IL130881A - Internet collaboration method and system - Google Patents

Abstract

a method of communication by the Internet network between at least a first GROUP member and a second GROUP member, each connectable to one or more SERVERS having data-bases, and employing an interface for displaying web-page(s), comprising the steps of - establishing connection by the first GROUP member to the SERVER; establishing connection by the second GROUP member to the SERVER; updating the first and the second GROUP members of being respectively connected to the SERVER; loading an original online document by the first GROUP member; loading the original online document by the second GROUP member; creating a graphical annotation of the online document by the first GROUP member; overlaying the annotation of the first GROUP member on the online document loaded on the second GROUP member, wherein the original online document remains unmodified during overlaying of the graphical annotation. 708 כ" א באייר התשס" ד - May 12, 2004

Description

WNMno n iyfl nDi ni ηυ>¾> INTERNET COLLABORATION METHOD AND SYSTEM INTERNET COLLABORATION METHOD AND SYSTEM BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention generally relates to Internet collaboration between two or more Users.

Ordinary Internet collaboration includes either of the following: 1. Exchanging data information, including text or graphics, via email service. 2. Exchanging text data in real time using "chat" application. 3. Whiteboard application for creating collaborative graphic documents.

Neither of above-mentioned methods enables User B to view the original web-page annotated by User A, and vice-versa.

Furthermore, with regard to the same web-page, there is no way by which one user can follow, in real-time, graphical or textual annotations added to the web-page by any other user.

It is thus the prime object of the present invention to provide an Internet collaboration system which enables users to follow in real-time the web-page of any predefined group of users It is a further object of the invention to further enable any of the users to create annotations super imposed on a given web-page, which can be viewed by any other member of the group, or same user, in real time. Alternatively, members can send messages to inform other users of specific newly created annotations.

It is a still further object of the invention to enable users to select from the annotated web-page, using any chosen criteria, (e.g. time, author, annotation type etc.) any of the previously entered and stored annotations.

It is a still another object of the invention to follow-up members of the group's activities while surfing the web.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Thus provided according to one aspect of the invention is a method of communication by the Internet network between at least a first GROUP member and a second GROUP member, each connectable to one or more SERVERS having data-bases, and employing an interface for displaying web-page (s), comprising the steps of establishing connection by the first GROUP member to a SERVER, establishing connection by the second GROUP member to the SERVER, updating the first and the second GROUP members of being respectively connected to the SERVER, loading an original web-page by the first GROUP member, .updating, the.., second GROUP member, of. the location „of the web-page; and loading the original web-page by the second GROUP member. The method may comprise the further steps of creation of an annotation by the first GROUP member overlying the web-page, loading the annotation by the second GROUP member and establishing creation of an annotation by the second GROUP member overlaying the web-page and loading the annotation by the first GROUP member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION These and additional features of the invention will become more clearly understood in the light of the ensuing description of a preferred embodiment thereof given by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein- Figs. la-lg illustrates a simple, conceptual example of the method proposed according to the present invention; Fig. 2 illustrates a computer network in which the present invention is implemented; Fig. 3 is a schematic representation of a designated server application "SERVER") of Fig. 2; Fig. 4 is a schematic representation of a ■■ designated- client application CLIENT'^.--of Fig.- 2; and Fig. 5 is a general flow chart of the CLIENT application DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT Fig. 1 exemplifies a most simple application of the collaboration method herein proposed.

Let us assume that Internet users A, B and C ("the GROUP") have subscribed to the service offered by a designated "SERVER" as herein proposed (see below) .

Let us further assume that member A of the GROUP views an original down-loaded web-page - see stage (a) .

User A adds an overlaid annotation Ai to the web-page W thus creating web-page WA. It is important to note that the original web-page remains unchanged and all annotations are added as overlays only. Members B and C have joined in viewing the same web-page W, using the CLIENT.

Their screens show web-page WA which includes the annotation Ai created by A on the original web-page W - see stage (b) .

Stage (c) represents the situation where member ;,¾¾added,.annotation. Bi to WA, . which , is immediately reflected as WB on the screens of his GROUP members A and C.

Likewise (stage (d) ) , member C adds annotation Ci, which is than shown to A and B as WC.

Now, member A wishes to view only the overlaid annotation previously added by C. He thus "peels off" the overlaid annotation of B, herein after referred to as (FILTERING by author) . The FILTERING operation is not reflected on the screens of B and C - see stage (e) . In addition member A creates a second annotation A2 which is immediately reflected on the screens of B and C.

