Sharing of information associated with events

• US 9,208,469 B2
• Filed: 06/06/2011
• Issued: 12/08/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/29/2000
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dov Koren
• Original Assignee: Dov Koren
• Inventors: Koren, Dov
• Primary Examiner(s): Huynh, Cong-Lac
• Application Number:
  US13/154,316
• Publication Number:
  US 20110239122A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,646 Days
• Field of Search: 715/200, 709/203, 709/204, 709/207, 709/205
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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 system, comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform a method comprising steps of:

receiving from a first user a first expression of interest in interactions of a third user;

receiving from a second user a second expression of interest in interactions of the third user;

receiving an indication of a particular interaction of the third user;

after receiving the first expression of interest, receiving the second expression of interest, and receiving the indication, performing the steps of;

based, at least in part, on the first expression of interest, sending first information about the particular interaction to the first user;

based, at least in part, on the second expression of interest, sending the first information about the particular interaction to the second user; and

wherein the first information includes one or more links that provide access to one or more views that are associated with the particular interaction;

receiving, from the first user, a first comment, wherein the first comment is entered in a text entry interface that is related to the first information; and

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the second user, sending the first comment to the second user to cause display of the first comment, in relation to the first information, to the second user.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the first expression of interest comprises a specification of interest in interactions of the third user.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein the first information includes a text description of the particular interaction.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the particular interaction includes interaction with a particular image; and

a particular link, of the one or more links, provides access to the particular image.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein the particular image is a graph or chart.

6. The system of claim 1 wherein the particular interaction includes interaction with a particular image and the first information includes at least a portion of the particular image.

7. The system of claim 1 wherein the particular interaction corresponds to the third user loading at least a portion of a file to the system.

8. The system of claim 7 wherein a given link, from the one or more links, provides access to the at least a portion of the file.

9. The system of claim 7 wherein the first information includes the at least a portion of the file.

10. The system of claim 1 wherein sending the first comment to the second user is performed without resending the first information to the second user.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the text entry interface includes a text view.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein a given link, of the one more links, points to a given view of the one or more views.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein:

the particular interaction includes interaction that causes change to a given view; and

a given link, of the one or more links, provides access to the given view.

14. A method comprising steps of:

providing a computer-based service over a network to a set of users, wherein a first user, a second user and a particular user belong to the set of users;

maintaining, for the particular user, by the computer-based service, particular content;

sending to the first user, by the computer-based service, a first invitation that is from the particular user;

based, at least in part, on receiving, by the computer-based service, an indication of acceptance of the first invitation by the first user, enabling the first user to access the particular content;

sending to the second user, by the computer-based service, a second invitation that is from the particular user;

based, at least in part, on receiving, by the computer-based service, an indication of acceptance of the second invitation by the second user, enabling the second user to access the particular content;

based on, at least in part, on receiving, by the computer-based service, an indication of a first interaction of the particular user, the computer-based service performing the steps of;

sending first information about the first interaction to the first user and to the second user;

wherein the first interaction includes interaction that causes change to the particular content; and

wherein the first information includes a particular link that provides access to the particular content;

receiving, by the computer-based service from the first user, a first comment;

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the second user, sending the first comment to the second user to cause display of the first comment, in relation to the first information, to the second user;

receiving, by the computer-based service from the second user, a second comment; and

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the first user, sending the second comment to the first user to cause display of the second comment, in relation to the first information, to the first user.

15. A system, comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform the method of claim 14.

16. 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 execute the steps of the method recited in claim 14.

17. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the step of receiving the first comment is performed before the step of receiving the second comment;

the first comment is displayed to the first user below the first information; and

the second comment is displayed below the first comment.

18. The method of claim 14 wherein the step of sending the first comment to the second user is performed in response to the step of receiving the first comment.

19. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the particular link that is sent to the first user is generated by the computer-based service based, at least in part, on identity of the first user; and

the particular link that is sent to the second user is generated by the computer-based service based, at least in part, on identity of the second user.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein the particular link that is sent to the first user provides different access rights to the particular content than the particular link that is sent to the second user.

21. The method of claim 14 wherein:

the particular content includes content that identifies a given user in the set of users that established connection with the particular user; and

the method further comprises adding, to the particular content, content that identifies the first user as another user that established connection with the particular user.

