Collaborative design using duplicated workspaces

• US 9,230,243 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2011
• Issued: 01/05/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 10/13/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Original Assignee: Dassault Systemes SA
• Inventors: Beinvel, Jacques, Lancien, Yann
• Primary Examiner(s): Nguyen, Quang N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Krishnan, Raji
• Application Number:
  US13/273,153
• Publication Number:
  US 20130097234A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,545 Days
• Field of Search: 709203-206, 715/205, 715223-234, 715/236, 715/777, 715/741, 715/763, 715/775, 715/255, 707/695, 707/E17, 707/999.1, 707/608, 707/999, 716/102
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 40/166 Editing, e.g. inserting or deleting
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/101 Collaborative creation, e.g. joint development of products or services
• CPC Class Codes: G06Q 10/103 Workflow collaboration or project management

Abstract

A computer-implemented method includes storing data in a memory area such that the data is organized into a plurality of workspaces including a first workspace, creating a second workspace within the memory area, and copying at least a portion of the data from the first workspace into the second workspace. The method also includes enabling simultaneous editing of the first workspace and the second workspace, comparing the first workspace and the second workspace, and synchronizing the first workspace and the second workspace based on the comparison.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method comprising:

storing global data in a server memory area such that the global data is organized into a plurality of workspaces in the server memory area including a first workspace, each workspace having respective data of the global data and each workspace being accessible by a plurality of users, at least a first portion of data of the first workspace being a first editable portion of the global data directly editable in the first workspace by the plurality of users accessing the first workspace;

creating a second workspace within the server memory area;

copying at least a second portion of the data from the first workspace into the second workspace, at least a portion of data of the second workspace being a second editable portion of the global data directly editable in the second workspace by the plurality of users accessing the second workspace;

enabling simultaneous editing of the first portion of data in the first workspace and the second portion of data in the second workspace;

comparing the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace to determine modifications made to the global data in the first and second workspaces; and

synchronizing the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace based on the comparison, by copying the modifications directly from the second workspace to the first workspace, and copying modifications directly from the first workspace to the second workspace.

2. The computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, further comprising:

detecting multiple users accessing the first workspace; and

based on the detection, creating the second workspace to enable simultaneous editing of the data of the first workspace in the first workspace and the data of the second workspace in the second workspace.

3. The computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 1, wherein the data of the first workspace includes a first data set, said creating a second workspace comprising creating the second workspace including a second data set, the second data set including a copy of at least a portion of the first data set.

4. The computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 3, further comprising:

designating one of the first data set and the second data set as editable by a user of one of the plurality of client computers; and

designating the other of the first data set and the second data set as locked.

5. The computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 4, further comprising:

detecting edits made to the designated editable data set; and

synchronizing the first data set and the second data set by copying the edits from the designated editable data set to the designated locked data set.

6. The computer-implemented method in accordance with claim 3, wherein the first data set includes a third data set and a fourth data set, said creating a second workspace comprises creating the second workspace such that the second data set includes a fifth data set that is a copy of at least one of the third data set and the fourth data set.

7. A computer system comprising:

a plurality of client computers;

a server memory area configured to store global data organized into a plurality of workspaces in the server memory area including a first workspace, each workspace having respective data of the global data and each workspace being accessible by a plurality of users, at least a first portion of the data of the first workspace being a first editable portion of the global data directly editable in the first workspace by the plurality of users accessing the first workspace; and

a server operatively coupled to said server memory area, said server configured to;

create a second workspace within said server memory area;

copy at least a second portion of the data from the first workspace into the second workspace, at least a portion of the data of the second workspace being a second editable portion of the global data directly editable in the second workspace by the plurality of users accessing the second workspace;

enable simultaneous editing of the first portion of data in the first workspace and the second portion of data in the second workspace;

compare the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace to determine modifications made to the global data in the first and second workspaces; and

synchronize the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace based on the comparison, by copying the modifications directly from the second workspace to the first workspace, and copying modifications directly from the first workspace to the second workspace.

8. The computer system in accordance with claim 7, wherein said server is further configured to:

detect multiple users accessing the first workspace; and

based on the detection, create the second workspace to enable simultaneous editing of the data of the first workspace in the first workspace and the data of the second workspace in the second workspace.

9. The computer system in accordance with claim 7, wherein the data of the first workspace includes a first data set, said server is further configured to create the second workspace including a second data set, the second data set including a copy of at least a portion of the first data set.

10. The computer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein said server is further configured to:

designate one of the first data set and the second data set as editable by a user of one of said plurality of client computers; and

designate the other of the first data set and the second data set as locked.

11. The computer system in accordance with claim 10, wherein said server is further configured to:

detect edits made to the designated editable data set; and

synchronize the first data set and the second data set by copying the edits from the designated editable data set to the designated locked data set.

12. The computer system in accordance with claim 9, wherein the first data set includes a third data set and a fourth data set, said server is further configured to create the second workspace such that the second data set includes a fifth data set that is a copy of at least one of the third data set and the fourth data set.

13. A computer program product comprising:

one or more non-transitory computer-readable storage media having computer-executable components for use in user collaboration, said components comprising;

a data management component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to store global data in a server memory area such that the global data is organized into a plurality of workspaces in the server memory area including a first workspace, each workspace;

(i) having respective data of the global data, and (ii) each workspace being accessible by a plurality of users, at least a first portion of data of the first workspace being a first editable portion of the global data directly editable in the first workspace by the plurality of users accessing the first workspace; and

a workspace management component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to;

create a second workspace within the server memory area;

copy at least a second portion of the data from the first workspace into the second workspace, at least a portion of data of the second workspace being a second editable portion of the global data directly editable in the second workspace by the plurality of users accessing the second workspace;

enable simultaneous editing of the first portion of data in the first workspace and the second portion of data in the second workspace in the server memory area;

compare the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace to determine modifications made to the global data in the first and second workspaces; and

synchronize the data of the first workspace and the data of the second workspace based on the comparison, by copying the modifications directly from the second workspace to the first workspace, and copying modifications directly from the first workspace to the second workspace.

14. The computer program product in accordance with claim 13, wherein said workspace management component further causes the at least one processor to:

detect multiple users accessing the first workspace; and

based on the detection, create the second workspace to enable simultaneous editing of the data of the first workspace in the first workspace and the data of the second workspace in the second workspace.

15. The computer program product in accordance with claim 13, wherein the data of the first workspace includes a first data set, said workspace management component further causes the at least one processor to create the second workspace including a second data set, the second data set including a copy of at least a portion of the first data set.

16. The computer program product in accordance with claim 15, wherein said workspace management component further causes the at least one processor to:

designate one of the first data set and the second data set as editable by a user of one of said plurality of client computers; and

designate the other of the first data set and the second data set as locked.

17. The computer program product in accordance with claim 16, wherein said workspace management component further causes the at least one processor to:

detect edits made to the designated editable data set; and

synchronize the first data set and the second data set by copying the edits from the editable data set to the designated locked data set.

18. The computer program product in accordance with claim 15, wherein the first data set includes a third data set and a fourth data set, said workspace management component further causes the at least one processor to create the second workspace such that the second data set includes a fifth data set that is a copy of at least one of the third data set and the fourth data set.