In stage (f) there is illustrated a situation where B wishes to "peel off" all added annotations and view only the latest annotation A2 (FILTERING by time) .

Stage (g) shows that C views only the annotations of B.

These schematic examples are of course over-simplified and are just brought in order to illustrate the basic concept of the invention. In practice, the application of this concept may become useful by enabling the joint work of members of any group, and may be applied to various types of documents, e.g. in the case where A' s original web-page W is a draft of a contract, .which A negotiates with B and C, and the annotations are words or clauses to be added/deleted from the text .

The joint work of members A, B and C is not necessarily limited for real time or on-line situation. Alternatively, each member can create annotations at his convenience, save them on the SERVER Data Base, and update the other group members via the SERVER Massage System.

The interactive, flexible nature of the collaboration method herein proposed is thus by fa superior compared with the conventional way, where each party would have to enter his remarks and E-mail or fax the modified text in full to the other parties, for their review and response.

A preferred system for reducing the above concept into practice will be now described in conjunction with Figs. 2-6.

As shown in Fig. 2, the Internet denoted 10 is known computer network based on the client-server model. Conceptually, the Internet comprises a larg network of "servers" 12 which are accessible to "users" 16. Users 16 are typically owners of personal computers, usually accessing the Internet 10 through private Internet access providers (not shown-) ... Each of the users 16 may-run a Browser 14, which is a known software tool used to access the servers 12 via the access providers.

The system as so far described is also be based on a client-server model. However, in a computer network in which the present invention is implemented, at the same time a user 16, who is a GROUP member, accesses a server 12 using the browser 14, a CLIENT application 18, which is accompanying the browser 14, automatically retrieves the overlaid annotations from SERVER 20.

In other words GROUP member useres 16 are communicating with each other through the CLIENT 18, which is integrated with browser 14. SERVER 20 enables to organize and synchronize between the GROUP members.

The main features of the SERVER 20 are represented in Fig. 3. 'Topology Manager 22, designed to enable the communication between the GROUP members, identifies on-line GROUP members, and classifies them into a pre-determined group affiliation. Topology Manager 22 also sends identifying information on existing GROUP members to newly joined GROUP members.

Data Collector 24 enables on-line connected GROUP members to send/receive information . stored in the SERVER data-base (s) at any given time. The information is classified to the proper applications 26, 30, 34 or 38 (see below) .

Group Members Manager 26 enables the creation of new GROUPS, and the updating of the system with new joining GROUP members and/or departure of such. This information is stored in Group Members Database 28.

Annotation Manager 30 enables GROUP members to access the Annotation Database 32 in order to load and/or save annotations relating to specific web pages. Each annotation is classified according to GROUP member' s own identity, allowing access only to pre-determined GROUP affiliation.

Messages Manager 34 enables a GROUP member to store "shortcut" information intended for another GROUP member in1' the Messages Database 36.

In case the second GROUP member is connected on-line, he/she receives a signal (not shown) alerting him/her of incoming message. In case the second GROUP member is not connected on-line, he/she will be informed of the awaiting message upon connecting to the SERVER 20.

Follow-up Manager 38 enables the receiving of all-data concerning, each GROUP member' s..activities... while surfing the internet and stores all relevant data in Follow-up Database 40.

The main features of the CLIENT application^ are represented in Fig. 4. Graphic Annotation System 42 provides the GROUP member with graphic tools e.g. virtual pen, enabling to create graphical and textual annotations. The annotations can be placed anywhere over the original web-page and stored in the SERVER 20 with reference to the respective original web-page. Graphic Annotation System 42 also enables the viewing of overlaid annotations received form other GROUP members or from SERVER 20.

CLIENT/SERVER Communication System 44 enables the GROUP members to establish communication with the SERVER 20. Upon connecting, the GROUP member is updated regarding new associates currently connected to the server. Furthermore, GROUP members can access the SERVER 20.

CLIENT/CLIENT Communication System 46 enables the GROUP member to establish communication with other on-line GROUP members. On-line communication between GROUP members includes various utilities, such as one in which a GROUP member requests to be updated automatically with the web-page being .viewed by. a. second, member .

When GROUP members are synchronized to view the same web-page, as above mentioned, they can exchange data in real-time. The data may contain textual messages or graphical annotations as described above regarding Graphic Annotation System 42.

Message System 48 enables the GROUP member to transfer "shortcut" information to other GROUP member. The messages are addressed to a second GROUP member who is either on-line connected to the server or not (see above) .

