding to a number of messages transmitted over said one of a plurality of real time chat communication channels during a period when the end user computing system is not participating in the network collaboration system, the new message count being generated by comparing a time stamp stored for said one of a plurality of real time chat communication channels when the end user computing system logs out of the network collaboration system against a time component of the messages transmitted during the period when the end user computing system is not participating in the network collaboration system, the time period when the end user computing system is not participating in the network collaboration system being from when the end user computing system logs out of the network collaboration system until the end user computing system logs into the network collaboration system, wherein the new message count being generated is for inactive channels and configured from a channel datatable, wherein the channel datatable comprises;

a forum datatable,

a filtered datatable, and

a private datatable;

a channel manager configured to allow an end user to manage the plurality of real time chat communication channels,

wherein the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to manage the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises the channel manager configured to allow the end user to review the plurality of real time chat communication channels and create additional real time chat communication channels,

wherein the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises;

a forum channel, wherein the forum channel is configured to allow access to everyone on the network collaboration system,

a private channel, wherein the private channel is configured to be a secure channel between two users.

a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel is configured to comprise content from other channels, and

a one way channel, wherein the one way channel is configured to allow the end user to receive information; and

an administration computing system adapted to store messages transmitted over said communication channel and information regarding the status of the end user computing system such that messages and historical information regarding message traffic over the communication channel may be displayed by the end user computer system, wherein the administration computing system is configured to;

provide a transcript of at least one message from at least one other system user, and

provide location information of at least one user.

2. The network collaboration system of claim 1, wherein said administration computing system includes a channel database for storing information about said communication channel and the content of messages sent over the communication channel and a user database for storing status information about the end user computing system.

3. The network collaboration system of claim 2, wherein said status information includes a time stamp associated with the communication channel identifying a time when the end user computing system logs out of said collaboration system.

4. The network collaboration system of claim 3, wherein said administration computing system is adapted to generate a new message count based on a count of the messages transmitted over the communication channel during the time between the time stamp recorded when the end user computing system was logged out of the network collaboration system, and a time when the end user computing system is logged back into the network collaboration system.

5. The network collaboration system of claim 4, wherein said end user computing system interface is adapted to display said new message count associated with said communication channel when the end user communication system is logged back into said network collaboration system.

6. The network collaboration system of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of said communication channels.

7. The network collaboration system of claim 6, wherein said plurality of communication channels comprise real time chat channels.

8. A network collaboration system comprising:

a first user computer;

at least one communication channel associated with the first user computer for exchanging messages between the first user computer and at least one other user computer;

a channel manager configured to allow an end user to manage the at least one communication channel, wherein the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to manage the at least one communication channel comprises the channel manager configured to allow the end user to review the at least one communication channel and create additional communication channels, wherein the additional communication channels comprise at least one of the following;

a forum channel, wherein the forum channel is configured to allow access to everyone on the network collaboration system,

a private channel, wherein the private channel is configured to be a secure channel between two users,

a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel is configured to comprise content from other channels, and

a one way channel, wherein the one way channel is configured to allow the end user to receive information;

a display interface associated with the first user computer configured to display a new message count corresponding to a number of messages transmitted over the at least one communication channel during a period when the first user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system,

the new message count being generated by corn paring a time stamp stored for the at least one communication channel when the first user computer logs out of the network collaboration system against a time component of the messages transmitted during the period when the first user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system, the time period when the first user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system being from when the first user computer logs out of the network collaboration system till the first user computer logs into the network collaboration system, wherein the new message count being generated is for inactive channels and configured from a channel datatable, wherein the channel datatable comprises;

a forum datatable,

a filtered datatable, and

a private datatable; and

an administration computing system adapted to store messages transmitted over the at least one communication channel and information regarding the status of the first user computer such that messages and historical information regarding message traffic over the at least one communication channel may be displayed by the first user computer, wherein the administration computing system is configured to;

provide a transcript of at least one message from at least one other system user, and

provide location information of at least one user.

9. The network collaboration system of claim 8, wherein said at least one communication channel comprises a plurality of said communications channels and said display interface is adapted to display a new message count for each of said plurality of communication channels.

