System and method for real-time, multi-user, interactive and collaborative environments on the web

• US 7,958,453 B1
• Filed: 10/01/2007
• Issued: 06/07/2011
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Len Bou Taing
• Original Assignee: Len Bou Taing
• Inventors: Taing, Len Bou
• Primary Examiner(s): Lo, Weilun
• Assistant Examiner(s): Kujundzic, Dino
• Application Number:
  US11/905,496
• Time in Patent Office: 1,345 Days
• Field of Search: 715/744, 715/733, 715/751, 715/753, 715/755, 715/758, 715/759, 709/205
• US Class Current: 715/744
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 12/1827 Network arrangements for conference optimisation or adaptation
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/043 using or handling presence information

Abstract

A method and system for real-time multi-user interactions and collaborations over the web. A method of balancing the needs of the group and the needs of the individual is shown through implementation of relaxed WYSIWIS design principles, where each web page served by the server system is comprised of two graphical layers: a web content layer and an interaction space. The web content layer contains the textual or graphical content or the web page that may be edited by a group of users in real-time. The interaction space is where users are given virtual embodiment through graphical representations known as avatars. It is a space where users can see other users and perform actions that will be seen by others in real-time. The interaction space is overlaid on top of the web content layer thereby creating one integrated space for multi-user interaction and collaboration.

Claims

1. A multi-user system, associated with a first user and a plurality of non-first users each having respective client systems associated therewith and wherein each client system is connected to a server system through a computer network, the system providing multi-user interactive environments on web pages served by the server system, the multi-user system comprising:

a user interface, the user interface being executed by a client system of the first user, the user interface being defined by a set of programs that are provided by the server system, and the set of programs providing bidirectional communications between the server system and the client system of the first user;

the user interface comprising a rendered web content layer, the rendered web content layer being an area for displaying rendered web content served by the server system;

the user interface further comprising an interaction space for multi-user actions, the interaction space being overlaid on top of the rendered web content layer;

the user interface providing a coordinate system for the interaction space, the coordinate system enabling geometric measurements;

the user interface embodying the first user in the interaction space as a first user graphical representation, the first user graphical representation being positioned within the interaction space according to first user coordinates; and

the user interface being a real-time multi-user environment comprising;

a control means allowing the first user to control presence of non-first users in the interaction space of the first user;

an embodying means that embodies non-first users who are allowed membership into the interaction space of the first user as non-first user graphical representations, wherein each non-first user graphical representation is positioned within the interaction space of the first user according to their respective non-first user coordinates;

a movement control means for first user movement control of the first user graphical representation in the interaction space, such that the movement action is replicated in the interaction spaces of all non-first users who are in the interaction space of the first user;

a conversating means for conversating among first user and non-first users in the interaction space of the first user; and

an editing means for at least one of multi-user simultaneous annotating and editing of the rendered web content layer, wherein the rendered web content layer of the first user and the rendered web content layer of at least one of the plurality of non-first users are displaying the same web page, and wherein one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users requests a region of content rendered on the displayed web page to be locked for editing before such one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users is allowed to edit or annotate the region of content.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the coordinate system for the interaction space is two dimensional.

3. The system of claim 1, further comprising a decoupling means for decoupling the interaction space from the rendered web content layer, wherein:

given the first user and a non-first user who are in each other'"'"'s interaction space, view or contents of the first user'"'"'s rendered web content layer is different from view or content of the non-first user'"'"'s rendered web content layer, or

given the first user and the non-first user where the rendered web content layers of both users contain the same web content, the first user and the non-first user are not in each other'"'"'s interaction space.

4. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a directed social action means for controlling directed social actions in the interaction space.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

an undirected social action means for controlling undirected social actions in the interaction space.

6. The system of claim 1, wherein conversating is conducted through text messages inputted through a keyboard.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein conversating is conducted through audio messages inputted through a microphone.

8. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user graphical representation and non-first user graphical representations are static image media.

9. The system of claim 1, wherein the first user graphical representation and non-first user graphical representations are video media.

10. The system of claim 1, further comprising

providing at least one of the first user graphical representation and the non-first user graphical representations with physical properties,

specifying a set of physical laws pertaining to said physical properties simulating a physical environment in the interaction space based on the physical laws.

11. The system of claim 1, further comprising

populating the interaction space with non-user objects,

providing the non-user objects with physical properties,

specifying a set of physical laws pertaining to said physical properties, and

simulating a physical environment in the interaction space using the physical laws.

12. The system of claim 1, wherein

the client systems are devices that are capable of determining Global Positioning System (GPS) coordinates of the first user in a real-world space, mapping the first user GPS coordinates to the coordinate system of the interaction space, and

positioning the first user graphical representation within the interaction space according to the mapped GPS coordinates,

wherein the positions of the users in the real-world space are reflected in the interaction space.