Follow-up System 50 collects the GROUP member's activities and send them to be stored in the SERVER Follow-up Manager 40 (see above) .

For example, if the GROUP member is viewing a vehicle company web-page and selects to view information on a specific car model, this selection is traced by Follow-up System 50 and transferred to the SERVER Follow-up Manager 40.

Fig 5 represents a general flow-chart of the CLIENT 18 application.

Each GROUP member connected to the Internet 10 -using the browser 14 can use the CLIENT application 18 in two modes: Single mode: after connecting to the SERVER - 20,. the GROUP member can. access the SERVER- Annotation Database 32 and load stored annotations of his/her GROUP members. In addition/ the GROUP member can create his/her own annotations/ overlay them on any chosen web-page and have them saved. In order to share this information with one or more GROUP members, the first GROUP member can send a message containing a "shortcut" regarding the annotation to the SERVER.

Collaboration mode: this mode takes full advantage of the on-line mode of the present invention: after connecting the SERVER, the GROUP member is automatically informed of other on-line GROUP members and their current web-page. From this point on, the GROUP member can request to synchronize with a second GROUP member or more as described above. While being synchronized the GROUP members view the same web-page and can exchange text and graphic annotations.

In both modes when a GROUP member is connected on-line to the SERVER, any act taken by the GROUP member while using the CLIENT is traced and transferred automatically to the SERVER Follow-up Database.

Various additional features apprehended bearing in mind that any modification or variation of the exemplified embodiment shall be deemed to be included within, the scope, of the invention a¾d defined in and by the appended claims. 1?

Claims (13)

13C381/2 WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:

1. A method of communication by the Internet network between at least a first GROUP member and a second GROUP member, each connectable to one or more SERVERS having data-bases, and employing an interface for displaying web-page (s), comprising the steps of - establishing connection by the first GROUP member to the SERVER; establishing connection by the second GROUP member to the SERVER; updating the first and the second GROUP members of being respectively connected to the SERVER; loading an original online document by the first GROUP member; loading the original online document "by the second GROUP member; creating a graphical annotation, of the online document by the first GROUP' member; overlaying the annotation of the first GROUP member on the online document loaded on the second GROUP member, wherein the original online document remains unmodified during overlaying of the graphical annotation.

2. The method of Claim 1 wherein the loading of the online document by the second GROUP member is performed in real-time.

3. The method of Claim 1 wherein the loading of the online document by the second GROUP member is delayed. 130381/2 Δ . The method of any of Clai ..ms 2 or 3 f comprising the steps of - creation of an annotation by the first

4. GROUP member overlying the Online document; and loading the annotation by the second GROUP member.

5. The method of Claim 4 wherein the loading of the annotation by the second GROUP member Ls perfected in real-time.

6. ■6. The method of Claim 5 wherein the loading of the annotation by the second GROUP member is delayed.

7. The method of Claim 5 further comprising the steps of - creation of an annotation by the second GROUP member overlaying the Online document; and loading the annotation by the first GROUP member .

8. The method of Claim 7 further comprising the steps of selectively storing the annotations in the SERVER Database.

9. The method of Claim 8 further comprising the step of selectively retrieving the annotations by each of the GROUP members. 130881/2

10. The method of Claim 7 wherein at least a third GROUP member is participating further comprising the steps of - creating an annotation by the third GROUP member; enabling the first GROUP member and/or the second GROUP member to selectively load annotations of only one of the remaining GROUP members.

11. The method of Claim 1 further comprising the steps of - surveiling and recording in the SERVER database all operations made by the GROUP members; retrieving the recorded operations according to pre-programmed criteria.

12. A computer-implemented method for coordinating annotations between a first GROUP member and a second GROUP member comprising: · associating the first GROUP member' with the second GROUP member to initiate an annotation session; automatically transmitting graphical annotation data generated by the first GROUP member to the second GROUP member in real-time, the graphical annotation data associated with an online document and describing a graphical annotation; and visually overlaying the graphical annotation on the online document at the second GROUP member, wherein the online document remains unmodified during overlaying of the graphical annotation. 130881/2

13. An article of manufacture including a sequence of instructions which, when executed by a processor of a first GROUP member, cause the processor to: establish an annotation session between the first GROUP member and a second GROUP member; automatically transmit graphical annotation data generated by the first GROUP member to the second GROUP member in real-time, the graphical annotation data associated with an online document and describing a graphical annotation; and visually overlay the graphical annotation on the online document at the second GROUP member, wherein the online document remains unmodified during overlaying of the graphical annotation. For the Applicant, Daniel Freimann, Adv.