10. The network collaboration system of claim 9, wherein the display interface is adapted to not display the new message count associated with a particular communication channel after a user has reviewed the messages transmitted over the particular communication channel.

11. A method of displaying an offline message count to a user of a collaboration managing system, the method comprising:

monitoring the times at which a user logs into and out of the collaboration managing system;

monitoring messages on a communication channel wherein monitoring the communication channel comprises allowing the user to review the communication channel and create at least one additional communication channel, wherein the at least one additional communication channel comprises at least one of the following;

a forum channel, wherein the forum channel is configured to allow access to everyone on the network collaboration system,

a private channel, wherein the private channel is configured to be a secure channel between two users,

a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel is configured to comprise content from other channels, and

a one way channel, wherein the one way channel is configured to allow the end user to receive information;

counting a number of messages that are sent over the communication channel during an offline period extending between a time when the user logs out of the collaboration system and a time when the user logs back into the system, wherein counting the number of messages that are sent over the communication channel during the offline period comprises;

receiving the number of messages from a channel datatable, wherein the channel datatable comprises;

a forum datatable,

a filtered datatable, and

a private datatable, and

comparing a time stamp stored for the communication channel when the user logs out of the collaboration monitoring system against a time component of the messages

transmitted during the offline period when the user logs into the collaboration monitoring system, the time period when the user is not participating in the network collaboration system being from when the user logs out of the network collaboration system till the user logs into the network collaboration system, and

displaying, by a computer associated with the user, the number of messages sent during said offline period, wherein displaying the number of messages sent comprises displaying the number of messages for inactive channels; and

storing, by an administration computing system, messages transmitted over the communication channel and information regarding the status of the user such that messages and historical information regarding message traffic over the communication channel may be displayed to the user;

providing, by the administration computing system, a transcript of at least one message from at least one other user, and

providing, by the administration computing system, location information of at least one of the following;

the user and the at least one other user.

12. A network collaboration system comprising:

a user computer adapted to receive messages over a plurality of communication channels, the user computer comprising a channel manager configured to allow an end user to manage the plurality of real time chat communication channels,

wherein the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to manage the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to review the plurality of real time chat communication channels and create additional real time chat communication channels, and

wherein the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises;

a forum channel, wherein the forum channel is configured to allow access to everyone on the network collaboration system,

a private channel, wherein the private channel is configured to be a secure channel between two users,

a filtered channel, wherein the filtered channel is configured to comprise content from other channels, and

a one way channel, wherein the one way channel is configured to allow the end user to receive information;

a display interface associated with said user computer for displaying said messages, a new message count corresponding to a number of messages transmitted over at least one of the plurality of communication channels during a period when the user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system, and information about said communication channels, the new message count being generated by comparing a time stamp stored for at least one of the plurality of communication channels when said user computer logs out of the network collaboration system against a time component of the messages transmitted during the period when said user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system, the time period when the said user computer is not participating in the network collaboration system being from when said user computer logs out of the network collaboration system until said user computer logs into the network collaboration system, wherein the new message count being generated is for inactive channels and configured from a channel datatable, wherein the channel datatable comprises;

a forum datatable,

a filtered datatable, and

a private datatable;

an administration computer for managing the network collaboration system;

a user datatable associated with the administration computer for storing user data including user message filtering criteria, wherein the administration computer for managing the network is configured to;

provide a transcript of at least one message from at least one other system user, and

provide location information of at least one user; and

a channel datatable associated with said administration computer for storing data regarding said communication channels and messages transmitted over said communication channels;

wherein a time stamp is recorded in said user table when the user computer is logged out of the collaboration system; and

user filtering requirements stored in said user datatable are loaded into the display interface when the user computer is logged back into the collaboration system; and

messages transmitted over the communications channels during a time period between the time the user computer was logged out of the collaboration system and the time the user computer was logged back into the collaboration system are filtered according to said user filtering criteria for display by said display interface.

13. The network collaboration system of claim 12, wherein the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to review the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises retrieved prior contextual messages that was archived.

14. The network collaboration system of claim 13, wherein the channel manager being configured to allow the end user to review the plurality of real time chat communication channels comprises retrieved prior contextual messages that was archived, further comprises the channel manager being configured to display a specified number of contextual messages that was archived.