Sharing of content associated with events

• US 8,392,817 B2
• Filed: 08/16/2011
• Issued: 03/05/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Dov Koren
• Original Assignee: Dov Koren
• Inventors: Koren, Dov
• Primary Examiner(s): HUYNH, CONG LAC T
• Application Number:
  US13/211,104
• Publication Number:
  US 20110302505A1
• Time in Patent Office: 567 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 715/205, 715/751
• US Class Current: 715/200
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 11/3438 monitoring of user actions tracking the activity of the user H04L67/535
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/176 Support for shared access to files; File sharing support
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/9558 Details of hyperlinks; Management of linked annotations
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2119 Authenticating web pages, e.g. with suspicious links
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 2221/2149 Restricted operating environment
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0484 for the control of specific functions or operations, e.g. selecting or manipulating an object, an image or a displayed text element, setting a parameter value or selecting a range
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/134 Hyperlinking
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 11/206 Drawing of charts or graphs
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/535 Tracking the activity of the user network monitoring arrangements H04L43/00; recording of computer activity G06F11/34
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching

Abstract

Techniques are provided that allow users to collaborate in relationship to data views, application displays, applications or events. A user can type in a text view related to a specific view in an application display, and the information is shared with other users that take part in sharing that view. A user that expresses an interest in an event is notified about the event and has the capability to interact, in relation to the event, with other users (e.g. by text). The particular form of interaction (and sharing) can be selectively specified. This interaction is comparable to a dynamic bulletin board where the subject is event driven, and where a user can specify who are allowed to participate. In the case of an event interest(s), users specify their interest (e.g. in other user application events or system events) and the system automatically alerts them to the occurrence of the event.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

generating, for a first user, within a system, content for one or more application displays to be displayed on a first computing device of the first user;

sending, by the system, to at least one second computing device of at least one second user, a first message that includes an access identifier that provides access to sharable content;

wherein the at least one second user includes a plurality of second users;

wherein the sharable content includes at least a portion of content from the one or more application displays that were generated for the first user;

wherein the at least one second computing device is different from said first computing device of the first user;

in response to receiving an indication of acceptance of the first message by a particular second user, of a plurality of second users, the system using the access identifier to share with the particular second user said sharable content;

wherein said access identifier is generated by the system;

enabling each user, in a set of users to interact with the system over a network;

wherein the step of enabling the set of users to interact with the system over the network includes enabling the set of users to interact with at least one application, from one or more applications that are associated with the system, through at least one application display from a plurality of application displays;

wherein the plurality of application displays are associated with the system;

wherein the plurality of application displays include the one or more application displays;

wherein the plurality of application displays include a plurality of views;

wherein the first user and the at least one second user belong to the set of users;

monitoring, by the system, for occurrence of application events from a plurality of application events;

wherein each application event, from the plurality of application events, is an event that is associated with interaction with at least one of the one or more applications, by at least one user from the set of users;

wherein the first message is a first alert that was sent in response to a first application event, from the plurality of application events;

wherein the first application event is associated with a first interaction of the first user with an application, of the one or more applications;

wherein the first interaction involves the sharable content;

causing display of the first alert in a respective view, from the plurality of views, of each of the plurality of second users;

wherein the respective view of each of the plurality of second users includes at least one other alert about a different application event from the plurality of application events;

enabling each user, of the plurality of second users, to enter one or more comments in relation to the first alert and to share said one or more comments, among the plurality of second users, in relation to the first alert;

receiving, by the system, a comment from the particular second user;

wherein the comment was entered in a text entry interface that is related to the first alert;

in response to the system receiving the comment, the system sending the comment in real-time to cause display of the comment, in relation to the first alert, in the respective view of each user from the plurality of second users; and

wherein the first message was sent to the particular second user based on receiving, by the system prior to the first application event, an expression of interest, from the particular second user, in being notified about interactions of the first user.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein receiving the expression of interest comprises receiving a specification of interest in being notified about interactions of the first user.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein acceptance of the first message includes usage of the access identifier by the particular second user.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein acceptance of the first message is performed by using the access identifier.

5. The method of claim 1 further comprising causing the respective view of each of the plurality of second users to be organized as a bulletin board.

6. The method of claim 5 further comprising:

in response to new events, of the plurality of application events, causing dynamic update, of the respective view of the particular second user, with new alerts;

in response to new comments, that are received by the system, from users, from the set of users, that are allowed to comment in relation to the new alerts, causing dynamic update, of the respective view of the particular second user, with the new comments; and

a particular alert, of the new alerts, includes an access identifier that provides access to one or more views that are associated with a particular event, of the new events, that corresponds to the particular alert.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising:

causing a particular view, from the plurality of views, to operate as a bulletin board;

causing display of the comment, in relation to the first alert, in the particular view;

in response to occurrence of new events, of the plurality of application events, causing dynamic update, of the particular view, with new alerts;

in response to new comments, that are received by the system, from users, of the set of users, that are allowed to interact with the particular view, causing dynamic update, of the particular view, with the new comments; and

a particular alert, of the new alerts, includes an access identifier that provides access to one or more views that are associated with a particular event, of the new events, that corresponds to the particular alert.

8. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the sharable content includes at least a portion of a file; and

the first application event corresponds to the first user loading the at least a portion of the file to the system.

9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first application event corresponds to the first user loading at least one table from the file.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first application event corresponds to input of a text, by the first user, into a text entry interface that is related to the sharable content; and

the method further comprises causing said text to be shared among the first user and the plurality of second users.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interaction includes interaction with the sharable content.

12. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the respective view of each of the plurality of second users includes a plurality of portions;

each portion of the plurality of portions corresponds to a distinct alert;

sending the first alert includes causing the respective view of each of the plurality of second users to add a first portion that corresponds to the first alert;

at least one other portion, of the plurality of portions, corresponds to the at least one other alert; and

the method further comprises;

causing the first alert to be displayed in the first portion of the respective view of each of the plurality of second users; and

causing the comment to be displayed in relation to the first portion.

13. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

the system receiving from a second user a request to share the first portion with a plurality of third users from the set of users;

wherein the second user is one of the plurality of second users;

wherein the plurality of second users is different from the plurality of third users; and

in response, at least in part, to the request, causing display of the first portion to the plurality of third users.

14. The method of claim 12 further comprising:

in response, at least in part, to occurrence of a second application event from the plurality of application events, associated with interaction with an application, of the one or more applications, by the first user, causing display of a second alert, about the second application event, in the respective view of each of the plurality of second users;

wherein causing display of the second alert includes causing the respective view of each of the plurality of second users to add a second portion that corresponds to the second alert;

receiving, by the system, a second comment from a particular user of the plurality of second users;

wherein the second comment was entered in a text entry interface that is related to the second alert;

causing second alert to be displayed in the second portion of the respective view of each of the plurality of second users; and

causing the second comment to be displayed in relation to the second portion of the respective view of each of the plurality of second users.

15. The method of claim 12 wherein the method further comprises:

in response to receiving specification of filtering criteria by a particular user, of the plurality of second users, causing the respective view of the particular user to display only portions, from the plurality of portions, that have values that match the specified filtering criteria.

16. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the first application event corresponds to the first user entering a first transaction involving an item; and

the sharable content includes content of the first transaction.

17. The method of claim 16 wherein said item is a financial instrument.

18. The method of claim 16 wherein the access identifier enables the plurality of second users to access a transaction view that enables the plurality of second users to engage in a second transaction involving the item.

19. The method of claim 16 wherein the first transaction is a transaction of purchasing or selling the item.

20. The method of claim 1 wherein:

within the respective view of the particular second user, the at least one other alert is a plurality of other alerts;

a first other alert and a second other alert belong to the plurality of other alerts;

the first other alert is an alert about a second application event, from the plurality of application events, associated with interaction with the application by the first user;

the second other alert is an alert about a third application event, from the plurality of application events, associated with interaction with at least one of the one or more applications by another user from the set of users; and

the first user, the particular second user, and the other user are different users.

21. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the respective view of the particular second user is generated by a locally installed client-based program that is not a web browser;

the locally installed client-based program is a program that is downloaded to a wireless PDA from an application storage that is remote relative to the wireless PDA;

the respective view of the particular second user is displayed by the wireless PDA; and

the application storage is maintained remote from said system.

22. The method of claim 1 wherein the text entry interface is a text view.

23. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interaction is interaction with the sharable content.

24. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is associated with the system at least in that the system enables the first user, at least in part, to interact with at least a portion of content of the application.

25. The method of claim 1 wherein the access identifier contains a URL.

26. The method of claim 1 wherein the access identifier is a URL to the sharable content.

27. The method of claim 1 wherein the application is provided by the system.

28. The method of claim 1 wherein the access identifier enables the at least one second user to interact with the sharable content in the same manner as the first interaction.

29. The method of claim 1 wherein the first interaction makes use of a particular functionality of the system and the access identifier enables the at least one second user to make use of the particular functionality.

30. The method of claim 1 wherein the sharable content is shared with the particular second user in a view sharing mode.

31. The method of claim 1 wherein the one or more application displays are generated, it least in part, by the application.

32. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the one or more applications include a plurality of distinct applications;

the plurality of distinct applications includes the application and a second application; and

the method further comprises;

in response, at least in part, to occurrence of a second application event, from the plurality of application events, causing display of a second alert, about the second application event, in the respective view of each user of the plurality of second users;

wherein the second application event is associated with interaction of the first user with the second application;

wherein the second alert includes an access identifier that provides access to one or more views that are associated with the second application event; and

enabling each user, of the plurality of second users, to enter at least one comment in relation to the second alert and to share said at least one comment, among the plurality of second users, in relation to the second alert.

33. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

after causing display of the first alert and the comment in the respective view of each user from the plurality of second users, maintaining, in a memory cache of the system, cached information relating to the respective view of at least one user, of the plurality of second users, to enable subsequent requests to obtain the cached information without access to a database; and

the cached information includes information relating to organization of the respective view of the at least one user, content of the first alert, content of the at least one other alert, and content of the comment.

34. The method of claim 1, wherein the sharable content includes content from one or more chart views.

35. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sharable content includes content from one or more alert views; and

the first interaction includes input of a particular comment in relation to a particular alert view of the one or more alert views.

36. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sharable content includes content from one or more of news views;

content of a particular news view of the one or more news views is obtained from a data source that is remote relative to the first user, the plurality of second users and the system; and

the first interaction includes input of a particular comment in relation to the particular news view.

37. The method of claim 1, wherein:

the sharable content includes content from one or more of message views; and

the first interaction includes input of a particular comment in relation to a particular message view of the one or more message views.

38. The method of claim 1 wherein the sharable content contains, at least in part, financial information.

39. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the sharable content contains, at least in part, dynamically updated information; and

the access identifier provides access to a dynamically updated version of the sharable content.

40. The method of claim 1 wherein:

the sharable content contains, at least in part, real-time information; and

the access identifier provides access to a real-time version of the sharable content.

46. One or more non-transitory computer-readable media storing instructions which, when executed by one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to perform the method recited in any one of claims 1,2,5,6,10,12,16,21,23,28,30,18,41.

47. An apparatus including a plurality of means, wherein the plurality of means includes means for performing each step of the method recited in any one of claims 1,11,13,14,18,29,31,37.

48. An apparatus comprising one or more processors, one or more memories, and one or more sequences of instructions that are stored in the one or more memories, wherein each memory from the one or more memories is operatively coupled to at least one of the one or more processors, and wherein the one or more sequences of instructions, when performed by the one or more processors, cause the one or more processors to execute the steps of the method recited in any one of claims 1,2,5-10,12,16,21,13,23,26,15,28,30, 18,19,32,41,43,44-36.

41. A method comprising:

generating, for a first user, within a system, content for one or more application displays to be displayed on a first computing device of the first user;

sending, by the system, to at least one second computing device of at least one second user, a first message that includes an access identifier that provides access to sharable content;

wherein the at least one second user includes a plurality of second users;

wherein the sharable content includes at least a portion of content from the one or more application displays that were generated for the first user;

wherein the at least one second computing device is different from said first computing device of the first user;

in response to receiving an indication of acceptance of the first message by a particular second user, of a plurality of second users, the system using the access identifier to share with the particular second user said sharable content;

wherein said access identifier is generated by the system;

creating, by the system, a plurality of associations, each of which associates

(a) occurrence of one or more application events from a plurality of application events, with

(b) one or more users from a plurality of users;

enabling, by the system, the plurality of users to interact, over a network, with one or more applications;

monitoring, by the system, for occurrence of said plurality of application events;

wherein each application event, from the plurality of application events, corresponds to interaction with at least one of the one or more applications, by at least one user from the plurality of users;

wherein the first message is a first alert that was sent in response to a first application event, from the plurality of application events;

wherein the plurality of users includes the first user and the plurality of second users;

causing display of the first alert in a respective application display of each user of the plurality of second users;

enabling, by the system, each user of the plurality of second users, to enter one or more comments in relation to the first alert and to share said one or more comments, among the plurality of second users, in relation to the first alert;

wherein the first application event occurred based, at least in part, on a first interaction of the first user with an application, of the one or more applications;

wherein the first interaction involves the sharable content;

wherein causing the first alert to be displayed includes causing the first alert to be displayed in the respective application display of at least one user of the plurality of second users, based, at least in part, on a first association of the plurality of associations;

wherein the step of creating includes creating the first association based on the system receiving, from the at least one user of the plurality of second users, an expression of interest in interactions of the first user;

receiving, by the system, a comment from the particular second user;

wherein the comment was entered in a text entry interface that is related to the first alert; and

causing display of the comment, in relation to the first alert, in the respective application display of each user from the plurality of second users.

42. The method of claim 41 wherein receiving the expression of interest comprises receiving a specification of interest in interactions of the first user.

43. The method of claim 41 wherein the access identifier enables the at least one second user to interact with the sharable content in the same manner as the first interaction.

44. The method of claim 41 wherein the first association associates the at least one user of the plurality of second users with occurrence of application events, of the plurality of application events, that correspond to interactions of the first user.

45. The method of claim 44 wherein the first association associates the at least one user of the plurality of second users with occurrence of the first application event.