22. A system, comprising memory operatively coupled to one or more processors that are configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform a method comprising steps of:

receiving from a first user a first expression of interest in interactions of a third user;

receiving from a second user a second expression of interest in interactions of the third user;

in response to receiving a first identification information from a first computing device, enabling the first user to login to a first application on the first computing device;

in response to receiving a second identification information from a second computing device, enabling the second user to login to a second application on the second computing device;

in response to receiving a third identification information from a third computing device, enabling the third user to login to a third application on the third computing device;

wherein the system, the first computing device, the second computing device and the third computing device are remote to each other;

wherein the first identification information, the second identification information and the third identification information are different from each other;

in response, at least in part, to occurrence of a first interaction of the third user with the third application, performing the steps of;

sending first information about the first interaction to the first application based, at least in part, on the first expression of interest;

sending the first information about the first interaction to the second application based, at least in part, on the second expression of interest; and

wherein the first information includes one or more links that provide access to one or more views that are associated with the first interaction;

receiving, from the first application, a first comment entered in a first text entry interface that is related to the first information;

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the second application, sending the first comment to the second application to enable the first comment to be displayed, in the second application, in relation to the first information;

receiving, from the second application, a second comment entered in a second text entry interface that is related to the first information; and

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the first application, sending the second comment to the first application to enable the second comment to be displayed, in the first application, in relation to the first information.

23. The system of claim 22 wherein the first text entry interface is related to the first information at least in that any given comment entered in the first text entry interface is shared with users that are authorized to access the first information without requiring a user that enters the given comment to provide information regarding with whom to share the given comment.

24. The system of claim 22 wherein the first identification information comprises at least one of a username and password.

25. The system of claim 22 wherein the third application is a browser-based application.

26. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the third application is a local application that is installed on the third computing device; and

the third application is not a web browser.

27. The system of claim 26 wherein:

the third computing device is a portable wireless device; and

the third application is downloaded to the third computing device from an application storage that is remote to both the third computing device and the system.

28. The system of claim 22 wherein:

a given application display of the third application includes a given view, from the one or more views, and a particular view;

the first interaction includes interaction of the third user with the given view of the given application display;

a given link, of the one or more links, provides access to the given view; and

the one or more links do not provide access to the particular view.

29. The system of claim 22 wherein a given link, of the one or more links, is a URL.

30. The system of claim 22 wherein the step of sending the first comment automatically causes display of the first comment, in relation to the first information, in the second application.

31. The system of claim 22 wherein the step of sending the first comment automatically causes display of the first comment, in relation to the first information, without causing redisplay of the first information, in the second application.

32. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the first application is a locally-installed application that is not a web browser; and

the second application is a locally-installed application that is not a web browser.

33. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the first application is a browser-based application; and

the second application is a browser-based application.

34. The system of claim 22 wherein:

the step of sending the second comment to the first application enables the second comment to be displayed, in the first application, in relation to the first information and below the first comment.

35. A system, comprising one or more processors configured to execute instructions that cause the system to perform a method comprising steps of:

receiving from a particular user a first expression of interest in interactions of a first user;

receiving from the particular user a second expression of interest in interactions of a second user;

receiving, from a first application that is associated with the first user, an indication of a first interaction of the first user with the first application, wherein the first application is located on a first computing device;

based, at least in part, on the first expression of interest, sending first information about the first interaction to a particular application that is associated with the particular user to cause display of the first information in a particular application display of the particular application, wherein the particular application is located on a particular computing device and wherein the first information includes a first link that is associated with the first interaction;

receiving, from a second application that is associated with the second user, an indication of a second interaction of the second user with the second application, wherein the second application is located on a second computing device;

while the particular application display includes the first information, sending second information about the second interaction to the particular application, based, at least in part, on the second expression of interest, to cause display of the second information in the particular application display concurrently with the first information, wherein the second information includes a second link that is associated with the second interaction;

wherein the first interaction is a different type of interaction than the second interaction; and

wherein the particular computing device, the first computing device, the second computing device and the system are remote to each other.

36. The system of claim 35 wherein the step of sending the second information is performed in response to receiving the indication of the second interaction.

37. The system of claim 35 wherein the method further comprises generating the first link based, at least in part, on identity of the particular user.

38. The system of claim 35 wherein the particular application is associated with the particular user at least in that the particular user is logged in to the particular application.

39. The system of claim 35 wherein:

the step of receiving from the particular user the first expression of interest comprises receiving the first expression from the particular application; and

the step of receiving from the particular user the second expression of interest comprises receiving the second expression from the particular application.

