Web-based groupware system

• US 20050021630A1
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Published: 01/27/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Brokercom Inc.
• Inventors: Lee, Richard, Smith, Gerald William, Remme, Randall Nelson, Cannata, Michael J., Powell, Matthew, Tatham, Charles Edward, Ramasra, Ryan
• Granted Patent: US 7,299,258 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 that is configured to;

receive information from a primary user via the primary user'"'"'s web browser that specifies a number of secondary users and access levels for the secondary users;

create a collaborative workspace that limits access to the collaborative workspace to the primary and secondary users; and

provide a plurality of user applications selected to be included in the collaborative workspace with which the users can interact via a web browser based on their access level.

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 collaborative workspace.

3. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to provide a workgroup creation template to the primary user.

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

5. The system of claim 3 wherein said collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

6. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a project collaboration application.

7. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a scheduling application.

8. The system of claim 3 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check-in and check-out of documents in the collaborative workspace.

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:

receiving information from a primary user via the primary user'"'"'s web browser that specifies a number of secondary users and access levels for the secondary users;

creating a collaborative workspace that limits access to the collaborative workspace to the primary and secondary users; and

providing a plurality of user applications selected to be included in the collaborative workspace with which the users can interact via a web browser based on their access level.

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 collaborative workspace.

12. The method of claim 10 further comprising providing a workgroup creation template to the primary user.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein the providing comprises providing a series of logically related workgroup creation templates to the primary user.

14. The method of claim 10 wherein said collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

15. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a project collaboration application.

16. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a scheduling application.

17. The method of claim 10 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check in and check out of documents in the collaborative workspace.

18. The method of claim 10 further comprising allowing 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:

receiving information from a primary user via the primary user'"'"'s web browser that specifies a number of secondary users and access levels for the secondary users;

creating a collaborative workspace that limits access to the collaborative workspace to the primary and secondary users; and

providing a plurality of user applications selected to be included in the collaborative workspace with which the users can interact via a web browser based on their access level.

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 collaborative workspace.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 19, the steps further comprising providing a workgroup creation template to the primary user.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 21 wherein the providing comprises providing a series of logically related workgroup creation templates to the primary user.

23. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein said collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

24. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a project collaboration application.

25. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein one of the user applications in said collaborative workspace is a scheduling application.

26. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check in and check out of documents in the collaborative workspace.

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