Publishing work activity information key tags associated with shared databases in social networks

• US 7,672,953 B2
• Filed: 06/28/2007
• Issued: 03/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 06/28/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Hough, Paul J., Ozzie, Raymond E., Curtis, Pavel, McAniff, Richard J., Johnson, Bruce, Gupta, Anoop, Czerwinski, Mary P., Barga, Roger S.
• Primary Examiner(s): CHANNAVAJJALA, SRIRAMA T
• Application Number:
  US11/770,625
• Publication Number:
  US 20090006415A1
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 707 1- 3, 707/7, 707/10, 707/100, 707/102, 707/104.1, 707/200, 707/205, 715/203, 715/205, 715/230, 715/233, 715/253, 715/254, 715/703, 715/730, 715733-734, 715/741, 715/744, 715/748, 715751-753, 715762-763, 715/743, 709/203, 709218-225, 709/217, 709231-232, 709214-215, 703/1, 703/3, 703/8, 703/10, 703/102, 703/104.1
• US Class Current: 707/770
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/52 for supporting social networking services

Abstract

Communications, such as emails or other information, in a work setting can be retained in a shared database that operates similar to an Internet social network. As work activities are performed, the content of the work activities can be associated with one or more shared databases based on the individual performing the activities, a common topic or theme associated with the activity and/or a manual entry. As various individuals review information contained in the shared database, notifications relating to who reviewed the content and a time of review can be sent to a contributor of the content to provide for accountability issues.

Claims

1. A system comprising:

a processor coupled to computer-readable storage media containing instructions executable by the processor for implementing an activity component that monitors one or more communications of one or more users of a common workspace in a first shared database; and

a correspond component implemented by the processor that labels a particular communication of the one or more communications monitored by the activity component by applying a first key tag to the particular communication when the particular communication is determined to be related to the common workspace in the first shared database, wherein the first key tag selectively associates the particular communication with the common workspace in the first shared database,

wherein the correspond component reviews the particular communication for determining whether the particular communication is related to one or more other shared databases, wherein the correspond component applies one or more additional key tags associated with the one or more other shared databases to the particular communication when the particular communication is determined to be related to the one or more other shared databases, wherein the one or more additional key tags associate the particular communication with corresponding one or more other shared databases.

2. The system of claim 1, further comprising a tracking component that monitors communication information comprising at least one of a keyword, a phrase, a subject, or combinations thereof contained in the one or more communications for providing the communication information to the correspond component for use in determining one or more of the key tags to be applied to the one or more communications.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a restriction module that selectively allows review of the one or more communications maintained in the common workspace.

4. The system of claim 3, wherein the restriction module denies review of the one or more communications if a review request is received from an unauthorized user.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a restriction module that selectively allows modification to the one or more communications contained in the common workspace.

6. The system of claim 1, further comprising a search component that receives a request for information contained in the common workspace, the request includes a specific reference to the common workspace or a search term.

7. The system of claim 1, further comprising a feedback component that accepts a manual change to a mapping rule employed by the correspond component for relating the one or more communications to the one or more other shared databases.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein a plurality of users have access to a tagged communication labeled as being associated with the common workspace in the first shared database, and further comprising a monitor module that monitors which users of the plurality of users views the tagged communication and determines a particular time at which each user of the plurality of users reviewed the tagged communication associated with the common workspace.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein the monitor module provides a notification to an individual that is a source of the tagged communication when the tagged communication has been reviewed by one or more of the plurality of users.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising a user interface that accepts information relating to a manual linking between the one or more communications and the common workspace.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising a storage media that stores the one or more communications in a single location accessible by members of the shared workspace and members of the one or more other shared databases.

12. The system of claim 1, further comprising a first storage media on a first device of a first user of the common workspace that stores a first communication tagged as being associated with the common workspace, and a second storage media on a second device of a second user of the common workspace that stores a second communication tagged as being associated with the common workspace, such that content of the common workspace is maintained on two or more disparate devices and associated with the common workspace, wherein, when the content of the common workspace is reviewed, the content of the common workspace is dynamically obtained from the two or more disparate devices.

13. A method implemented by a processor executing instructions stored in computer-readable storage media, the method comprising:

receiving, by the processor, work-activity information in one or more communications from one or more users of a plurality of users of a plurality of shared databases;

associating, by the processor, the work-activity information with one or more of the shared databases, wherein the work-activity information is associated with the one or more shared databases based on content of the work-activity information or intended recipients of the work-activity information;

applying the work activity-information to the one or more shared databases based on the association;

monitoring which users of the plurality of users view the work-activity information applied to the one or more shared databases, wherein the users view the work-activity information by accessing content associated with at least one of the one or more shared databases;

determining a particular time when each user of the plurality of users reviews the work-activity information contained in at least one of the plurality of shared databases; and

notifying a contributor of the work-activity information when the one or more users change the work-activity information contained in the one or more shared databases.

14. The method of claim 13, wherein receiving the work-activity information comprises accepting a manual tagging of the work-activity information that indicates the work activity information is related to the one or more shared databases.

15. The method of claim 13, wherein the associating the work-activity information with one or more of the plurality of shared databases comprises automatically assigning an indicator to the work-activity information.

16. The method of claim 13, further comprising:

receiving a request to view the work-activity information by receiving a request to view content of a particular one of the plurality of shared databases;

determining if the request is authorized to view content of the particular shared database; and

selectively displaying the work-activity information as part of the content of the particular shared database when the request is authorized.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein the selectively displaying the work-activity information comprises dynamically obtaining the work-activity information from storage media on two or more disparate devices.

18. The method of 16, wherein determining if the request is authorized comprises accessing a list of users allowed to view or modify the work-activity information of the particular shared database.

19. A computer-implemented method implemented by a processor executing instructions stored in computer-readable storage media, the method comprising:

monitoring, by an activity component implemented by the processor, one or more communications of one or more users of a common workspace in a first shared database;

labeling, by a correspond component implemented by the processor, a particular communication of the one or more communications monitored by the activity component by applying a first key tag to the particular communication when the particular communication is determined to be related to the common workspace in the first shared database, wherein the first key tag selectively associates the particular communication with the common workspace in the first shared database,

reviewing, by the correspond component, the particular communication for determining whether the particular communication is related to one or more other shared databases, wherein the correspond component applies one or more additional key tags associated with the one or more other shared databases to the particular communication when the particular communication is determined to be related to the one or more other shared databases, wherein the one or more additional key tags associate the particular communication with corresponding one or more other shared databases.