Collaboration spaces

• US 20060242581A1
• Filed: 04/20/2005
• Published: 10/26/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Microsoft Technology Licensing LLC (Microsoft Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Microsoft Corporation
• Inventors: Horton, Noah, Singhal, Sandeep K., Manion, Todd R., Sidhu, Gursharan S., Cunningham, Aaron W.
• Granted Patent: US 7,620,902 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 715/733
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/10 Office automation; Time management

Abstract

A computer implemented method and system enable users to create a social network providing access to other users. By providing access to such networks via a visual presentation, the system renders content available for access by other network members. Access is sometimes provided through propagation of metadata or other uniquely identifying indicia associated with the social network to all or at least certain other network members.

Claims

1. A graphical user interface associated with a social network to enable interaction among defined members in the social network, comprising:

a first display area presenting an appearance of a social space in which at least one of the members may access;

at least one activity object located in the first display area providing a user selectable entry point for initiating at least one activity associated with the social network and to activate certain operations with respect to the activity; and

a second display area including status information concerning at least one activity that may be accessed by the members.

2. The invention as in claim 1, wherein the entry point may be activated to launch an application associated with the at least one activity.

3. The invention as in claim 2, wherein the at least one activity is a synchronous interaction with at least one other member in the social network.

4. The invention as in claim 2, wherein the at least one activity is an asynchronous interaction with respect to at least one other member in the social network.

5. The invention as in claim 4, further comprising a plurality of activity objects located in the first display area providing a user selectable entry points for initiating a plurality of activities associated with the plurality of activity objects.

6. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the second display area provides a notification of the status of at least certain members in the social network.

7. The invention as in claim 6, further comprising a third display area providing a list of group activities that are selectable, wherein each of the entries in the list includes a user selectable entry point for initiating an activity associated with the entry.

8. The invention as in claim 1 wherein at least one other member in the social network is automatically shown the result of the operations performed with respect to selection of the at least one activity object.

9. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the members in the social network comprise users of computing devices that are connected together via a computer network.

10. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the social space comprises a device space.

11. The invention as in claim 1 wherein the social space comprises a personal space for enabling access to resources from multiple devices or locations.

12. A graphical user interface for enabling navigation among one or more social networks created to facilitate group interaction among a first online member of a group and at least one other online member of the group over a computer network comprising:

a browser window; and

a folder display area located within the browser window that acts as a drop target for at least one visible presence indicator identifying a social network to which the user belongs, the presence indicator providing a link to a social space associated with the social network.

13. The invention as in claim 12, further including an iconic representation of entry point for an activity associated with the social network located within the browser window, wherein the entry point may be activated to launch an application associated with the at least one activity.

14. The invention as in claim 13, wherein the at least one activity is a synchronous interaction with at least one other group member.

15. The invention as in claim 13, wherein the at least one activity is an asynchronous interaction with respect to at least one other group member.

16. The invention as in claim 12, further comprising a plurality of visible presence indicators, each of the presence indicators identifying a respective social network to which the user belongs and providing a link to a social space associated with the respective social network.

17. In a computer system having a graphical user interface including a display and a user interface selection device, a method for displaying a social space for a defined group on a display area comprising the steps of

(a) presenting in a first display area status information concerning at least one activity that may be accessed by the group,

(b) presenting in a second display area a plurality of activity objects that are accessible by the group, wherein each of the activity objects includes an entry point to an application associated with the activity object, and

(c) resizing one of the activity objects within the second display area upon receipt of a selection by the user via the user interface selection device.

18. The invention of claim 17 wherein the method further comprises the step of

(d) presenting in a third display area a plurality of activity objects in a list, wherein each of the activity objects includes an entry point to an application associated with the activity object.

19. The invention as in claim 18 wherein one of the activity objects provides information concerning recently added items associated with the group.

20. The invention as in claim 17 wherein the social space comprises a device space.

21. The invention as in claim 17 wherein the social space comprises a personal space for enabling access to resources from multiple devices or locations.