13. The system of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first user graphical representation and the non-first user graphical user representations is configurable by the first user.

14. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a graph representing friendship relationship between the first user and the non-first users, wherein annotations of the rendered web content layer of the first user are only viewable by;

the first user, the first user and the non-first users represented by the graph representing the friendship relationship between the first user and the non-first users, or the first user and the plurality of non-first users.

15. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a content management system to track at least one of;

changes made to the rendered web content layer, annotations associated with the rendered web content layer, and the first user or a non-first user responsible for a change in the rendered web content layer, whereby at least one of the changes to the rendered web content layer, the annotations associated with the rendered web content layer, and the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users responsible for the changes are displayed, and whereby the rendered web content layer is restorable to a previous state.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the user at least one of changes to the rendered web content layer, the annotations associated with the rendered web content layer, and the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users responsible for the changes are displayed by the user interface overlaid on top of each other.

17. The system of claim 1, further comprising:

a snooping means, wherein given the first user and a non-first user who share the interaction space, the first user can at least share or see the non-first user'"'"'s rendered web content layer.

18. The system of claim 1,

wherein the user interface supports a plurality of interaction spaces.

19. A method for multi-user interaction, associated with a first user and a plurality of non-first users each having respective client systems associated therewith and wherein each client system is connected to a server system through a computer network, the system providing multi-user interactive environments on web pages served by the server system, the method comprising:

a user interface execution step, wherein a user interface is executed by a client system of the first user, the user interface being defined by a set of programs that are provided by the server system, and the set of programs providing bidirectional communications between the server system and the client system of the first user;

the user interface comprising a rendered web content layer, the rendered web content layer being an area for displaying rendered web content served by the server system;

the user interface further comprising an interaction space for multi-user actions, the interaction space being overlaid on top of the rendered web content layer;

the user interface providing a coordinate system for the interaction space, the coordinate system enabling geometric measurements;

the user interface embodying the first user in the interaction space as a first user graphical representation, the first user graphical representation being positioned within the interaction space according to first user coordinates; and

the user interface being a real-time multi-user environment comprising;

an access controlling step allowing the first user to control presence of non-first users in the interaction space of the first user;

an embodying step that embodies non-first users who are allowed membership into the interaction space of the first user as non-first user graphical representations, wherein each non-first user graphical representation is positioned within the interaction space of the first user according to their respective non-first user coordinates;

a movement control step for first user movement control of the first user graphical representation in the interaction space, such that the movement action is replicated in the interaction spaces of all non-first users who are in the interaction space of the first user;

a conversating step for conversating among first user and non-first users in the interaction space of the first user; and

an editing step for at least one of multi-user simultaneous annotating and editing of the rendered web content layer, wherein the rendered web content layer of the first user and the rendered web content layer of at least one of the plurality of non-first users are displaying the same web page, and wherein one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users requests a region of content rendered on the displayed web page to be locked for editing before such one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users is allowed to edit or annotate the region of content.

20. A multi-user apparatus, associated with a first user and a plurality of non-first users each having respective client systems associated therewith and wherein each client system is connected to a server system through a computer network, the apparatus providing multi-user interactive environments on web pages served by the server system, the multi-user apparatus comprising:

a user interface, the user interface being executed by a client system of the first user, the user interface being defined by a set of programs that are provided by the server system, and the set of programs providing bidirectional communications between the server system and the client system of the first user;

the user interface comprising a rendered web content layer, the rendered web content layer being an area for displaying rendered web content served by the server system;

the user interface further comprising an interaction space for multi-user actions, the interaction space being overlaid on top of the rendered web content layer;

the user interface providing a coordinate system for the interaction space, the coordinate system enabling geometric measurements;

the user interface embodying the first user in the interaction space as a first user graphical representation, the first user graphical representation being positioned within the interaction space according to first user coordinates; and

the user interface being a real-time multi-user environment comprising;

a user control component allowing the first user to control presence of non-first users in the interaction space of the first user;

an embodying component that embodies non-first users who are allowed membership into the interaction space of the first user as non-first user graphical representations, wherein each non-first user graphical representation is positioned within the interaction space of the first user according to their respective non-first user coordinates;

a movement component for first user movement control of the first user graphical representation in the interaction space, such that the movement action is replicated in the interaction spaces of all non-first users who are in the interaction space of the first user;

a conversating component for conversating among first user and non-first users in the interaction space of the first user; and

an editing component for at least one of multi-user simultaneous annotating and editing of the rendered web content layer, wherein the rendered web content layer of the first user and the rendered web content layer of at least one of the plurality of non-first users are displaying the same web page, and wherein one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users requests a region of content rendered on the displayed web page to be locked for editing before such one of the first user or one of the plurality of non-first users is allowed to edit or annotate the region of content.