Method and system for sharing content

• US 9,256,695 B1
• Filed: 09/30/2010
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 09/30/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Saba Software Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Saba Software Incorporated
• Inventors: Willis, Ben, Natraj, Sunil, Chang, Shu-Hua, Shinde, Abhijeet, Agarwal, Tarun, Puduppully, Ratish, Pulagala, Santhi Swaroop
• Primary Examiner(s): Shanmugasundaram, Kannan
• Application Number:
  US12/895,741
• Time in Patent Office: 1,958 Days
• Field of Search: 707/754, 707/781, 707/784
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/438 Presentation of query results
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/958 Organisation or management of web site content, e.g. publishing, maintaining pages or automatic linking
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 16/972 Access to data in other repository systems, e.g. legacy data or dynamic Web page generation
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/0482 Interaction with lists of selectable items, e.g. menus
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/04842 Selection of displayed objects or displayed text elements G06F3/0482 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/107 Computer-aided management of electronic mailing [e-mailing]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 51/08 Annexed information, e.g. attachments
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 65/403 Arrangements for multi-party communication, e.g. for conferences data switching systems for conference H04L12/18; arrangements for connecting several subscribers to a common circuit, i.e. affording conference facilities H04M3/56; television conferencing systems H04N7/15

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, computer-readable medium and system for sharing information are disclosed. A user may associate at least one group with content uploaded to a content database. Each group may be associated with a different department within the business, a different task, a different concept, etc. A search for content may be limited to one or more of the groups, thereby increasing the relevance of the results returned to a user. Additionally, relevance of the search results may be increased by enabling users to flag content so that it is excluded from subsequent searches. Further, certain members may certify content, thereby enabling a user to conveniently determine if content is credible and/or respected by other members of the business.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method of sharing information, said method comprising:

accessing content uploaded by a first user to a content database;

determining a plurality of groups to be associated with said content, wherein said plurality of groups is selected using a first graphical user interface, wherein said first graphical user interface also enables said first user to upload said content to said content database, wherein said first user is a member of said plurality of groups, wherein said plurality of groups is associated with a business entity, and further wherein said plurality of groups is selected from a list of groups automatically displayed in a region within said first graphical user interface responsive to a user input in said region, and wherein a new search is performed each time new information is entered in said region;

providing access to said content to a second user via a second graphical user interface, wherein said second graphical user interface allows said second user to download said content from said content database, wherein said second user is a member of at least one group of said plurality of groups, wherein said second graphical user interface further allows certification of said content by said second user, and wherein said graphical user interface further allows flagging of said content by said second user to cause said content to be excluded from results of a subsequent search; and

accessing a search query comprising at least one search parameter, wherein said search query is input by said second user via a third graphical user interface, wherein said third graphical user interface allows said second user to search said content and wherein said third graphical interface allows said second user to filter results from said search by at least one group of said plurality of groups selected using said first graphical user interface; and

performing a search of said content database to generate search results, wherein said search is performed based on said search query and said at least one group.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said content is selected from a group consisting of text, at least one link, at least one blog entry, at least one image, at least one video, audio data, at least one list of bookmarked content, and at least one list of bookmarked users.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein said content is confidential and is only accessible to users associated with said business entity.

4. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

displaying said search results using said second graphical user interface, wherein said search results comprise an identifier of said content; and

responsive to a selection of said content from said search results, providing said content to said second user.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only certified content, and further comprising:

filtering said search results to include only content which is certified.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only flagged content, and further comprising:

filtering said search results to include only content which is flagged.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein each group from said plurality of groups is associated with a different criterion, wherein said different criterion is selected from a group consisting of:

department within the business and task.

8. A computer-readable non-transitory storage medium having computer-readable program code embodied therein for causing a computer system to perform a method of sharing information, said method comprising:

accessing content uploaded by a first user to a content database;

determining a plurality of groups to be associated with said content, wherein said plurality of groups is selected using a first graphical user interface, wherein said first graphical user interface also enables said first user to upload said content to said content database, wherein said first user is a member of said plurality of groups, wherein said plurality of groups is associated with a business entity, and further wherein said plurality of groups is selected from a list of groups automatically displayed in a region within said first graphical user interface responsive to a user input in said region, and wherein a new search is performed each time new information is entered in said region; and

providing access to said content to a second user via a second graphical user interface, wherein said second graphical user interface allows said second user to download said content from said content database, wherein said second user is a member of at least one group of said plurality of groups, wherein said second graphical user interface further allows certification of said content by said second user, and wherein said graphical user interface further allows flagging of said content by said second user to cause said content to be excluded from results of a subsequent search; and

accessing a search query comprising at least one search parameter, wherein said search query is input by said second user via a third graphical user interface, wherein said third graphical user interface allows said second user to search said content and wherein said third graphical interface allows said second user to filter results from said search by at least one group of said plurality of groups selected using said first graphical user interface; and

performing a search of said content database to generate search results, wherein said search is performed based on said search query and said at least one group.

9. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein said content is selected from a group consisting of text, at least one link, at least one blog entry, at least one image, at least one video, audio data, at least one list of bookmarked content, and at least one list of bookmarked users.

10. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein said content is confidential and is only accessible to users associated with said business entity.

11. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying said search results using said second graphical user interface, wherein said search results comprise an identifier of said content; and

responsive to a selection of said content from said search results, providing said content to said second user.

12. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only certified content, and wherein said method further comprises:

filtering said search results to include only content which is certified.

13. The computer-readable non-transitory storage medium of claim 8, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only flagged content, and wherein said method further comprises:

filtering said search results to include only content which is flagged.

14. A system comprising a processor and a memory, wherein said memory comprises instructions that when executed by said system implement a method of sharing information, said method comprising:

accessing content uploaded by a first user to a content database;

determining a plurality of groups associated with said content, wherein said plurality of groups is selected using a first graphical user interface, wherein said first graphical user interface also enables said first user to upload said content to said content database, wherein said first user is a member of said plurality of groups, wherein said plurality of groups is associated with a business entity, and further wherein said plurality of groups is selected from a list of groups automatically displayed in a region within said first graphical user interface responsive to a user input in said region, and wherein a new search is performed each time new information is entered in said region; and

providing access to said content to a second user via a second graphical user interface, wherein said second graphical user interface allows said second user to download said content from said content database, wherein said second user is a member of at least one group of said plurality of groups, wherein said second graphical user interface further allows certification of said content by said second user, and wherein said graphical user interface further allows flagging of said content by said second user to cause said content to be excluded from results of a subsequent search;

accessing a search query comprising at least one search parameter, wherein said search query is input by said second user via a third graphical user interface, wherein said third graphical user interface allows said second user to search said content and wherein said third graphical interface allows said second user to filter results from said search by at least one group of said plurality of groups selected using said first graphical user interface; and

performing a search of said content database to generate search results, wherein said search is performed based on said search query and said at least one group.

15. The system of claim 14, wherein said content is selected from a group consisting of text, at least one link, at least one blog entry, at least one image, at least one video, audio data, at least one list of bookmarked content, and at least one list of bookmarked users.

16. The system of claim 14, wherein said content is confidential and is only accessible to users associated with said business entity.

17. The system of claim 14, wherein said method further comprises:

displaying said search results using said second graphical user interface, wherein said search results comprise an identifier of said content; and

responsive to a selection of said content from said search results, providing said content to said second user.

18. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only certified content, and wherein said method further comprises:

filtering said search results to include only content which is certified.

19. The system of claim 14, wherein said at least one search parameter comprises a request to access only flagged content, and wherein said method further comprises:

filtering said search results to include only content which is flagged.