Data processing: database and file management or data structures – Database design – Data structure types
Reexamination Certificate
1998-11-19
2001-04-24
Alam, Hosain T. (Department: 2172)
Data processing: database and file management or data structures
Database design
Data structure types
C707S793000, C707S793000, C709S225000, C713S152000, C713S152000, C345S215000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06223177
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Recently, the need for collaborative computing environments has been receiving increasing attention. People are finding that it is more and more important to share information and work together to meet common goals. With increasing specialization in the marketplace, there is frequent need to work together with people from different offices, different organizations and even different countries to satisfy the requirements of a particular project or goal. Managing collaborative initiatives of this type is not a simple matter.
Electronic network based, project management server systems are known. For example, U.S. Pat. No. 5,548,506 [Srinivasan] discloses an automated, electronic network based, project management server system for managing multiple work groups. The system comprises a core piece of software which runs on a host server computer system and interacts with a messaging system such as E-mail or facsimile. The system compiles multi-project plans into a multi-project database and tracks the ownership of projects, tasks and resources within the plans. The system automatically checks all resource requests and if resource availability limits are exceeded then resources are allocated on projects based on priorities and project plans are changed accordingly. The system is also programmed to send out reminders and follow-ups and the databases are continuously updated on status changes reported by work group members.
One of the disadvantages of known electronic network-based, collaborative server systems is that they depend on Information Technology specialists or a system administrator to administer control of the system, i.e., if a user wishes to add functionality to a system, they must have access to the program itself. Further, many collaborative systems require each user to have specialized software installed on their computer.
It is an object of the present invention to obviate and mitigate at least one of the disadvantages of the prior art.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, in one of its aspects, the present invention provides a system for providing a communication system, the system comprising:
(i) a host computer having input and access capabilities;
(ii) a means on the server for receiving instructions input from a first user and for creating a dedicated intranet site based on the received instructions;
(iii) means for communicating existence of the dedicated intranet site to a nominated second user;
(iv) means for accessing contents of the dedicated intranet site by the second user via a web-browser installed on the second user; and
(v) means for storing information in the dedicated intranet site input via a web-browser installed at the first or the second user.
In another aspect the present invention provides a system to provide a team of users with intranet-based groupware functionality, comprising:
(i) an intranet-connected server having a means for receiving an initiate instruction from a primary user;
(ii) a means for creating a dedicated site on the server in response to the initiate instruction;
(iii) means for sending information about the existence of the site to at least one secondary user nominated by the primary user;
(iv) means to receive information at the dedicated site sent by the at least one secondary user using a web browser;
(v) means to store information at the dedicated site at the request of the primary and the at least one secondary user;
(vi) means to permit processing of the information stored at the dedicated site by the primary and the at least one secondary user; and
(vii) means to download stored and processed information to the primary user and the at least one secondary user for display via a web browser.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a method for providing a communication network, comprising:
(i) providing an intranet-connected server having upload and download capabilities;
(ii) receiving instructions uploaded from a first user and for creating a dedicated intranet site on the server, the dedicated intranet site having a unique name based on the received instructions;
(iii) communicating the existence of the dedicated intranet site to a nominated second user;
(iv) downloading contents of the dedicated intranet site to the second user via a web-browser installed at the second user;
(v) storing information in the dedicated web-site uploaded via a web-browser installed at the first or the second user.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a computer configured to operate a groupware application program, the computer comprising:
(i) means to connect to at least a primary and a secondary user;
(ii) means to receive instructions input from the primary user;
(iii) means to create a dedicated site within the computer based on the instructions input from the primary user;
(iv) means to loop up address of secondary user from an address database;
(v) means to communicate existence of the dedicated site to the secondary user;
(vi) means to store information at the dedicated site at the request of the primary and the secondary user; and
(vii) means to process the stored information at the request of the primary and the secondary user.
In yet another aspect, the present invention provides a data carrier having thereon a computer program for performing the steps of:
(i) facilitating communication between a server, a primary user and a secondary user;
(ii) creating a dedicated site within the server based on instructions input from the primary user;
(iii) looking up address of the secondary user from an address database;
(iv) communicating the existence of the dedicated site to the secondary user;
(v) storing information at the dedicated site at the request of the primary and the secondary user; and
(vi) processing the stored information at the request of the primary and the secondary user.
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Remme Randall Nelson
Smith Gerald William
Tatham Charles Edward
Alam Hosain T.
Alam Shahid
Fasken Martineau DuMoulin LLP
Involv International Corporation
Pillay Kevin
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