Web-based groupware system

• US 7,734,694 B2
• Filed: 02/26/2008
• Issued: 06/08/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 10/22/1997
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Ip Ot Sub Ulc
• Original Assignee: Brokercom Inc., 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:
  US12/037,679
• Publication Number:
  US 20080209345A1
• Time in Patent Office: 833 Days
• Field of Search: 709200-205, 709217-227, 709228-229
• 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 creating a collaborative workspace, comprising:

a computer configured to;

display a workgroup creation template with which primary users can interact using a web browser to create one or more collaborative workspaces;

store information received from user interaction with the workgroup creation template, wherein the information represents one or more groups of secondary users for a particular collaborative workspace including a name for a workgroup and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each group or secondary user;

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

provide the group web-browser access to the created collaborative workspace.

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. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer automatically generates a link to the collaborative workspace in an associated user'"'"'s personal workspace.

11. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary user can choose between a static or dynamic group.

12. The system of claim 1 wherein the computer is configured to allow the primary user to select one or more criteria defining a dynamic group.

13. The system of claim 1 wherein the primary use can select an existing group for the collaborative workspace.

14. The system of claim 1 wherein the system is configured to provide compliance for the collaborative workspace.

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

displaying a workgroup creation template with which primary users can interact using a web browser to create one or more collaborative workspaces;

storing information received from user interaction with the workgroup creation template, wherein the information represents one or more groups of secondary users for a particular collaborative workspace including a name for a workgroup and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each group or secondary user;

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

providing the group web-browser access to the created collaborative workspace.

16. The method of claim 15 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.

17. The method of claim 15 wherein the displaying comprises configuring said computer to display a series of logically related workgroup creation templates via to the primary user.

18. The method of claim 15 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.

19. The method of claim 18 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

20. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the user applications is a project collaboration application.

21. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the user applications is a scheduling application.

22. The method of claim 18 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check-in and check-out of documents.

23. The method of claim 15 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.

24. The method of claim 15 further comprising automatically generating a link to the collaborative workspace in an associated user'"'"'s personal workspace.

25. The method of claim 15 further comprising provider the primary user an option to choose between a static or dynamic group.

26. The method of claim 15 further comprising allowing the primary user to select one or more criteria defining a dynamic group.

27. The method of claim 15 wherein the primary use can select an existing group for the collaborative workspace.

28. The method of claim 15 further comprising implementing compliance for activities in the collaborative workspace.

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

displaying a workgroup creation template with which primary users can interact using a web browser to create one or more collaborative workspaces;

storing information received from user interaction with the workgroup creation template, wherein the information represents one or more groups of secondary users nominated by a primary user for a particular collaborative workspace including a name for a workgroup and a corresponding access level to the collaborative workspace for each group and secondary user;

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

providing the group access to the created collaborative workspace via a web browser.

30. The computer readable medium of claim 29, 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.

31. The computer readable medium of claim 29 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.

32. The computer readable medium of claim 29, 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.

33. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein said created collaborative workspace is configured to include a plurality of distinct user applications.

34. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein one of the user applications in is a project collaboration application.

35. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein one of the user applications is a scheduling application.

36. The computer readable medium of claim 32 wherein one of the user applications is a document manager that controls check-in and check-out of documents.

37. The computer readable medium of claim 29, 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.

38. The computer readable medium of claim 29, the steps further comprising automatically generating a link to the collaborative workspace in an associated user'"'"'s personal workspace.

39. The computer readable medium of claim 29, the steps further comprising further comprising provider the primary user an option to choose between a static or dynamic group.

40. The computer readable medium of claim 29, the steps further comprising allowing the primary user to select one or more criteria defining a dynamic group.

41. The computer readable medium of claim 29 wherein the primary use can select an existing group for the collaborative workspace.

42. The computer readable medium of claim 29 wherein the steps further comprising implementing compliance within the collaborative workspace.