40. The system of claim 35 wherein:

the first interaction corresponds to input of a first text by the first user; and

the second interaction corresponds to the second user loading a file to the system.

41. The system of claim 40 wherein:

the first interaction causes a first view of the first application to be updated with the first text; and

the first link provides access to the first view.

42. The system of claim 40 wherein:

the second interaction causes a second view of the second application to include at least a portion of the content of the file; and

the second link provides access to the second view.

43. The system of claim 35 wherein the first link enables the particular user to participate in same type of interaction as the first interaction.

44. The system of claim 43 wherein the first link enables the particular user to participate in same type of interaction with the first application as the first interaction.

45. The system of claim 35 wherein the method further comprises:

sending the first information to a third application that is associated a third user, wherein the third application is located on a third computing device;

receiving, from the particular application, a first comment entered in a first text entry interface that is related to the first information;

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the third application, sending the first comment to the third application to enable the first comment to be displayed, in the third application, in relation to the first information; and

wherein the third computing device is remote to the particular computing device, the first computing device, the second computing device and the system.

46. The system of claim 45 wherein the method further comprises:

prior to receiving the indication of the first interaction, receiving from the third user a third expression of interest in interactions of the first user; and

wherein the step of sending the first information to the third application is performed based on, at least in part, on the third expression of interest.

47. The system of claim 35 wherein:

the particular application display is a web page;

the system includes a Web Server and an ApplicationServer, wherein the ApplicationServer is configured to generate the web page and the Web Server is configured to send the web page to the particular application; and

the method further comprises;

concurrently maintaining, in a memory of a particular process, a first object that corresponds to the first information and a second object that corresponds to the second information, wherein the particular process is remote to the particular application and separate from the Web Server and the ApplicationServer.

48. The system of claim 47 wherein the first object and the second object are implemented by an object-oriented language.

49. The system of claim 47 wherein the particular process is a ViewServer.

50. The system of claim 35 wherein the first link enables the particular user to access only a subset of views of the first application.

51. The system of claim 35 wherein the first link enables the particular user to access only a subset of functionality of the first application.

52. The system of claim 35 wherein:

the first interaction corresponds to input of a first text by the first user;

the first interaction causes a first view of the first application to be updated with the first text;

the first view is displayed in a first application display of the first application;

the first link provides access to the first view; and

the method further comprises;

in response to receiving, from the particular application, an indication of activation of the first link, sending information that defines the first view to the particular application to cause display of the first view in the particular application;

receiving, from the particular application, an indication of entry of a second text, wherein the second text entered in a first text entry interface that is related to the first view; and

sending the second text to the first application to cause display of the second text in the first application display.

53. The system of claim 35 wherein the method further comprises:

receiving from a third user a third expression of interest in interactions of the first user;

based, at least in part, on the third expression of interest, sending the first information to a third application that is associated with the third user to cause display of the first information in the third application, wherein the third application is located on a third computing device;

receiving from a fourth user a fourth expression of interest in interactions of the second user;

based, at least in part, on the fourth expression of interest, sending the second information to a fourth application that is associated with the fourth user to cause display of the second information in the fourth application, wherein the fourth application is located on a fourth computing device;

wherein the particular computing device, the first computing device, the second computing device, the third computing device, the fourth computing device and the system are remote to each other;

receiving, from the third application, a first comment, wherein the first comment is entered in a first text entry interface that is related to the first information;

based, at least in part, on the first information having being sent to the particular application, sending the first comment to the particular application to cause display of the first comment, in relation to the first information, in the particular application display;

receiving, from the fourth application, a second comment, wherein the second comment is entered in a second text entry interface that is related to the second information; and

while the first comment is displayed, in relation to the first information, in the particular application display concurrently with the second information, sending the second comment to the particular application to cause display of the second comment, in relation to the second information, in the particular application display concurrently with the first information and the first comment.

54. The system of claim 53 wherein the second information and the second comment are concurrently displayed in the particular application display below the first information and the first comment.

55. The system of claim 53 wherein the step of sending the second comment to the particular application is performed in response to the step of receiving the second comment.

56. The system of claim 35 wherein:

the first interaction corresponds to the first user causing at least a portion of content of a web page to be loaded to the system;

the web page is remote to the first user and the system; and

the first link provides access to the web page.