Method and apparatus for providing drawing collaboration on a network
First Claim
1. An apparatus for accessing architectural project information on the internet, comprising an application programming interface (API), executed by a client computer, having a plurality of procedures that provide for an organization of containers for storing, managing and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, and that allow an application program executed by the client computer to access architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site, wherein:
- the server site has defined user access permissions;
the application program invokes the procedures of the API;
the invoked procedures obtain a connection across the internet between the application program with appropriate user access permissions on the client and the server site;
the architectural project information accessed by the application program using the API are organized in containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects; and
the architectural project information is created using an interactive web site hosted on the server, and one or more areas of the interactive web site provide for;
modification and organization of;
a display of the interactive web site;
site members of the interactive web site;
one or more projects including storing, organizing, and displaying drawings and text files in project folders and standard folders; and
project members of the one or more projects including defining access permissions for project members to access the project folders, the standard folders, the drawings, and the text files;
wherein project related administration tasks are available if a user is working with the project folders and such project related administration tasks are not available when working with the standard folders.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
A method, apparatus, and article of manufacture for an application programming interface (API) on a client computer that enables access to architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site. The server site maintains an organization for the architectural information in the form of containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects. The API of the invention permits third parties to create custom clients or permit direct access to a site hosted on a server. Such an API operates with both thick (.exe) and thin (.html) clients. The API establishes/obtains a connection between the client and the server to enable such access. For example, if the user desires to store a file on the server site, the user selects the appropriate server site/folder from within an application program executing the API. The API may then require the user to logon and confirms that the user has appropriate access permissions to work with the server site/folder. Once confirmed, the connection session is established. During the session, the user may access and download files as desired while maintaining the storage structure of architectural information stored on the server site.
259 Citations
36 Claims
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1. An apparatus for accessing architectural project information on the internet, comprising an application programming interface (API), executed by a client computer, having a plurality of procedures that provide for an organization of containers for storing, managing and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, and that allow an application program executed by the client computer to access architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site, wherein:
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the server site has defined user access permissions; the application program invokes the procedures of the API; the invoked procedures obtain a connection across the internet between the application program with appropriate user access permissions on the client and the server site; the architectural project information accessed by the application program using the API are organized in containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects; and the architectural project information is created using an interactive web site hosted on the server, and one or more areas of the interactive web site provide for; modification and organization of; a display of the interactive web site; site members of the interactive web site; one or more projects including storing, organizing, and displaying drawings and text files in project folders and standard folders; and project members of the one or more projects including defining access permissions for project members to access the project folders, the standard folders, the drawings, and the text files; wherein project related administration tasks are available if a user is working with the project folders and such project related administration tasks are not available when working with the standard folders. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. A method for accessing architectural project information on the internet, comprising invoking one or more procedures of an application programming interface (API) executed by a client computer, wherein:
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the plurality of procedures provide for an organization of containers for storing, managing and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, and allow an application program executed by the client computer to access architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site; the server site has defined user access permissions; the procedures of the API obtain a connection across the internet between the application program with appropriate user access permissions on the client and the server site; the architectural project information accessed by the application program using the API are organized in containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects; and the architectural project information is created using an interactive web site hosted on the server, and one or more areas of the interactive web site provide for; modification and organization of; a display of the interactive web site; site members of the interactive web site; one or more projects including storing, organizing, and displaying drawings and text files in project folders and standard folders; and project members of the one or more projects including defining access permissions for project members to access the project folders, the standard folders, the drawings, and the text files; wherein project related administration tasks are available if a user is working with the project folders and such project related administration tasks are not available when working with the standard folders. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24)
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25. An article of manufacture embodying an application programming interface (API) that is executed by a client computer, wherein the API includes a plurality of procedures that provide for an organization of containers for storing, managing and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, and that allow an application program executed by the client computer to access architectural project information stored across the internet on a server site, wherein:
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the server site has defined user access permissions; the application program invokes the procedures of the API, the invoked procedures obtain a connection across the internet between the application program with appropriate user access permissions on the client and the server site; the architectural project information accessed by the application program using the API are organized in containers for storing, managing, and sharing files for one or more architectural projects, wherein the files comprise drawings, documents, communications, and tasks related to the architectural projects; and the architectural project information is created using an interactive web site hosted on the server, and one or more areas of the interactive web site provide for; modification and organization of; a display of the interactive web site; site members of the interactive web site; one or more projects including storing, organizing, and displaying drawings and text files in project folders and standard folders; and project members of the one or more projects including defining access permissions for project members to access the project folders, the standard folders, the drawings, and the text files; wherein project related administration tasks are available if a user is working with the project folders and such project related administration tasks are not available when working with the standard folders. - View Dependent Claims (26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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Specification