Web-based groupware system

• US 20050010640A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/13/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Open Text Corporation
• Inventors: Lee, Richard, Smith, Gerald William, Remme, Randall Nelson, Cannata, Michael J., Powell, Matthew, Tatham, Charles Edward, Ramasra, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,320,018 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 709/205
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/01 Protocols
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/02 based on web technology, e.g. hypertext transfer protocol [HTTP]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/564 Enhancement of application control based on intercepted application data
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/568 Storing data temporarily at an intermediate stage, e.g. caching
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 67/75 Indicating network or usage conditions on the user display
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 69/329 in the application layer [OSI layer 7]
• CPC Class Codes: H04L 9/40 Network security protocols

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system and method for providing a communication network. The system comprises a ‘network-connected server having input and access capabilities, a site builder, a transmitter, a communicator, and memory. The site-builder receives instructions input from a first user and creates a dedicated network site based on the received instructions. The transmitter communicates the existence of the dedicated network site to a nominated second user. The communicator provides accesses to the contents of the dedicated network site by the first and second users. The memory stores information input by the first and the second user in the dedicated network site.

Claims

1. A system for creating a collaborative workspace, comprising:

a computer configured to;

display a workgroup creation template with which users can interact to create collaborative workspaces;

store a list of secondary users nominated by the primary user and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each secondary user;

create said collaborative workspace in accordance with user interaction with said collaborative workspace template and the stored access levels; and

provide access to the created collaborative workspace via a web browser.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is configured to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from the primary user, said dedicated network site defining said created collaborative workspace.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is configured to provide a series of logically related workgroup creation templates to the primary user.

4. The system of claim 1 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of user applications selected by one of the users to be included in that collaborative workspace.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

6. The system of claim 4 wherein one of the user applications is a project collaboration application.

7. The system of claim 4 wherein one of the user applications is a scheduling application.

8. The system of claim 4 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check in and check out of documents.

9. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is configured to allow the primary user to assign the primary user'"'"'s administrative rights to one or more of the secondary users.

10. A method for creating a collaborative workspace, comprising:

displaying a workgroup creation template via with which users can interact to create collaborative workspaces;

storing a list of secondary users nominated by the primary user and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each secondary user;

creating said collaborative workspace in accordance with user interaction with said collaborative workspace template and the stored access levels; and

accessing the created collaborative workspace via a web browser.

11. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring a computer to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from the primary user, said dedicated network site defining said created collaborative workspace.

12. The method of claim 10 wherein the displaying comprises configuring said computer to display a series of logically related workgroup creation templates via to the primary user.

13. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring said created collaborative workspace to include a plurality of user applications selected by one of the users to be included in that collaborative workspace.

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

15. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the user applications is a project collaboration application.

16. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the user applications is a scheduling application.

17. The method of claim 13 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check-in and check-out of documents.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising configuring the computer to allow the primary user to assign the primary user'"'"'s administrative rights to one or more of the secondary users.

19. A computer readable medium having instructions thereon for performing steps for creating a collaborative workspace, the steps comprising:

displaying a workgroup creation template via with which users can interact to create collaborative workspaces;

storing a list of secondary users nominated by the primary user and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each secondary user;

creating said collaborative workspace in accordance with user interaction with said collaborative workspace template and the stored access levels; and

accessing the created collaborative workspace via a web browser.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising configuring a computer to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from the primary user, said dedicated network site defining said created collaborative workspace.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the displaying comprises configuring said computer to display a series of logically related workgroup creation templates via a web browser to the primary user.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising configuring said created collaborative workspace to include a plurality of user applications selected by one of the users to be included in that collaborative workspace.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein one of the user applications in is a project collaboration application.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein one of the user applications is a scheduling application.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 22 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check-in and check-out of documents.

27. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising configuring the computer to allow the primary user to assign the primary user'"'"'s administrative rights to one or more of the secondary users.