Web-based groupware system

• US 7,287,055 B2
• Filed: 07/22/2004
• Issued: 10/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Involv International Corp.
• Inventors: Lee, Richard, Smith, Gerald William, Remme, Randall Nelson, Cannata, Michael J., Powell, Matthew, Tatham, Charles Edward, Ramasra, Ryan
• Primary Examiner(s): MEKY, MOUSTAFA M
• Application Number:
  US10/898,131
• Publication Number:
  US 20050021629A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,188 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-205, 709217-227
• US Class Current: 709/204
• 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 providing a collaborative workspace, comprising:

a computer that is configured to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from a primary user, said dedicated network site defining said collaborative workspace;

memory associated with the computer that stores

i) a list of secondary users nominated by said primary user that have one or more levels of access to said collaborative workspace, and

ii) access control choices selectable by said primary user and defining the one or more levels of access afforded said secondary users of said collaborative workspace;

wherein access to said levels of access include access via a web browser.

2. The system of claim 1 wherein said computer is further configured to provide a workgroup creation template via a web page that is displayed to the primary user.

3. The system of claim 2 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 collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of user applications selectable by one of the users to be included in that collaborative workspace.

5. The system of claim 4 wherein said 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 providing a collaborative workspace, comprising:

configuring a computer to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from a primary user, said dedicated network site defining said collaborative workspace; and

storing in memory associated with the computer

i) a list of secondary users nominated by said primary user that have one or more levels of access to said collaborative workspace, and

ii) access control choices selectable by said primary user and defining the one or more levels of access afforded said secondary users of said collaborative workspace;

wherein access to said levels of access include access via a web browser.

11. The method of claim 10 wherein the configuring further comprises configuring the computer to provide a workgroup creation template via a web page displayed to the primary user.

12. The method of claim 11 wherein the configuring comprises configuring said computer to provide a series of logically related workgroup creation templates to the primary user.

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

14. The method of claim 13 wherein said 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 recorded thereon for execution on one or more computers for providing a collaborative workspace, the steps comprising:

configuring a computer to create a dedicated network site on a network-connected server in response to instructions received from a primary user, said dedicated network site defining said collaborative workspace; and

storing in memory associated with the computer

i) a list of secondary users nominated by said primary user that have one or more levels of access to said collaborative workspace, and

ii) access control choices selectable by said primary user and defining the one or more levels of access afforded said secondary users of said collaborative workspace;

wherein access to said levels of access includes access via a web browser.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 19 wherein the configuring further comprises configuring the computer to provide a workgroup creation template via a web page displayed to the primary user.

21. The computer readable medium of claim 20 wherein the configuring further comprises configuring said computer to provide a series of logically related workgroup creation templates to the primary user.

22. The computer readable medium of claim 19, wherein the steps further comprising configuring said 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 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 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.